Lincolns Coming to Detroit Area!

The Marriott - Detroit Metro Airport will be the scene of some interesting activities the weekend of April 15-17, 2005. Apporximately 100 people from the Association of Lincoln Presenters will be meeting in convention there. They will be welcomed to Michigan by Civil War Governor Austin Blair and Senator Jacob Howard, author of the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery in this country. Friday evening will include a trip to the Plymouth Historical Museum to see the Lincoln Exhibit along with a special exhibit on Underground Railroad quilts. Mrs. Pam Yockey will have a special display of some of her authentic 19th century clothing.Mary Lincoln’s seamstress and best friend Elizabeth Keckly will also make a special appearance.

On Saturday, the group will travel to Dearborn to visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Their visit will focus on Lincoln related items such as the Logan County Courthouse, where Lincoln practiced law for seven years, and the rocking chair in which Lincoln was sitting when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. This year marks the 140th anniversary of the assassination. Also on display at the Henry Ford is a table purchaced by Mary Lincoln and a carriage built for Tom Thumb, a visitor to the Lincoln White House.
Saturday night the Lincolns and Civil War reenactors(including General Custer) from around the region will attend a Civil War Ball at the Marriott. Period dress is required to participate in the dance but anyone can go just to watch and listen. Period music will be provided by the Golden Griffin Stringtet of Romulus. Dance prompting will be done by Karen Missavage, a well-known caller of period dances.

After a worship service on Sunday, the Lincolns will be going to Historic Fort Wayne to see the place where many Michigan boys and men mustered in to fight, not only in the Civil War, but in many wars since. It was because of Michigan men marching into Washington in May, 1861 as the first troops from the west that Lincoln announced “Thank God for Michigan!”
Anyone wishing further details on attending all or part of the convention can email Fred Priebe at alincoln@comcast.net.

Gettysburg Address Presented in Troy

On Sunday afternoon, June 27, 2004 President and Mrs. Lincoln visited the Troy Historical Museum and Village in Troy, Michigan where the President roused an audience of nearly 500 with his presentation of the Gettysburg Address. He set up the famous speech by recounting his experience going to Gettysburg on a special train and then visiting the battle sites the morning of the Cemetery Dedication. Many compliments were received by people who had not known what had been going on Mr. Lincoln’s life at the time.

Members of the 22nd Michigan Infantry and the 9th Michigan Infantry attended to the President and Mrs. Lincoln. Accompanying the Lincoln’s were Mary’s seamstress, Lizzy Keckly and war correspondent Noah Brooks.

The Washington Times, March 25, 2003

“Tourists at the Lincoln Memorial got an unexpected encounter with American  history as Fred Priebe, sporting a beard, and wife, Bonnie, wearing the  full-length dress of earlier times, portrayed President Abraham Lincoln and his  wife.

“Inspiring memories of American history is part of their reason for  looking as much like the famous president and first lady as possible, said Mr. Priebe...”