We Made History-historical re-enactors,serious portrayers

What we are Who we are What we do Venues How to find us What people say about us

Donald Miller
as
President Ulysses S. Grant

Dale Liikala
as
President William H. Taft

Linda Laronge
as
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

(L to R): Bob Hodder, Don Miller, Dale Liikala, Linda Laronge, Ed Haney, Debbie Weinkamer, John King, and Marian King

In Memoriam

Robert Hodder

(a.k.a. Theodore Roosevelt)

March 31, 2013

Friend & Colleague

New for 2013:
George Washington,
portrayed by Dale Fellows of Willoughby Hills, OH
216-299-2330

Edward Haney
as
President James A. Garfield

Deborah Weinkamer
as
First Lady Lucretia R. Garfield

John W. King
as
President Abraham Lincoln

Marian King
as
Mary Todd Lincoln

New!

Enjoy photos from the 2013" Dinner with the Presidents" at the Hudson, OH Yours Truly restaurant. The photographer was Michele Kisthardt, Marketing Director for Yours Truly Restaurants.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151362301113763.463039.110172403762&type=1

In this link you will find, “In the company of (dead) presidents,” by Ann Hoevel at CNN.com which was released early November for her blog, “Geek Out!” Ann interviewed our presidential living historians and captured why we do what we do. There are also great photos accompanying this piece – you just have to click on the numbers below the photo at the top of the story.
http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/02/in-the-company-of-dead-presidents/?hpt=hp_bn11

Read about Lucretia Garfield being a guest blogger here
http://coffeewithken.blogspot.com/2012/03/guest-blogger-debbie-weinkamer-on.html

Article in the News-Herald Newspaper about We Made History. Visit the online edition here:
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2012/01/09/news/nh4928879.txt?viewmode=fullstory

(To see past news articles about the We Made History Troupe please click)

Upcoming Events

Calendar of Upcoming Events
Last modified: 05/11/2013

Mon. 5/13/2013 North Olmsted, OH	“A Conversation with Eleanor & Lucretia” - portrayed by Linda Laronge & Debbie Weinkamer for Cuyahoga County Public Library’s North Olmsted Branch. Free – Registration Required
Tue. 5/14/2013 Bay Village, OH	“A Conversation with Eleanor & Lucretia” - portrayed by Linda Laronge & Debbie Weinkamer for Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Bay Village Branch. Free – Registration Required
Tue. 5/14/2013 Olmsted Falls, OH	"Meet the Lincolns" - President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln portrayed by John & Marian King for Riverview Pointe Care Center.
Sun. 5/19/2013 Williamsfield, OH	*“A Visit with Abraham Lincoln” - portrayed by John W. King for Williamsfield United Methodist Church.*
Fri. 5/24/2013 Mattawan, OH	*“A Visit with the Lincolns”* - President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln portrayed by John & Marian King for Mattawan Middle School.
Wed. 5/29/2013 Parma Heights, OH	“A Conversation with Eleanor & Lucretia” - portrayed by Linda Laronge & Debbie Weinkamer for Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Parma Heights Branch. Free – Registration Required
Sat. 6/01/2013 Moreland Hills, OH	“A Visit with the Garfields” - Portrayed by Ed Haney & Debbie Weinkamer for the Moreland Hills Historical Society’s J.A. Garfield Memorial Cabin Season Opening.
Mon. 6/03/2013 Mentor, OH	*“Beyond the Veil: Spiritualism & the Widowed First Ladies”- Mary Todd Lincoln & Lucretia R. Garfield portrayed by Marian King & Debbie Weinkamer* *for Mentor Public Library’s* “Monday University.”
Tue. 6/18/2013 Brecksville, OH	*"From Log Cabin to the White House" -President James A Garfield portrayed by Ed Haney for the Brecksville Branch-CCPL*
Sun. 6/23/2013 Parkersburg, WV	*“Meet the Lincolns”* - President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln **portrayed by John & Marian King for West Virginia’s 150^th Birthday Celebration.**
Sat. 7/6/2013 Greenville, OH	*“Meet the Lincolns” -* President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln **Portrayed by John & Marian King for the 6^th Annual Greenville Heritage Days Festival.**
Sat. 7/20/2013 Salem, OH	*“A Visit with Abraham Lincoln” - portrayed by John W. King* *for the United Quilt Guild's 7th Biennial Quilt Show* “Quilts of the Underground Railroad” Salem Community Center
Sat. 7/27/2013 Jamestown, PA	*“Meet the Lincolns” -* President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln portrayed by John & Marian King for the 20^th Annual Pymatuning Pioneer & Arts Festival.
8/6/2013-8/11/2013 Jefferson, OH	“A Visit with Abraham Lincoln”- portrayed by John W. King for the Ashtabula County Fair Tuesday, August 6, 2013 –Sunday, August 11, 2013. 5-6 hours/day.
Sat. 8/10/2013 Conneautville, PA	**“A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln” portrayed by Marian King for the 13^th Annual Canal Park Summer Music Festival. Conneaut Valley Historical Canal Park**
Wed. 8/28/2013 Beachwood, OH	“George Washington & the Constitution” - portrayed by Dale Fellows for the Rose Institute for Life Long Learning.
Sat. 10/5/2013 Keystone,SD	*“An Evening with William H. Taft”* Portrayed by Dale Liikala for the Mount Rushmore Society’s Annual Presidential Banquet.
Sun. 10/6/2013 Twinsburg, OH	“From Log Cabin to White House” - -President James A. Garfield Portrayed by Ed Haney for the Twinsburg Public Library’s *Ohio Presidents Series.*
Fri. 10/18/2013 Kirtland, OH	*“A Visit with the Lincolns” - “A Visit with the Lincolns”* President & Mrs. Abraham Lincoln - Portrayed by John & Marian King for Lakeland Community College Fall Senior College Day.
Tue. 2/11/2014 Chagrin Falls, OH	"Letters from the Front" - General and Mrs. James A. Garfield portrayed by Ed Haney and Debbie Weinkamer. Program for the Windermere No.113 Royal & Select Masons Council, held at the Chagrin Falls Masonic Lodge.
Tue. 2/25/2014 Brecksville, OH	*"First Lady of the World" - Eleanor Roosevelt, portrayed by Linda Laronge* *for the Brecksville Women’s Club.*

What we are

Our troupe of first-person living historians from northeastern Ohio are more than impersonators or re-enactors. We are serious portrayers of U.S. Presidents and First Ladies. We have taken countless hours of study and research about these people from the past and have created an interpretation that captures the essence of their individual personalities. We look at the totality of their lives and the times in which they lived and are not bound by modern-day political correctness or revisionist history. These Presidents and First Ladies had very exciting lives without embellishing a moment! Our troupe members reside in northeastern Ohio but can make arrangements to travel to other locations.

Who we are

Our past experiences include teaching, community theater, and providing interpretation, education, and research at the national presidential site in Mentor, Ohio.

What we do

We put our story-telling techniques to use in presenting programs in a most engaging and thought-provoking manner. Re-enactment & historical performances are tailored to your group’s interests and requirements, including photo opportunities and informal interactions. Most programs are 40-minutes long, followed by a question-and-answer session. However, we’ve been known to stroll at community events and local eateries, all in the name of educating the public about the Presidents and First Ladies.

Venues

Our presidential living historians have brought history to life for schools, historical societies, Civil War Roundtables, Civil War battlefield dedication, civic groups, libraries, ladies’ and men’s organizations, church groups, local public television shows, Garfield Family Reunions (current generations), and parades. Browse here to see some dates, locations and information of past performances.

We alter the performances of our historical re-enactments according to our audience needs and interests.

How to find us

Contact Information:

For general information regarding reasonable fees and bookings contact us at:

We Made History Living Historians
5999 Jane Drive
Mentor, OH 44060-2110
or email us individually:

Abraham or Mary Lincoln jwking329@yahoo.com	U.S. Grant bessmort9@roadrunner.com
Lucretia Garfield lucretiagarfield@gmail.com	Eleanor Roosevelt eroosevelt1884@yahoo.com
James Garfield jagarfield@sbcglobal.net	William Taft dliikala@gmail.com
George Washington dalefellows@sbcglobal.net

John W. King, Debbie Weinkamer, Ed Haney, the late Bob Hodder, Don Miller, Linda Laronge, and Dale Liikala, and as they look in real life

We are members of the National Registry of Living Historians www.learningwithease.com/registry/index.cfm