North Jersey celebrates George Washington's birthday

northjersey.com ^ | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | JIM BECKERMAN

[Coleus]

The general will see you now. And you, and you, and you. As a matter of fact, Gen. George Washington, first commander in chief of the Continental Army and first president of these United States, may end up seeing upwards of 200 people at his birthday ball Sunday at historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge.

That’s a whole lot of hands that Hawthorne’s Rodger Yaden will be clasping in his white cotton gloves. But he’s game. “I’ll shake as many hands as are offered,” says Yaden, who has been doing a full-dress impersonation of the Father of Our Country, from black buckled shoes to tricorner hat, for something like 15 years running.

The “Country Ball Upon the Anniversary of Washington’s Birthday,” an annual event by the Bergen County Historical Society that goes back to 1902, is just one of several local celebrations marking the natal day of Mr. Yankee Doodle himself, who would be turning a youthful 277 on Sunday. “The George Washington Birthday Celebration” at Wayne’s historic Dey Mansion, also on Sunday, won’t be favored with a visit from the first president — who, unlike President Barack Obama, can’t be expected to show up for all the balls.

But there will be costumed reenactors, musket drills, 18th-century music, crafters and birthday cupcakes (while supplies last). Washington, who in real life spent time here — as he also did at New Bridge Landing — will always be the belle of the ball here, even in absentia. “He’s a key figure for all of us,” says Arlene Potenzone, coordinator of events at Dey (pronounced “Dye”) Mansion, where Washington strategized with such aides as the Marquis de Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton in 1780.

“[Washington] actually gave us our freedom,” Potenzone says. “He could have been a king or a czar. He could have been reelected and reelected and stayed in power for life. But he relinquished that power. He gave the country back to us.” The real-life Washington, whose dancing prowess and eye for the ladies are both well known, would probably have relished these celebrations (the event at New Bridge Landing also includes food and cider, dancing by the Tricorne Ensemble and hammer-dulcimer/fiddle music by Hoboken’s Ridley and Anne Enslow).

Well, maybe relished is a bit strong. He would have expressed discreet, seemly approval. Because Washington, wonderful as he was, has also come down to us as a bit of a … well, stiff. “In public, in that time period, a gentleman was not flamboyant,” Yaden says. “A landowner and society person was expected to present himself in a certain manner. He was more reserved.”

All of which presents, for Yaden, certain acting challenges. Washington (1732-1799) was, as everyone knows, a model of probity and rectitude — heroic in war, scrupulously honest in his political dealings, noble in his decision to relinquish power after two terms. But he wasn’t exactly lovable, like Abe Lincoln. And he wasn’t witty, like Benjamin Franklin. And he wasn’t even exasperating, like John Adams.

How do you play a guy like that? Yaden, 55, an experienced regional theater actor who has appeared with Oradell’s Bergen County Players, Garfield’s Lamplighters and his own Forgotten Theatre Company in Ridgewood (they do unfairly neglected plays), says that the secret is not to act, but to react. “You are reacting as you feel Gen. Washington would react,” he says. “I try not to act Washington, but portray Washington. I try to allow what I know of his background to influence me as far as posture, and as far as how I react with other people.”

Yaden’s job as Washington is to do what every politician does on such ceremonial occasions. He greets the public (“Welcome. Thank you for attending this tea in honor of my birthday, and you are cordially invited to join us in the celebrations.”). He offers high-sounding remarks. He pats children on the head and dandles babies. “Children, depending on the age, can be a little awestruck,” he says. “You don’t want to scare them. You don’t want to come across as some kind of big, menacing figure. But by the same token, you have to let them know that you’re a gentleman, and a general, and have authority.

“I did have one baby that cried. But I don’t think I’ve traumatized any children recently.” Yaden was first approached to play Washington, in the 1990s, by Denise Piccino, a Hawthorne neighbor who also happens to be both a trustee of the Bergen County Historical Society and an expert in period dance, costume and hairstyle.

“This is fun, and we’ve gotten a lot of response to it,” says Piccino, who yearly lends Yaden some of her Tricorne Dance Ensemble costumes, not to mention her hairstyling prowess. Yaden does not wear a powdered wig — as indeed Washington did not, most of the time. But he does, with Piccino’s help, elaborately curl his own white locks. And, no, he doesn’t powder them. Over some 15 years, both he and The General have matured together. “This is my natural color,” Yaden says. “It wasn’t this color when I started. At my age, I’m getting more toward the presidential Washington.”

[Coleus]

Rodger Yaden of Hawthorne will be doing a full-dress impersonation
of the Father of Our Country Sunday at New Bridge Landing in River Edge.

 

 

 

Birthday events

• The George Washington Birthday Celebration. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dey Mansion, 199 Totowa Road, Wayne. $1 per person admission. 973-696-1776.
• Country Ball Upon the Anniversary of Washington’s Birthday. 1 to 4 p.m. SundayFeb. 22, the Black Horse Inn, Campbell-Christie House, New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main St., River Edge. Suggested donation: $7, children $5. 201-343-9492 or bergencountyhistory.org.

[Coleus]

.

[hedgetrimmer]

I think I’ll pick up a really big cake this weekend and take it down the the square and give out pieces to celebrate the General’s birthday.

[Coleus]

that’s a good idea, nobody seems to care about washington’s birthday anymore.

[hedgetrimmer]

I do.

I’ll call our local SAR and DAR chapters and see if they want to help.

Self reliance, let’s don’t depend on the mainstream to respect the General. He is one of the greatest men who ever lived. Sad as it is, I can do this by myself if I have to.

[Pharmboy]

Coleus: thanks for the post and ping.

Normally I do not ping the list for reenactments, but this is different. We no longer--as you all know--have a national day commemorating the birthday of the greatest of all Americans, The Indispensable Man.

My favorite portrait of The General: "Washington at Princeton" by Peale. (It should
more correctly be called "Washington after Princeton" since he was too busy fighting
to pose with a cannon, and that smirk on his face after beating the Brits is priceless).

As for me, tomorrow, the 277th anniversary of General Washington's birth, I will be celebrating with the Virginia side of my family near Leesburg. Three Huzzahs! for The General! May his memory live on in every American forever!!

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list

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[the OlLine Rebel]

Cool.

Now, how OLD is this guy?

I really hate how Washington is always depicted as OLD. He was in his 40s for the most part, for God’s sake.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BTTT

[Gondring]

that’s a good idea, nobody seems to care about washington’s birthday anymore.

Well, I DO! :-)

My mother was in McDonalds and said, "I bet you're getting ready to sell lots of cherry pies..." and the kid had no clue why. She told him that it was Washington's birthday coming up and that cherry pies were traditional. Kid didn't know that, so she asked, "do you know why they would be?"

By now, the other workers had come over to listen to my mom, and finally one of them said, "O! A cherry tree...right?" The girl didn't really know the story, but they pieced it together. So Mom then asked, "well, that's just a story...but what was its purpose?"

Stumped again...so Mom had to explain that it was to illustrate George Washington's character--that the important part was what he supposedly said, not the chopping down the tree.

After all of this, Mom asked, "Don't you think I should get a free cherry pie for giving this lesson?" The manager agreed... :-)

Poor mom couldn't believe they knew so little about George Washington or the morality stories. I let her know that while nearly 1/4 of 17-year-olds in America didn't know that George Washington was the commander of the American army in the Revolutionary War, 97% were able to identify Martin Luther King, Jr., as giving the "I have a dream" speech. At least some things are being taught these days!

Mom suggests everyone go do what she did, to try getting some education to our youth who aren't getting it in school--and maybe get a free cherry pie!

[hedgetrimmer]

Mom suggests everyone go do what she did, to try getting some education to our youth who aren't getting it in school

Every day, not just Washington's Birthday.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Poor mom couldn't believe they knew so little about George Washington or the morality stories.

It actually is hard to believe what goes on in public schools today. Textbooks have changed for the worse...

[Gondring]

Every day, not just Washington's Birthday.

HEAR, HEAR!

[thecodont]

Mom suggests everyone go do what she did, to try getting some education to our youth who aren't getting it in school--and maybe get a free cherry pie!

I feel compelled to bake a cherry pie this weekend in Washington's honor.

I'm old enough to remember when Washington's birthday was celebrated separately (the law combining the observance of Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays passed in 1971) and of course cherry pie was on the menu!

Good for your mother for telling the kids the importance of Washington and his character.

[aculeus]

Big BTT!

[SunkenCiv]

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[the OlLine Rebel]

When I worked a certain place ‘95-’96, they still had their own separate WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY as a holiday to be taken off. It wasn’t President’s Day and they didn’t take off Lincoln’s Day, either.

[the OlLine Rebel]

“But he wasn’t exactly lovable, like Abe Lincoln.”

Lovable? How do you get, “lovable”?