The Bicentennial Celebration
of the marriage of
Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks

Bresheba Lincoln's Cake Contest

Dear Interested Reader:
On June 14, 2008, Washington County has the honor of celebrating the 202nd Wedding Anniversary of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, parents of Abraham Lincoln. A part of this Celebration is the Bersheba Lincoln Cake Contest, sponsored by Channel 6 Television of Lebanon, KY.

Cakes for weddings have evolved from "Brides Cakes" from the Roman Empire being broken over the brides heads to stacks of sweet buns for the newlyweds, to pies filled with mince or mutton. By 1806, the Bride's Cake resembled many of the cakes passed after "Sunday Dinner" in Kentucky.

To celebrate the 202nd Wedding Anniversary of Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln, you can enter an 1806 Period cake contest with a prize of $250.00 awarded to the winner. The cakes will be served at the Lincoln Ball held at the Opera House in Springfield, KY on the evening of June 14, 2008.

In 1806, cakes would have been made with ingredients available at the time: flour, eggs, sugar, milk and cream, butter, lard, fruits, maple sugar, nuts, cinnamon, mace, alcohol, sweet potatoes, nutmeg, lemons, arrowroot, and other ingredients. Many cakes of central Kentucky tradition would be most appropriate, including Stack Pies, Fruit Cake, Applesauce Cake, Carrot Cake, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake. Your kitchen and imagination are the limit!

Rules for the contest are as follows:

1. Cakes must be brought to the Opera House in downtown Springfield on Friday June 13, 2008 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

2. All cakes become the property of the Wedding Celebration.

3. Recipes or ingredients are to accompany each entry.

4. Present a 3x5 card with the name, address and phone number of the baker at the time of the entry.

5. Each entry will be numbered and the name of the baker will not be disclosed to the judges.

6. Judging will take place at 11:30 a.m. on June 13, 2008.

7. All entries must be able to be kept at room temperature.

8. The winner of the contest will be notified by phone on Monday June 16, 2008.

9. A check for $250.00 will be mailed to the winner no later than Monday, June 23, 2008.

10. Cakes will be judged on:

For questions and other details, you may contact:

Elaine Simms
(859) 336-9285
elainesimms@bellsouth.net