The  Elkhart  Historical  Society

 Fall 2014 Events:

Mary Todd Lincoln: Taking Leave

A Dramatic Portrayal of Leaving the White House

October 4, 2014

In anticipation of the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the reenactment of the funeral procession in 2015, the Elkhart Historical Society is pleased to announce two very special events that will be presented to the public this fall.

For our first event on October 4, Springfield resident and Oklahoma native Pam Brown will give the dramatic presentation Taking Leave, written for her by award-winning author Ken Bradbury. Pam’s haunting portrayals of Mary Lincoln are widely known throughout the Midwest and Chicago; recently she played Mrs. Lincoln in The Insanity Re-trial of Mary Todd Lincoln, which was aired on PBS and received a Midwest Emmy nomination. We invite you to hear Mary Lincoln’s reflections on her departure from the White House after living there as the First Lady, enduring the Civil War, and suffering through the assassination and death of her husband. A brief Q&A will follow the performance.

Two shows will be given on October 4; the first at 4:00 p.m., and the second at 7:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Christian Church, 113 South Gillett Street in Elkhart. Tickets for each show are $10. You may also enjoy dinner between performances at The Wild Hare Café, at $25 per person, or The Talk of the Town Restaurant for $16 per person.

To purchase tickets and/or for prepaid dinner reservations, please click here, then call 217-947-2238 for confirmation before sending your check.

Space is limited for both establishments, so we encourage you to book soon.

The Ultimate Betrayal

The Insanity Trial of Mary Lincoln

November 1, 2014

The second event on November 1 is a unique look at the insanity trial that committed Mary Todd Lincoln to an insane asylum. Actress Pam Brown will again portray Mary Lincoln in The Ultimate Betrayal, in which the former First Lady describes the trial, her incarceration, and how she was finally released due in large part to articles published by the press. Donna Daniels, a member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters and a founding member of the Mary Lincoln Coterie, is the author of this presentation. 

Following The Ultimate Betrayal, forensic psychiatrist Terry Killian, MD, and attorney Larry Jeckel, JD, will provide modern-day, professional perspectives of the trial.

As with the previous month’s event, two shows will be given on November 1; the first at 4:00 p.m., and the second at 7:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Christian Church, 113 South Gillett Street in Elkhart. Tickets for each show are $10.  Dinner is offered between performances at The Wild Hare Café, at $25 per person, or The Talk of the Town Restaurant for $16 per person.

To purchase tickets and/or for prepaid dinner reservations, please click here, then call 217-947-2238 for confirmation before sending your check.

Space is limited for both establishments, so we encourage you to book soon.

> 22nd Annual Elkhart Christmas Candlelight Service

> St. John the baptist Chapel