On Friday evening, April 14, 1865, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot, while watching the play "Our American Cousin" in Ford's Theatre in Washington. Exactly 135 years later, on Friday evening, April 14, 2000, the memory of President Lincoln will be honored with a performance of "Our American Cousin" in the Music Hall of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, located at 300 Beechwood Avenue in Carnegie Borough.

This performance kicks-off a weekend of Civil War-related activities, all of which will benefit artifact restoration in the Library's Civil War Museum, the Captain Thomas Espy Post, No. 153, Grand Army of the Republic. This weekend of events is being presented by the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, a group of Civil War reenactors, and co-sponsored by the Chartiers Valley Partnership and the Andrew Carnegie Free Library.

In addition to the 8 p.m. April 14 performance of "Our American Cousin," this production will also be shown Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Other events, during this weekend, include tours of the Civil War Museum, reenactment of a Civil War encampment in Library Park outside of the Library, and a gallery of Civil War-era pictures that can be viewed and purchased.

More than one hundred Civil War artifacts are located in the Library's Civil War Museum. Most of these artifacts were brought back, from the War, by area soldiers who fought in the conflict. The money raised, during this benefit weekend, will be used to pay for a professional study of how best to preserve these historic relics; a humidity control system, to prevent moisture damage to Civil War-era books and newspaper articles, is also being considered.

Ticket prices for "Our American Cousin" are $15 for General Admission, $20 for Dress Circle, $25 for Grand Tier, and $30 for Presidential Circle. Tickets can be reserved in advance by sending a check for the proper amount, along with the preferred performance date, to Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves,

P.O. Box 10402, Pittsburgh, PA 15234; include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your order. Tickets will also be on sale at the door.