GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The nation's 250th anniversary starts on Saturday with the commemoration of Col. Henry Knox's train of artillery into Massachusetts.
In December 1775, at the direction of General George Washington, 25-year-old Knox led an expedition to retrieve captured British cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York.
Over the next 10 weeks, through deep snow, frozen rivers, and rugged mountains, Knox and his teamsters transported more than 60 tons of artillery across more than 50 towns and two states to the American siege lines outside Boston.
The artillery's arrival in late January enabled Washington to fortify Dorchester Heights and threaten occupied Boston, forcing the British to withdraw — the first significant victory of Washington's Continental Army.
Knox Trail 250 relives the story with a modern procession of ceremonies, re-enactments, and community commemorations along the original route, honoring the people, towns, and spirit that made it possible. There are 56 trail markers commemorating the "noble train of artillery" route to Boston.
The collaboration of communities, historical societies, Berkshires250 and MA250 includes events in the Berkshire towns of Alford, Great Barrington, Monterey, and Stockbridge.
Saturday begins with the crossing of the "Noble Train" from Hillsdale, N.Y., into Alford at Route 71 at 10 a.m. and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Henry Knox Marker. Re-enactors and state and local officials from both states will be attending. The Hillsdale firehouse will host the re-enactors for an educational program at 11:30 a.m. There is limited parking at the marker, and the public is strongly encouraged to attend one of the later programs
A second procession will depart from the Great Barrington Historical Society at 817 South Main St. to the Mahaiwe Theater, 14 Castle St., where a commemorative program will take place at 2 p.m. The procession will feature a living-history portrayal of Henry Knox, accompanied by re-enactors, fifes and drums, draft horses, and sleds hauling replica cannon bound symbolically for Boston.
The program at the Mahaiwe will feature speakers and plaques presented to the towns of Alford, North Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Sandisfield, Otis, Russell, and Blandford.
Further events will take place at the Monterey Library and Bidwell House the following weekend on Jan. 16-18, and the Stockbridge Library Museum & Archives on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Knox celebration will culminate on Tuesday, March 17, at Dorchester Heights at 9 a.m., Evacuation Day in Suffolk County that marks the withdrawal of British troops from Boston.
HILLSDALE, N.Y. \ ALFORD
Knox Marker NY\MA State Line (Route 71)
Saturday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.
Participating States: New York & Massachusetts
Here the state of New York will pass off the sleds and cannons to Massachusetts teams who will continue the journey to Dorchester Heights. This event is supported by
Saratoga250 and
Berkshires250.
GREAT BARRINGTON
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2 p.m.
Participating towns: Alford, Blandford, Egremont, Monterey, Otis, Russell, Sandisfield
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made. This event made possible through
Berkshires250.
MONTEREY
Monterey Public Library
Time: Friday, Jan. 16, 6 to 8 p.m.
Opening Reception of Knox Trail Exhibition. The exhibit will include maps, illustrations, and documents about Knox's trek through the Berkshires. Also photos and memorabilia about the Knox Trail reenactment through Monterey during the Bicentennial in 1976.
Monterey Public Library
Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 to 1
Knox Trail 250 Media Show with talk by Jonathan Barkan about creating the slideshow in 1976 for the Bicentennial and updating it for the 250th. Also, Boston Artillery re-enactors demonstrate process for loading and aiming a cannon (no firing of cannon); and describe sleds used by Knox to transport cannons, etc.
Bidwell House Museum
Saturday, Jan. 17, 1 to 3 p.m.
Boston Artillery re-enactors demonstrate process for loading and aiming a cannon (no firing of cannon); and describe sleds used by Knox to transport cannons, etc.
Monterey Public Library
Saturday, Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Panel discussion about Knox's Noble Train of Cannons through the Greenwoods
(Berkshires) featuring five local historians
Bidwell House Museum
Sunday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m.
Walk on a section of the Knox Trail in Monterey led by Rob Hoogs
SPRINGFIELD
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Saturday, Jan. 17, noon
Participating towns: Palmer, Warren, Westfield, West Springfield, Wilbraham
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local
dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made.
STOCKBRIDGE
Stockbridge Library Museum & Archives
Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 to 4
Stretching along Main Street from the Town Offices to the Mission House, activities will include a quartermaster's tent displaying the kinds of things the army requisitioned from townspeople; a presentation on 18th-century foraging and food by a local historian, and an exhibit of 18th-century artifacts from the collections of the library and Bidwell House. Chat with re-enactors; visit a tavern set-up at the Mission House, and learn about life in the army and on the home front during the American Revolution.
Special programming includes a visit from Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery featuring costumed educators from Fort Ticonderoga, a non-firing reproduction cannon, and two (friendly) oxen; and a presentation by two Mohican veterans discussing the role their ancestors played in the Revolution and the importance of military service in their community.
WORCESTER
American Antiquarian Society
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m.
Participating towns: Brookfield, Leicester, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Spencer
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox Trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made.
STURBRIDGE
Saturday, Jan. 31, & Sunday, Feb. 1
Old Sturbridge Village will offer programs this weekend that look at the legacy of Henry Knox's epic journey and how it was remembered 50 years later. Visitors can experience the training and use of draft animals, sled construction, local 19th-century artillery units, and life in rural New England.
FRAMINGHAM
The Village Hall on Framingham Green
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m.
Participating towns: Marlborough, Southborough, Wayland
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox Trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made.
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Public Library
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2 p.m.
Participating towns: Waltham, Watertown, West Cambridge, Weston
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox Trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made.
ROXBURY
First Parish Church & Dillaway-Thomas House
Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.
Participating towns: Brighton, Brookline
A short procession of horse-drawn sleds, 1776 militia units, artillery unit, and fifes and drums will be followed by an indoor commemorative program recognizing all of the communities along the Knox Trail who aided Knox in 1776. Local dignitaries and historians will speak and presentations to each of the communities will be made.
BOSTON
Dorchester Heights, South Boston
Tuesday, March 17, 9 a.m.
Culminating in the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day, marking Washington's first victory of the Revolution. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with a memorial service in St. Augustine's chapel on Dorchester Street, followed by a short procession up to Dorchester Heights for a commemorative program featuring political and community leaders from around the commonwealth as well as re-enacting units such as the Lexington Minute Men, the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, the Henry Knox Color Guard, the Henry Knox Regiment of Artillery, Gen. George Washington (portrayed by John Koopman) and historical assets from Fort Ticonderoga and
Saratoga 250.
