It will be history in action on April 12, when Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, Teddy Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh, and Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lady Bird Johnson all will be presented at the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom to help the Peoria Historical Society celebrate its 80th Anniversary.
In addition to the re-enactments of Peoria stops by those half dozen people, the event includes a boutique sale beginning at 10:00 a.m., lunch at 11:30, and the main program from noon until 1:30 p.m.
Each personality will be portrayed by a local actor whose characterization will touch on the person’s visit to Peoria.
Directed by Rebekah Bourland, who’ll also host, the show has a talented cast: John Parks Jr. as Abraham Lincoln; Eric Turner as Frederick Douglass; Mark Johnson as Theodore Roosevelt; Charles Brown as Charles Lindbergh; Tim Wyman as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Cheri Beever as Lady Bird Johnson.
Lincoln, who visited Peoria 17 times before being elected U.S. president, says, “I have to keep at this until slavery is outlawed across the land … Peoria will be known as the place where I drew the line, right here on your Courthouse square.”
Douglass recalls visiting nearby Elmwood and being referred to renowned orator Robert Ingersoll, with whom he became close friends, and Roosevelt – credited with dubbing Grandview Drive “the World’s Most Beautiful Drive” – remembers his close association with Peoria Bishop John Lancaster Spalding.
The year after Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and shortly after being named Time magazine’s Man of the Year, the former air-mail pilot visited Peoria and here recollects having flown to Peoria often on his St. Louis-to-Chicago route. Ike drew about 9,000 people to the Bradley Fieldhouse for a speech about farm issues, and remembers Everett Dirksen and even Hunter’s hot dog stand in downtown Peoria.
Lady Bird came here to dedicate the new Courthouse Plaza and here recalls a devastating tornado that struck the area a days before her visit.
Beside the figures’ remarks, short entertainment segments will be presented appropriate to the time the historical figures were here. For Lincoln, the Metamora Civil War Dancers will perform; for Douglass, Val Pearce and a gospel trio; for Roosevelt, Pete Driscoll will play ragtime piano; for Lindbergh, the “Lindy Hop” will be performed by John Paul McKean and Cassy Baillie; for Eisenhower, Frank Thomas will present Jack Benny; and for Johnson, Peter, Paul and Mary will be portrayed by Bob Drake, Paul Hamilton and Linda Blossom.
Advance reservations are required and may be made with the Peoria Historical Society by phoning (309) 674-1921. The cost is $40, with tables of eight available at the special price of $300.