Brecksville Library to Host Historical Presentation on One of America's First Ladies

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, the  will host a Dolley Madison presentation. Carol Starre-Kmiecik, Lakewood actress, will portray the first lady of James Madison at the free event. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Brecksville Library and the city, according to the library's website.

“People will learn a little bit about history and a little bit more about Dolley Madison that they never knew before,” said Brecksville Library Public Services Assistant Dale Piper.

Madison was first lady from 1809 to 1817 during her husband’s term, which is around when Brecksville became a community 200 years ago. Not everybody knows she had her own quirks despite her noble status.

“She had a parrot which was named Polly,” Starre-Kmiecik said about the bird Madison taught to greet her party guests.

Starre-Kmiecik has been acting since age 14 and had decided to write her own material on historical characters once she had children.

“I look for the funny things in all my shows,” she said. “I try to get a few laughs because there’s always tragedies too, and I don’t want to dwell on the tragedy.”