Dover in the 1860s...as Lincoln Saw It

DOVER—
The Woodman Institute Museum on Central Avenue in Dover celebrates the 150th anniversary of young Abe Lincoln’s overnight visit to Dover on March 2, 1860, with the popular exhibition prepared for the celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday in 2009. “This exhibit has been one of the most popular and unique exhibits featured at the museum,” says Thom Hindle, museum trustee and exhibit curator. Last May the Woodman hosted a celebration visit to Dover with Lincoln re-enactor Steve Wood. Many people in attendance described Lincoln’s visit to the Woodman as one of the biggest celebrations seen in Dover in many years. Due to the large interest in the exhibit, and in celebration of his 1860 visit, the Lincoln Exhibition with some additions will continue throughout the 2010 season.
It has been said that it was Lincoln’s decision to visit New Hampshire and his son Robert at school in Exeter that won him the nomination and the election to become our 16th president. The Lincoln exhibit at the Woodman gives visitors an opportunity to see through rare historic photographs what Dover was like during the Civil War and learn facts by viewing actual artifacts related to Lincoln and his assassin John Wilkes Booth. The actual podium used by Lincoln as he gave his two hour speech at city hall and the saddle used by Lincoln to review troops only days before he was assassinated will be on display.
As part of the museum tour, guides will talk about all the unique connections that Dover had with Lincoln, including a U.S. Senator who was at Lincoln’s bedside when he died and escorted the body back to Springfield, and another Dover senator who’s daughter was engaged to an actor by the name of Booth.
The Woodman Institute Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 12:30-4:30 p.m. (except holidays) with exhibits displayed in four historic homes that includes the original 1675 William Damm garrison. The Woodman is a natural history, local history and art museum with something for all ages and interests. You can call 742-1038 for information/group reservations or visit www.woodmaninstitutemuseum.org.
Photo caption: Photos of John Wilkes Booth and Ford’s Theatre on display. (Courtesy photo)

Van Dintel Visits Nation’s Capital through Civil Air Patrol Academy

ROCHESTER—
Vincent Van Dintel, 18, of Berwick, recently participated in Civil Air Patrol’s Civic Leadership Academy from Feb. 20 to Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C., as one of the top 24 cadets in the nation selected for this activity.
The CLA, an academically intense, interactive study of U.S. government in action, provides participants the opportunity to grow as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive leadership, federal government, public service careers and American heritage.
Van Dintel, a member of the New Hampshire Wing’s Highlanders Cadet Squadron in Rochester, has distinguished himself in numerous ways. He has earned the Carl A. Spaatz Award, CAP’s highest honor, and was the cadet commander of his squadron in 2007 and 2008. Van Dintel has been an active CAP cadet since 2004.
“Civic Leadership Academy provides cadets an unrivaled opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of leadership, public service and the principles that guide our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP’s national commander and CLA’s founding director. “This activity empowers our cadets to apply those principles in their own lives and to be thoughtful participants in our nation’s future.”
There is a real career thread running throughout the program, according to Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, CLA activity director and founding faculty member.
Cadet Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets visited the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court where they met with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. They toured the State Department and Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They visited the Central Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon, legislative offices and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Women in Military Service and Lincoln memorials. They encountered VIP speakers at these locations who provided insights designed to deepen their understanding of government in action.
“The success of CLA has been to keep the cadets engaged in activities they could not do on their own,” said Brockman. “The cadets are not just learning about government, but also, how to interact with government, how they can be involved to make a difference, and how to look for internship opportunities.”
In recognition of the program’s outstanding academic value, The National Association of Secondary School Principals again placed CLA on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-10.
In addition to their activities, Van Dintel and the other CLA cadets participated in CAP’s 2010 Legislative Day on Feb. 25 by working alongside their wing commanders in briefing legislators on how CAP’s primary missions – search and rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs – have benefited their communities.
Legislative Day was held in conjunction with CAP’s Winter National Board meeting, which was held on Feb. 26-27 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va. The CAP National Board consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, within the organization’s eight regions. The board is CAP’s policy-making arm and in conjunction with the CAP Board of Governors, proposes amendments to the governing constitution and bylaws.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
Photo caption: Cadet Van Dintel (second from left) and his faculty group in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo)

Author Visits Local Middle School

SOMERSWORTH—
On March 8, author and illustrator, Lita Judge, shared the story behind her book, One Thousand Tracings. She captured the attention and sparked the imagination of the 5th grade students at Somersworth Middle School. Lita shared her background experiences and inspiration as she traced her growth as a writer from childhood to adulthood as a published author and illustrator.
Lita said, “My mom gave me my first journal when I was 5 years old. I was a horrible speller. Keep your journals. My stories have come from my journals. Write about things that you really care about.” After earning a degree in geology and working on a dinosaur dig in Canada Lita said, I yearned to draw. Lita was inspired by her grandmother who was an ornithologist; she also wrote 14 books. Lita realized, “I’m going to want to share the events from my grandmother and mother’s lives.”
“All of a sudden my fear of writing vanished,” she said. She became a writer detective as she stepped into the tracings that she had discovered in a box in her grandmother’s attic. Lita said, “It took a lot of research to figure out the truth. One Thousand Tracings is about sharing, healing, forgiveness, and hope after World War II. I wanted to get to the core of what that hope meant for the German families [who were left starving and homeless]. It’s important to record your family stories. Tell your story through drawings. I used a picture book format. Pictures are symbolic of the story.”
After being inspired by Lita’s presentation, the 5th grade students crafted their original poems. Lita said, “Poetry is a great way of distilling the truth. Writing is layers and layers of telling a good story. Tell your story through drawings. Like a play director make them as authentic as possible. Use your imagination and look at things. Part of being an artist is allowing yourself to explore.”
The 5th grade students cut tracings out from their own feet. They wrote their final drafts of their original poems on them. In June, the student’s tracings and poems will be displayed at the Somersworth International Children’s Festival. The Children’s Festival Grant provided financial assistance for Lita Judge’s visit to Somersworth Middle School. Article submitted by Kathleen Patten.