FORBES HOUSE MUSEUM TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL LINCOLN DAY ON SUNDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2012, FROM 1-4PM.
 
Forbes House Museum will hold its annual Lincoln Day celebration on Sunday, 12 February 2012, from 1-4pm at 215 Adams Street, Milton.

Activities for Lincoln Day include military drills with re-enactors from the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company A and the 7th Tennessee Company G.

The United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the 22nd Massachusetts ladies civilian group) and the Attleboro GOP Re-enactors will offer interactive exhibits. Activities include a guest appearance by First lady, Mary Todd Lincoln.

The FHM Lincoln Cabin will be open to visitors. Hot chocolate will be served in the tradition begun by Mary Bowditch Forbes in 1924. Suggested donation for Lincoln Day is $5 per family.

In 1923, Mary Bowditch Forbes, granddaughter of China Trade merchant Captain Robert Bennet Forbes, commissioned the construction of the President’s Kentucky birthplace on the grounds of Forbes House. Ms. Forbes began the tradition of inviting veterans, former slaves and the local citizenry to Lincoln Day festivities each year.

For more information on Infantry and civilian groups participating in Lincoln Day 2012, visit their websites:
http://www.22ndmass.org/
http://www.54thmass.org/
http://7thtennesseeinfantry.org/
http://www.attleborogop.com/html/lincolnreenactors.html

See Lincoln Day Photo of 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company A recruit, Ray Bartlett, and Colin Crehan, attendees of the FHM 2011 Lincoln Day celebration.

FHM HOSTS CONCERT OF CIVIL WAR MUSIC AS PART OF 2012 LINCOLN DAY CELEBRATION.

FHM will offer a concert of Civil War era music on Lincoln Day, 12 February 2012, at 4:30pm.  The band, Dixon’s Gold, comprised of lead musician, Scott Shetler, along with Jill Gross, Bruce Millard and Mitch Nelin, will cover songs sung by Civil War troops, both north and south. The origins of this music genre can be traced back to Irish and English ballads, since conscripts during the war were direct descendants of those countries. Dixon’s Gold will perform with mandolin, mandocello, string bass, penny whistle, clarinet, banjo, and guitar along with vocals. The audience will be encouraged to sing along.

Tickets are available in advance; $10 per person for adults; $8 per person for members; $25 for a family of four; $20 for a member family.

For more information on Scott Shetler and Dixon’s Gold, visit the website http://www.cmonman.com/.

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FHM RELEASES ITS ANNUAL TOPIC FOR THE LINCOLN ESSAY & DRAWING CONTEST; SUBMISSION DUE BY 2 MARCH 2012 AT 5PM.

The Forbes House Museum is pleased to release it annual topic for the Lincoln Essay & Drawing Contest, which is open to all K-8 students in Greater Boston and beyond. Original essays and drawings must be delivered to the FHM by the deadline date of Friday, 2 March 2012 at 5pm.

For complete submission guidelines, visit the FHM website at http://forbeshousemuseum.org/educational.html. A PDF brochure can also be downloaded, containing all necessary information.

An awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, 15 April 2012 at 2pm. A prize of $25 will be awarded to the first place winner of each grade level through the generosity of the Milton Village Office of Citizens Bank. Winners will also receive a one-year complimentary Family Membership to FHM.

The 2012 Lincoln Essay & Drawing topics are:

2012 Lincoln Essay Contest Question:
Grades 4-8
Slavery was one of the major issues which brought on the Civil War in April of 1861. It was not until January 1, 1863, however, that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The President has often been criticized for waiting so long to issue this historic document. If you had been president what steps would you have taken to end slavery?

2012 Lincoln Drawing Contest Topic:
Grades K-3
When President Lincoln took office in 1861 the family had a number of pets including a pony and goats for his young sons Willie and Tad. Draw a picture of the Lincoln family and their pets.

For more information on Lincoln Day, the Lincoln Day Concert with Dixon’s Gold or the Lincoln Essay & Drawing Contest,  contact the Forbes House Museum at (617) 696- 1815 or by e-mail at info@forbeshousemuseum.org. Visit our website at www.forbeshousemuseum.org or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/forbeshousemuseum.

Photo (jpeg file) attached: