ThisWeek CW 06/28/2012
The Canal Winchester Area Historical Society will have a very special guest at its July meeting: President Theodore Roosevelt.
Of course, Roosevelt died in 1919; however, teacher and historical re-enactor Larry Marple will be on hand to portray the man who became the 26th president of the United States.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, at the O.P. Chaney Mill, 10 W. Oak St., and is free to the public.
“I started portraying Teddy about four years ago after one of my students said that I looked like him,” Marple said.
Marple is a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher at Mill Hill Elementary School in Springfield, Ohio.
“I’ve always admired Roosevelt and respected him. My wife worked at Carriage Hill Historical Farm in Dayton, so we had vintage clothes on hand and I worked on getting his hair and speaking style,” Marple said. “Since starting, I’ve been invited to perform in Washington, D.C., and I was recently in Seattle, presenting throughout their library system.”
Marple will perform as Roosevelt for 45 minutes and then answer questions about the president, Historical Society president Mike Ippoliti said. Refreshments will be provided.
“I’ll also bring a display of items from my collection of Roosevelt stuff,” Marple said. “A couple standouts are a bandanna for the 1904 presidential campaign, including a picture of Roosevelt and Vice President Fairbanks, as well as a letter signed by Roosevelt that I found in a Springfield flea market for $2.50.
“It was just mixed in with a box of letters someone was going to throw out. That was a cool find.”
The prized possession of his collection is an autographed album of the Rough Riders who served with Roosevelt in the Spanish-American war, he said.
The Canal Winchester Historical Society hosts events such as this quarterly, according to Ippoliti. He said they offer an opportunity to learn more about U.S. and Ohio history, as well as encourage membership in the society.
“If it wasn’t for our members, we couldn’t hold fun and interesting events like this,” Ippoliti said. “Their dues pay for preserving our history in Canal Winchester. They pay for our newsletters and help keep the historical buildings in shape and operating.”
According to Marple, Roosevelt was one of the country’s most productive presidents and was well known for his own desire to preserve nature and history.
“One thing I like to point out is that Roosevelt saved an average of 80,000 acres of land a day for federal reserves and parks and the like,” Marple said. “I’m so excited to do this program, especially the night before the Fourth of July, because Roosevelt preached a doctrine of Americanism. He wanted this nation to be the greatest in the world and I believe it is — so what a better time to perform as him, one of our strongest patriots?”