By Martin Luttrell
Following last weekend’s successful 250th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, organizer Joanne Lamothe has her mind on other ways of celebrating and sharing Mendon’s history in the coming years.
Lamothe said the Select Board was pleased with the event when she met with them last Monday and receptive when she suggested future historical events to celebrate the town’s founders.
The Aug. 2 event featured trolley rides to locations of historical significance, tours of the Ammidon Tavern, a procession from the tavern to Town Hall, where there was a reading of the Declaration of Independence and portions of the Mendon Resolves before a horseback rider arrived and carried the documents off.
The Mendon Resolves were 19 foundational resolutions written by Joseph Dorr and Edward Rawson and adopted by the town on March 1, 1773. Responding to a communication from Boston’s Committee of Correspondence, these local statements predated and foreshadowed the core principles of the Declaration of Independence.
Lamothe said future founders events could dig deeper into the town’s history, illustrating what life was like here in the 18th Century.
“What I’m thinking of is things that happened in the 1700s, a Colonial encampment to show what it would be like for Minutemen to be sleeping and living in the war,” she said. “Someone who could come and do weaving and use a spinning wheel, along with craft vendors and food vendors, a variety of things to celebrate the founding of the town.
“Someone who could orate the history of the town, how Founders Park came about, Old Cemetery, things like that. … I threw it out as a plant so if we come to them they’ll be aware of it. Hopefully, they’ll be on board for this.”
She said the idea for the 250th celebration came from a conversation with Town Clerk Ellen Agro last year.
“I said maybe we should do a mock signing in the town. Mendon played such a key part such as contributing men to the war, we were there for the Shot Heard ‘Round the World.
“We actually played a part in the pre-Declaration with some of the wording in the Resolution. I said, ‘I think that might be a cool thing to do, since we played a part.’”
She shared her idea with the Select Board, and they liked the idea. From there she brought it to the Cultural Council, of which she is a member, and looked for participation from a number of local boards and organizations.
Planning for the event involved the Brothers of the Brush, Council on Aging, Historic Commission, and the Historical Society. “It worked out well. Each one brought different ideas,” Lamothe said.”
Mendon Historical Society member Rich Schofield acted as trolley tour guide, pointing out several historic buildings and sites of former homes, farms and shops of the town’s founders. His narration included the impact of King Philip’s War, and how “Mother Mendon” gave birth to eight surrounding towns that used to be part of Mendon before they broke away.
After the readings of the Resolutions and Declaration, 56 residents, acting as delegates, were called up to sign a copy of the Declaration.
Demetra Moore said he received an email earlier in the year, and felt it important to be part of this celebration of history.
“I signed up and pleasantly, on July 4, I found out I was selected,” he said. “I thought it was important for me to be here and to represent the Moore family, my father and my mother. My grandkids will have something to see in the future. This is a very important part of our history.”
Lamothe said she was very pleased with how the day unfolded, and the participation of residents. “I think it was fantastic. It was so nice to see so many people of different ages, backgrounds, and how many people were interested in the history of the town,” she said.
“A lot of people have never been in the tavern, and it was the first time it was open to the public. People were excited to see that.
“This was made possible by a lot of people that stepped up to the plate and helped. Without them this would not have gone off the way it did. I really want to thank the community on this.”
Photo top of page: The signers of a copy of the Declaration of Independence gather in front of Mendon Town Hall during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the documents’ adoption by the 13 American colonies. (Alejna Brugos)
