Presentation Brings Abe Lincoln's Friend to Milford School
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
MILFORD – Throughout Doyne Carson’s presentation Thursday, Milford School fourth-graders could be heard gasping and laughing, when not quietly sitting hanging onto Carson’s every word. Carson is a Lafayette-based author and storyteller who presents the story of Abigail Gollaher, a childhood friend of Abraham Lincoln. As Gollaher, Carson recounts the childhood adventures of her brother, Austin, and his best friend, Abe. Each story is based on actual events from the life of Lincoln. Dressed in early 19th century garb, her props included a wooden mallet, turkey feathers, a coon-skinned cap, a luffa squash sponge and more. Her stories detailed events in the lives of the Lincoln family, some even before Abraham was born. Hayley Beauchamp, development and marketing communications manager, The Honeywell Foundation Inc., said Carson has been a recurring in-school residency artist with the Educational Outreach Program through the Honeywell Foundation. Carson’s presentations are made to students in third to fifth grade through the Outreach Program. Every program selected for the program is curriculum based and meets the state requirements, Beauchamp stated. The Education Outreach Program serves 12 counties and serves more than 40,000 students a year. More than 700 opportunities were provided to Milford School this school year, Beauchamp said. The programs are free to schools.
