Re-enactors Bring Abraham Lincoln to Life in Attleboro

As the 202^nd birthday anniversary of Abraham Lincoln approaches, the fascination with the nation's 16th President never seems to wane. And with 2011 marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, that multiplies the attention being paid to the life and times of this President.

 But Attleboro, about 1150 miles from the Springfield, Ill. boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln, will do its best to commemorate this famous figure, thanks to a special 24-person group of the Attleboro Republican Committee.

 “We are continuing a tradition begun 25 years ago,” Susan Blais of the Attleboro LincolnGOP Re-enactors said. Blais will put on the annual Abraham Lincoln Civil War Dinner Theater on March 12 at the in Attleboro. “We try to recreate as close as possible an actual day in history in the life of Abraham Lincoln," she said. 

 “I think there are so few photos of Lincoln that they are all numbered,” Blais said. There were much slower methods of recording and transmitting information. So how can this group deliver an authentic reenactment as it has the past four years when they began sharing this with the public?

 “No two shows are ever the same,” Blais said. “We pick a specific day and do endless research. This year we are doing the day before he was inaugurated. We found out the hotel he was staying at, who the guests were and we know he talked to reporters because of newspaper accounts. We try to read everything we can about what happened at the time.”

Armed with relevant information, actors who portray President Lincoln (Frank Cook), the President’s wife Mary Todd (Susan Blais), their children Robert, William and Thomas; outgoing President Buchanan and his niece and other invited guests then, including Lincoln’s Vice President Hannibal Hamlin (Howard Bibeault) and wife, Ellen, Secretary John Hay and more feel comfortable greeting as many as 300 guests during each of these two sittings.

Lincoln and his family are be center stage in this interactive theater, but each of the actors will be chatting with guests or displaying an item or two during the event. “I think there has been at least one book written about each one of our characters,” Blais said. “We also have a collection of 150 books written about Lincoln up to his death,” she said of a Civil War display of items they bring along.

The actors–almost all of whom are from Attleboro–range from ages 5 to 85, but “every year we switch out characters to keep it fresh,” she added.

 A very close 21^st century version of the dinner spent at the Willard Hotel, including tomato soup, corn bread, rabbit (substitute chicken), vegetables, and raisin pie and homemade cookies will be served. Food, however, will be a historic appetizer for the two-hour event.

 To keep in the spirit of the time, a women’s group will be singing four popular songs of that time, including Polly Wolly Doodle All Day. There will also be dancing, including waltzes and a play, too. The main subject, President Lincoln, will have a 20-minute presentation. “We encourage our actors and guests to interact with each other,” Blais said.

“We will also have a mercantile store selling, jams, cookies, jewelry, crafts, soap and a reproduction of Lincoln’s inauguration ribbon,” she added. “Each guest will be issued Union 'money' to purchase some items.”

 Blais says research reveals ”the closest Lincoln ever came to Attleboro was Taunton.” But this devoted group of 24 re-enactors brings the President much closer to local citizens through the dinner and throughout the year in other ways, too.

 “We also do volunteer community outreach including presentations at local senior centers, schools, and civil war reenactments,” she said. Blais will also deliver a presentation in reprising her Mary Todd Lincoln role at the Attleboro Industrial Museum on February 17 starting at 6:45 p.m.

 “What is our common interest is our love of Lincoln,” Blais said of the actors and their main motivating factor for this event.  “This is also a fundraiser for the Attleboro Republican Committee, but you do not have to be a Republican to attend this dinner.

 Tickets are $15.00 each and Blais reports they are already about half sold. Two shows will be offered on March 12, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  It is a family- friendl event, open to the public and dress is casual. Contact Attleboro Lincoln Re-enactors at 508-226-8020 for more information on tickets.