As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, communities across the country are beginning to plan how they will mark the historic milestone. In Sullivan County, local historians, organizations, and community groups are organizing a series of events to connect residents with the region’s role in the Revolutionary War and the nation’s founding.
John Conway, Sullivan County’s historian, said planning for the anniversary is being led by the county’s Semiquincentennial Commission, a group made up of people from across the county who have been working for months to build a schedule of events.
“We have a terrific group of people from pretty much every corner of the county,” Conway said. “We’ve been working very hard to put this schedule of events together.”
A dedicated website, SullivanNY250.org, is expected to launch soon, offering residents an easy way to keep track of upcoming programs and activities as more events are finalized.
One of the first major programs planned is a Revolutionary War film festival at the Narrowsburg Union, scheduled for April 24, 25 and 26. Each evening will feature a different film focused on colonial America and the War for Independence. The screenings will include introductions, discussions, and appearances by local reenactors.
“The whole idea of doing these events is to try to come up with programs that appeal to a wide range of people,” Conway said. “Not just people who are deeply interested in history, but people who might enjoy film or other kinds of events as well.”
Later in the summer, a larger history weekend is planned at the Minisink Battleground in Barryville, taking place July 17 through July 19. The weekend will include reenactments, historical demonstrations, exhibits, music, food, and educational programs.
The event will also feature the annual Battle of Minisink commemoration, scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m., which honors the Revolutionary War battle that took place in the region in 1779.
Throughout the summer, programming at Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History will also highlight the Revolutionary War period. While the museum typically interprets life between 1755 and 1785, Conway said this year the focus will shift more heavily toward the years of the American Revolution.
He said the programs will explore how the war affected residents in the Upper Delaware Valley, where communities were often divided between those who supported independence and those who remained loyal to the British crown.
“Virtually every community in America was divided,” Conway said. “Sometimes families were divided over these loyalties.”
Conway noted that settlements along the Upper Delaware River were deeply affected by the conflict, with both Loyalist and Patriot forces carrying out raids that sometimes led to violence and destruction in the region.
Those conflicts ultimately contributed to events such as the Battle of Minisink and the Sullivan Expedition, a campaign ordered by George Washington in 1779 to weaken Loyalist and allied Native American forces that had been attacking frontier settlements.
In addition to historical programs, organizers are working with local arts and cultural groups to broaden the anniversary’s reach. Conway said groups such as the Sullivan County Community Chorus and the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance are also planning to participate.
“It’s not just a small group of people who are interested in history,” Conway said. “A lot of different organizations are getting involved in the 250th anniversary.”
Another highlight planned for the summer is a one-woman play titled “A Revolution of Her Own,” which tells the story of Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. The performance, presented by the Boston-based group History At Play, is scheduled for August 1 at the Narrowsburg Union.
The production’s director, Judith Kalaora, has previously performed historical plays in Sullivan County and will return for the anniversary programming.
Conway said more events are expected to be added as planning continues. He encouraged residents to check the upcoming website for updates and to visit Fort Delaware when it opens for the season.
The museum is scheduled to open May 16, operating on weekends through June and then Thursday through Sunday during July and August before returning to weekend hours in the fall.
“We hope people will come and help us celebrate 250 years,” Conway said.
Graphic: Dr. Benjamin Tusten cared for the injured at Hospital Rock when he and 17 others were killed at the Battle of Minisink