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Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham
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It’s not every day that a president turns 151.
Um …
Well …
Today is the 151st anniversary of the birth of former president Woodrow Wilson, who came into the world in a house in Staunton off what is now Coalter Street in 1856.
The house is now the centerpiece of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, which is playing host to an 1850s birthday party for Wilson today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“That’s the best part of it – is going back in time into the 1850s,” said Cynthia Polhill, the special-events coordinator at the presidential library.
Tours led by costumed interpreters, period music and refreshments will be the highlights of today’s celebration of the life of Wilson, the 28th president of the United States.

Seven feature galleries of exhibits covering Wilson’s life and times will be open throughout the rolling birthday party.
And storyteller Susan Clark will tell holiday stories at 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

For more on the events, listen to “The Augusta Free Press Show” for an interview on this week’s show featuring Cynthia Polhill – and then go to the presidential library’s website at www.woodrowwilson.org.

Chris Graham is the executive editor of The Augusta Free Press.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].