The 250th Anniversary of Independence: Thetford group awarded grant to plan celebrations

Back in December of 2020, Vermont Governor Phil Scott created the 250th Anniversary Commission "to plan, coordinate and promote observances and activities that commemorate the historic events associated with the American Revolution in Vermont."  The Commission's role is to engage the participation of residents, teachers, students, cultural institutions, state and local societies, and local governments in recognizing the nation's struggle for freedom and how echoes of that conflict persist even today.

In Thetford, a group of residents — among them Cynthia Shelton Tina Foster, and Sherry Merrick — are keen to coordinate town-wide events to mark this occasion. They learned that the nonprofit organization Vermont Humanities, affiliated with the non-federal National Endowment for the Humanities, was offering grants of up to $5,000 for "America 250" projects. For this Vermont Humanities encourages the type of project that takes on the "American Experiment" in all its complexity.

Indeed, the Town of Thetford before and after 1776 was at the cross-currents of several conflicting forces. While the British had suffered defeat in 1775 at Fort Ticonderoga at the hands of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, they staged a comeback in 1777. British General Burgoyne brought the war back to the colonies, re-taking Ticonderoga only to suffer partial defeat in Bennington. The British continued to threaten Vermont from Canada, and Thetford feared raids by pro-British colonists, also known as Tories. The Town also feared attacks by indigenous fighters, since some (but not all) tribes fought on the side of the British in an ill-fated attempt to protect their right to the land in the face of colonization. Even after American independence was declared, thirty men from Thetford and neighboring Strafford defected to the side of the British. In response, an expedition was mounted from Thetford to seize the property of Tories in Strafford and bring back to safety any families who feared raids by the British or indigenous fighters. Land was also confiscated from Thetford residents who were accused of Tory sympathies.

During the 1777 attack on Ticonderoga, the Thetford Revolutionary soldier Richard Wallace, accompanied by Newbury's Ephhraim Webster, swam two miles across Lake Champlain, through the British fleet, to General Lincoln's Revolutionary militia on the east side of the lake. This set Lincoln's troops in motion to skirmish with Burgoyne's men at Castleton.

There was also the struggle between New York, which laid claim to the territory now called Vermont, and New Hampshire, which felt that they already owned Vermont (part of the so-called New Hampshire Grants) prior to New York's action. In January of 1777, a convention of representatives from towns in the territory declared the region independent, choosing the name the Republic of New Connecticut (although it was known colloquially as the Republic of the Green Mountains). On June 2 of that year, the name was officially changed to "Vermont" (from the French, les verts monts, meaning the Green Mountains). However Thetford remained undecided, and it was not until 1782 that the town firmly declared itself to be part of Vermont. 

The nation came into being due in no small part to Vermont’s participation during events of this turbulent period.  

In their proposal to Vermont Humanities, the group of residents wrote that they would organize a celebration of Thetford to promote thinking about Thetford's past, present, and future that would include all eight of its villages. This is envisaged as a multi-media happening with musical and theatrical events, art installations, a photography contest, and other exhibits. Each village would decide how to participate, and the events would culminate in a celebration on the Thetford Center village green and, to round things off, a grand Labor Day Parade. Particular care would be taken to make all events ADA accessibl,  and to that end large-print copies of all printed materials will be offered while speaking events will use microphone amplification.

The group plans to work with the Thetford Historical Society, the Thetford Hill Village Improvement Society, the Churches in Post Mills and Thetford Hill, the Thetford Center Community Association, the Latham and Peabody Libraries, the Lake Fairlee Book Club, the Koasek (Co'wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, NEFOC (New England Farmers of Color) in North Thetford, and the Parish Players.

This thoughtful proposal met with success. There is now an award of $5,000 from Vermont Humanities that the group anticipates will be shared among the various villages and participants. Let the planning proceed!