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| (Photo by Lorri Glawe) In commemoration of his 200th birthday, President Abraham Lincoln made an appearance at the Albert City-Truesdale School last week - or so it appeared. Stan DeHaan, a dead-ringer for the 16th U.S. President will be appearing at the Spencer Library at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. |
Stan DeHaan, impersonator of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, walked in to the hushed gymnasium in a stately manner at Albert City Truesdale School last week; the resemblance was uncanny. He spoke softly, sharing bits and pieces of Lincoln's life, stressing his involvement in the Civil War and reciting the Gettysburg Address and a portion of the inaugural address and his farewell speech given as he left his home in Springfield, Ill. to become president. He talks also about Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre.
DeHaan has been impersonating Lincoln for 17 years.
Tuesday night, DeHaan will deliver a similar performance before the public at the Spencer Library beginning at 7:30 p.m.
"I enjoy reminding people of a great person," said the Orange City farmer.
In 1982, DeHaan grew a beard for the Centennial at Newkirk and many people told him he resembled Lincoln. His daughter, a school teacher, asked him to come in to her class and talk about Lincoln's life. The third graders accepted him quite well. From that point, he has talked to a variety of groups of all ages and in several areas of the nation and has enjoyed learning about Lincoln.
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| (Photo by Lorri Glawe) Try this on for size. Gentleman Abe offers a student the opportunity to try on his hat. |
In 1994, De Haan entered - and won - a Lincoln look-alike contest in Lincoln, Kan. In fact, De Haan is undefeated as a Lincoln impersonator, having won the same contest in 1996 and 2007 and capturing the title in Hodgenville, Ky., the site of Lincoln's birth.
DeHaan is an inch shorter than the rugged 6'4" Lincoln. His hands are large, like Lincoln's were said to be. He wears a size 14 shoe, as Lincoln did.
The 70-year-old cured the student's curiosity of seeing just how big the stovepipe hat really is. Several had the chance to try it on while others laughed to see it slide right past their tiny eyes, nose, cheeks and chin.
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Mr. DeHaan is making history come alive for students in Iowa schools. It is fitting that he be another example of the good character and intelligence of Iowans. In this 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, I hope DeHaan is called to Washington D. C. to stand before Lincoln's memorial. This is another great story from Spencer which I am pleased to read on line at my computer in Ontario, Canada.
Iowan by birth