The gazebo at Kingston Staples American Legion Post 112 is freshly painted, decorated and awaiting the arrival of 16th President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln’s July 2 visit. Supplied photo
OXFORD — American Legion Post 112 in Oxford has big plans for this summer, and they all include feeding the community.
In addition to its Tuesday night concerts, monthly ‘tween’ dances featuring TJ and DJ and monthly poker tournaments, the Legion is partnering with the Oxford Historical Society to host a day of 19th century history at its gazebo.
This Saturday the Legion will have the honor of serving lunch to President Abraham Lincoln and First Lade Mary Todd Lincoln, as portrayed by historical reenactors John and Pamela Voehl.
Co-presented with the Oxford Historical Society, the Legion is hosting “The 161st Anniversary of the Civil War with a Living History of Abraham and Mary Lincoln and Other Civil War Storytellers,” at the legion hall gazebo.
The Voehls will present some of the Lincolns’ historic milestones as well as offer glimpses into the 16th president’s political philosophy and the couple’s home life.
Joining the Lincolns, Maine history reenactors Willi Irish of Leeds and Tizz Crowley of Auburn will offer perspectives of two western Maine 19th century women from wildly difference economic circumstances.
Irish, who is Norland Living History Center’s director of interpretation, will take on the life of Mercy Lovejoy, a mother of ten who lived in Livermore and found herself an inmate of the town’s poor farm after her family cast her out.
Crowley portrays Elizabeth Kingman Horr, who served during the Civil War as a nurse and spent part of the war in Texas with her husband Dr. Oren Horr, who served there as an assistant surgeon with the 114th United States Negro Regiment. Kingman Horr later became a physician and worked in Lewiston. She died in 1920 and is buried at Elm Vale Cemetery in Waterford.
The Legion invites the public to its regularly scheduled programs as well as the Civil War Storytellers event.
Poker tournaments at the Legion Hall are held the second Saturday of the month, starting at 1 p.m.
The next concert will be on July 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and features the Ultimate Country Band. Better Days Band is scheduled for July 26. Concerts are held outside and are free to the public. Please bring your own chair.
Teen dances run the third Friday of the month for kids between the ages of 10 – 13. Times are 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and admission is $7 per person.
American Legion Post 112 sells burgers, hot dogs and refreshments at its functions to fund raise for local organizations.
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