Independence Day in Mendon

Independence Day Has Special Meaning in Mendon

Independence Day in Mendon in 1882 was celebrated in a special way.

, a family recreational

resort, had its grand opening. There had been a renewed interest in

, the town's most beautiful

natural resource. It offered clean water surrounded by pure air. "Nature's beauty spot" provided the setting for

family festivities in celebrating the birth of our nation.

Opening day on the Fourth of July attracted hundreds of people who enjoyed many leisurely activities. There

were opportunities for rides around the lake in row boats, sail boats, and a newly licensed steam boat.

There was a clam bake at the grove near Nipmuc Hall. Swings, hammocks, and rocking chairs were

available for visitors who wished to relax while listening to the spirited sounds of Brown's orchestra. Picnic

lunches were enhanced by summer treats that were for sale. After sundown, there was a fireworks display

from John Guild's cottage from the island. Nipmuc Park provided a Fourth of July to remember.

The celebration of our independence from Great Britain is a reminder of Mendon's role in the early stages of

the American Revolution. The town's Fourth Meeting House at the north end of Old Cemetery was the site of

fiery speeches and debate. The Sons of Liberty in Boston took note of

from a

town meeting on March 1, 1773. Six scholarly residents, in response to a letter from Boston's Committee of

Correspondence, wrote wording that clearly defined the issues of the colonies. They included.....that all men

have naturally a right to life, liberty, and property, and that a just and lawful government must originate with

the free consent of the people. Another resolve stated that quartering an army in a free country in times of

peace without the consent of the people was a violation of rights of free men. The other resolves, similar in

tone and eloquence, were debated and approved at that meeting. Colonial leaders, such as Samuel Adams,

John Hancock, and Paul Revere, took notice.

The opening of Nipmuc Park on the Fourth of July in 1882 was a special celebration of our freedom. More

than one hundred years earlier in 1773, the spirit of the American Revolution was exemplified at a Mendon

town meeting, just down the street, near the corner of Providence Road and Blackstone Street. We celebrate

the birth of our nation as July 4, 1776, and we credit Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of

Independence. It was a proud day in our history, one to celebrate. Most certainly it could be said that the

founding fathers of our nation were well aware of what took place at a Mendon town meeting three years

earlier. Independence Day has a special meaning in our town, and it is with pride that we celebrate it.

Richard Grady -- Mendon Historical Society -- June 11, 2015

(The Fourth Meeting House became obsolete by 1843. It was sold a

nd dismantled. The wood was

purchased by

for the workers of his bakery. It currently exists as the

home of Randy and Sharon Gebelein at 8 Hastings Street.)

For more information about Mendon in the American Revolution, see Dan Malloy's website

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