By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — With the United States of America’s 250th birthday just three years away, the Historical Commission is hoping the town will host a celebration marking the momentous occasion.
Historical Commission member Abby Kilgore proposed during a recent meeting that the Select Board form a committee that would be tasked with planning a 250th birthday bash that would allow townspeople to celebrate America’s birthday in style.
“The committee would help plan some type of celebration in 2026,” said Kilgore. “There are other cities and towns in the commonwealth that have formed planning committees. We have two-and-a-half years, but we are already in fiscal year 2024. We want to make sure it’s on everybody’s mind by the time 2026 gets here.”
According to an article that appeared in the July 7, 1976 issue of the “Lynnfield Villager,” hundreds of residents attended the town’s 200th birthday celebration for America that was organized by the defunct Lynnfield Couples Club. The events included a costume parade, field day events and the annual Fourth of July Road Race. The field day events included treasure hunts for young children as well as egging-throwing contests, dashes, potato sack races, three-legged races and wheelbarrow races. There were also amusement rides and pony rides.
“There was a whole bunch of things that happened,” recalled Historical Commission member Bob MacKendrick.
MacKendrick noted that the town celebrated Lynnfield’s 200th birthday and the 300th birthday of the Meeting House in 2014.
“There was a parade, but the celebration was not as big as 1976,” said MacKendrick. “It’s definitely a good idea.”
MacKendrick said April 19, 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of the death of Daniel Townsend, who perished in the first battle of the Revolutionary War.
“We can claim that one of our people was killed on the first day of the American Revolution,” said MacKendrick. “How many cities and towns can make that claim?”
“Not many,” said Kilgore in response.
MacKendrick expressed his support for Kilgore’s proposal.
“We should see which other groups are interested,” said MacKendrick. “I know Lynnfield Rotary would be interested.”
Kilgore agreed that other town groups should get involved in the celebration.
“We should get the town onboard and then ask others to participate,” said Kilgore. “I think the churches, schools and the Historical Society would want to be part of it.”
Historical Commission member Erin Hohmann expressed her support for Kilgore’s proposal.
“It’s a great idea,” said Hohmann. “I want to thank you for bringing this forward.”
Chairman Kirk Mansfield and Historical Commission members John Michalski and Steve Todisco also expressed their support for the 250th birthday celebration.
Congress voted in 2016 to form a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization called America250, which will be overseeing the 250th birthday celebration nationally. According to the nonprofit’s website, America250 wants to commemorate America’s birthday with “inclusive programs that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy.”
“America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country,” the nonprofit writes on its website. “This multi-year effort, from now through July 4, 2026, is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.”