‘A Visit with President Lincoln’ is Historical Society’s February Program

Submitted by Carol Amick, for the Bedford Historical Society

Steven Wood as Abraham Lincoln – Courtesy image (c) all rights reserved

Matching Lincoln’s height and beard, Steve Wood, of Claremont, NH, bears enough of a resemblance to our 16th president to make heads turn even when not wearing black trousers, vest, frock coat, and stovepipe hat. This happens to him especially in February, the month we celebrate President Lincoln’s birthday and honor him on President’s Day.

Mr. Wood’s first-person historical interpretation, “A Visit with Abraham Lincoln,” will be hosted by the Bedford Historical Society on Sunday, February. 25 in Upper Fellowship Hall of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 25 The Great Rd. This event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a refreshment period starting at 2 pm. “President Lincoln” will begin his stories around 2:30, after brief announcements by Society officers.

Mr. Wood’s interpretation of our 16^th president will start with a description of Lincoln’s early life and will include anecdotes from Lincoln’s visits to MA and NH. He will comment on Lincoln’s campaign debates with Stephen Douglas, his run for the presidency, and the Civil War, and will conclude with a stirring reading of Lincoln’s most well-known speech, his Gettysburg Address.

A graduate of the University of Maine, School of Forestry, Mr. Wood retired in 2003 after nearly 30 years as an Extension Educator in Forest Resources for the Univ. of NH Cooperative Extension Service. Since 1995 he has been researching and presenting Living History programs as Abraham Lincoln and has performed for historical societies and at schools, libraries, and community events. He has been featured in New Hampshire Magazine, on WMUR (NH) Chronicle, WCVB (Boston) Chronicle, NH Public Radio’s “Front Porch” and “The Exchange” and also portrayed Lincoln as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, “American Originals.”

He is a member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, the League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling and the NH Storytelling Alliance.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a committee appointed by the Bedford Selectmen to administer funds provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.