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Lt. Governor Quinn welcomed the public to an Illinois Main Street showing of the Courthouse Girls of Farmland



DECATUR - November 12, 2008. Lt. Governor Quinn welcomed the public to a showing of the historic preservation documentary, "Courthouse Girls of Farmland" at the Lincoln Square Theatre.  The showing was free, but donations were encouraged and will be used to help with the restoration of the Lincoln Square Theatre.

"Courthouse Girls of Farmland" is an award-winning documentary about seven senior bridge club members in Farmland, Indiana, who came up with a controversial way to protest their county commissioners' decision to destroy the county's historic courthouse in 2005.  Loosely patterned after the British hit film, “Calendar Girls,” the women, aged 77 to 94, were photographed with replicas of the courthouse placed strategically in front of their bodies.  The photographs were assembled into a calendar that was sold as a fundraiser for a “Save the Courthouse” campaign.

As a result, the commissioners rescinded their decision to destroy the courthouse, and plans have since been made to renovate and expand the structure.  A Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission was even created through state legislation to investigate the needs of other historic courthouses in Indiana.

"At a time when historic sites are being closed due to budget cuts in the state of Illinois, I salute the Courthouse Girls of Farmland for their unique grassroots effort to successfully save their beloved courthouse," Quinn said.

The Lincoln Square Theatre was built in 1916 and is known for its intimate setting and acoustics.  Lincoln Square Theatre has been host to plays, musicals, operas, silent films and vaudeville.  Phase one of the theatre's restoration has been completed and included electrical, architectural, light and flooring improvements.

After the documentary showing, there was a question and answer session with the film's Co-Executive Producer, Larry Francer and three of the Courthouse Girls: Miss April, Mary Ellen Talley, 88; Miss May, Wanda Grove, 84; and Miss December, Iraida Davis-Leitch, 80.

This event takes place during the Illinois Main Street Conference, being held Wednesday, November 12 through Thursday, November 13 in Decatur.

Illinois Main Streetrepresents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal.  The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $575 million in Main Street Downtowns.  The Lt. Governor's Office administers the Illinois Main Street program, now the fourth-largest in the nation, with architectural assistance from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

For more information about the Illinois Main Street program, please visit IllinoisMainStreet.org.