Newtown Historical Society will celebrate Presidents Day with a talk about the much loved Abraham Lincoln.

“Abraham Lincoln, Man of Compassion” will be presented by Paula Hopewell on Sunday, February 16, at 2 pm, in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. The presentation is free although donations are welcome and will benefit the historical society.

Abraham Lincoln’s rise from his humble roots in Kentucky to become President of the United States captures our imagination as the very essence of the American dream. It wasn’t easy to get there, however.

Lincoln’s immersion in both slave and non-slave states prepared him to navigate the great trial of the Civil War. Hopewell’s talk will feature highlights of Lincoln’s life and family and the sources of his incredible ability to understand, appreciate and consolidate many different opinions.

The presentation will also include some of Connecticut’s ties to Lincoln including his connection to Harriet Beecher Stowe. In addition the voting record of Newtown and some of its neighboring communities in Lincoln’s two elections will be shared.

Paula Hopewell has worked on polls in Brookfield for more than 25 years so she is well equipped to present Newtown’s vote in Lincoln’s election runs. Her college major was math and she has an MBA and did marketing research for nine years.

As a native of northern Kentucky, however, her roots spurred her fascination with Abraham Lincoln. She gave her first Lincoln talk in 2011 and has been pleasing audiences ever since.

She is a member of the Lincoln Forum and the Lincoln Group of New York. Active in community affairs, she also currently is a member of Newtown Lions Club.

Registration is available through chboothlibrary.org.