"Mandarin's Harriet Beecher Stowe" to Discuss Author's Historical Legacy
 

Lindsay Schwieterman-Fait, who is known locally as Mandarin's Harriet Beecher Stowe, has been presenting historical portrayals of the famous author since she was in the sixth grade.

She will discuss Stowe's life and historical legacy at the Third Thursday lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the Mandarin Community Club.

The free monthly event is sponsored by the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and the Mandarin Community Club.  It will be held at the community club, located at 12447 Mandarin Road.  Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. prior to the lecture.

Fait, 22, is an honors graduate of the University of Florida, where she double-majored in History and English, with a specialized degree in British Literature.  She is also a poet, author and martial artist.  Recently, she published her first book of poetry, "Of Clay and the Kiln".

Fait said she has found great personal inspiration from Stowe, who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Stowe wintered in Mandarin with her family from 1867 until 1884 and was actively involved in the community.

"Harriet Beecher Stowe's personality and character gave me the inspiration to pursue my own writing," said Fait.  Stowe had a "ceaseless drive to follow her heart and her convictions for change through authorship and action that always proved to me that the pen is mightier than the sword."

Fait, whose maiden name was Schwieterman,  grew up in Mandarin.  She wrote her first book report about Stowe in the third grade at Loretto Elementary School and won Mandarin Middle School's History Fair for her research and portrayal of Stowe when she was in the sixth grade.  In the seventh grade, she took first place in Duval County.  She graduated from Mandarin High School in the charter class for the Advanced International Certificate of Education program.  She has given frequent community presentations about Stowe over the years.

She will be presenting a lecture at the community club.  However, she will be giving a full historical re-enactment of Stowe, dressed in costume, at the 12th annual Winter Celebration in Mandarin at the Walter Jones Historical Park on Saturday, December 3, 2011.

Winter Celebration draws more than 1,000 visitors from throughout North Florida to experience an old fashioned holiday celebration.  The day's program includes choirs and musical performances, hay rides and train rides, arts and crafts, a visit from Santa, tours of the 1875 farmhouse and many other activities.

For more information about the event, contact the Mandarin Museum at (904) 268-0784;  or email: mandarinmuseum@bellsouth.net; or visit: www.MandarinMuseum.net.