Pottery: Sue Brewster.
My retirement community has prepared for the country’s 250th anniversary — counting from April 19, 1775, when “the shot heard ’round the world” was fired at the North Bridge — in charateristic ways. In the pottery workshop, for example.
You will be pleased to know that the American experiment in democracy lasted nearly 250 years. It’s nothing like geologic time, but it’s pretty good depending on your frame of reference.
There will be celebrations all around New England to recognize the key events of 1775. In our town, the day will include an extra long parade and a visiting dignitary whose name the planners withheld until the last minute.
Back in 1975, the 200th anniversary of Patriots Day, the visiting dignitary was Gerald Ford. Protesters camped out on the hill above the North Bridge, by the Buttrick Mansion. They are said to have been rowdy, and Emerson Hospital had to treat several of them. This time, extensive preparations were made to handle rowdiness.
To give you a taste of the day’s activities at just one of many locales, here is what the museum posted:
“Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of April 19, 1775, with a free community celebration at the Concord Museum. … Free admission (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), including access to the immersive April 19, 1775 galleries to see the original lantern from Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride and the new special exhibition Whose Revolution.
“A family-friendly encampment of Revolutionary Living History (10:00 am – 5:00 pm). Billerica Colonial Minutemen will drill with muskets, cook over an open firepit, and demonstrate colonial crafts.
“Family drop-in activities (9:00 am – 4:00 pm) inspired by the American Revolution and the new Barefoot Books publication Rise Up!
“A Forum with Doris Kearns Goodwin (6:00 – 7:00 pm) on the American Revolutionand its legacy. In-person attendance is at capacity. Join a stand-by line or register for virtual attendance.
“An outdoor concert with the Goodwin Band (7:30 – 8:30 pm), finishing with a view of a town-wide drone show.
“Food trucks, an ice cream truck, and a wine and beer truck all day and evening.”
Speaking of food trucks, you should know that they were a big bone of contention a few years ago at Town Meeting, when planning was getting underway. Not historically accurate, you know.
I have no idea where you can park, but if you can get here early, our tourist site notes, “church bells at 1st Parish toll at 5:45 a.m. to sound the alarm [and] Dr. Prescott arrives at the North Bridge after riding across the fields calling out the warning to towns and villages that the [British] Regulars were on the march and that their destination was Concord. The Concord Minutemen fire salutes and the Concord Independent Battery fire several volleys from the field at the Old Manse.”
I have heard the Independent Battery fire historically accurate volleys several times over the years, and my advice to you is to wear earplugs.
For other information, check the town website, here.
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