FREMONT, OH -- Area historians will have the chance to view a replica of the casket in which President Abraham Lincoln was buried next month. Jason Kinn, co-owner and funeral director at the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 900 N. Front St., said the replica will be on display during an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11. The casket is one of five made 10 years ago by the Batesville Casket Company, modeled after the only known surviving photograph of the president lying in state in 1865.

"The casket itself has a lot of history with the actual craftsmanship of it," Kinn said.

According to a press release from the company, Lincoln's coffin was one of the most elaborate of that time. It was 6 feet, 6 inches long and made of solid walnut, lined in lead and covered with expensive black cloth.

The handles and studs were made of sterling silver.

In 1876 a gang of counterfeiters attempted to steal the body and hold it ransom for $200,000 and the release of their top engraver, the release shows.

The criminals were foiled as they tried to remove the coffin from the tomb.

Lincoln was permanently buried on Sept. 26, 1901. According to the release, on of the five replicas of his coffin is part of the permanent collection at the Abraham Lincoln presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. The other four are shipped throughout the nation for display at funeral homes.

Kinn said he expects historians will be interested in viewing the replica. "There's an awful lot of people that are very interested," he said. "With us being a community with a former president living here, or from this area, it would be perfect to have that at our open house so that people can see it," he said.

"What appeals to me personally is the ability to have the resources to bring it to the community."

The open house will also include tours, presentations from vendors, refreshments, door prizes and personalized Christmas ornaments from local artisans, Kinn said.

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