Greenevillians will soon have a unique opportunity to take tea later this month with the two individuals most responsible for establishing the Thanksgiving holiday – Sarah Hale and Abraham Lincoln.
“Tea with Lincoln and Hale,” a historical re-enactment, will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, at the Andrew Johnson Clubhouse. Participants will have tea with Sarah Hale, editor of the Godey’s Lady’s Book magazine who led the effort to have Thanksgiving established as a national holiday, and President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the decree making the national day of thanks a holiday.
The event is a fundraiser for the Andrew Johnson Heritage Association with the proceeds to benefit the National History Day activities in Greene County middle and high schools. The Andrew Johnson Heritage Association provides a majority of the funding for local National History Day activities that are coordinated by the Tusculum College Department of Museum Program and Studies. Local students have advanced to the national competition several times since the program’s inception.
Hale will be portrayed by Dr. Taimi Olsen, a former English professor at Tusculum College who has joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee. Olsen has portrayed Hale previously in a local program. A few years ago in a “Tea and Treats” event at the Doak House Museum, Dr. Olsen gave a first-person portrayal of the 19th century renaissance woman, who authored the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Lincoln will be portrayed by Chris Small, who is well known for his first-person portrayals of the 16th president. Small is founder of the Lincoln Project, which recently produced two films, “Abraham Lincoln’s Faith” and “Lincoln and Emancipation.” With a motto, “Bringing Lincoln to Life,” the Lincoln Project presents programs that show Abraham Lincoln as he lived – his principles and values and encourage audiences to apply Lincoln’s character traits to their lives.
The tea will feature delectable treats of the mid-19th century and will include Lincoln’s favorite cake. The tea will be catered by Rachel Bewley.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling Joyce Doughty at 423-636-7372 or Shirley Snyder at 423-639-4563.