METHUEN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY

Join Us!
Annual Fourth of July Reading of the Declaration of Independence at Meeting House Hill Cemetery

Event starts at 10 am

The fourth annual reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place on July 4, 2023. Join the Methuen Historical Society as we celebrate our nation’s 247th birthday!

In 1776, the Continental Congress mandated that every town read the Declaration of Independence at their various Meeting Houses.  In addition, every town had to print the Declaration in the official records of the community. In Methuen, the Declaration of Independence was entered into our records on July 17, 1776.

 

All are invited to come to Methuen’s Meetinghouse Hill (located across from the entrance to Holy Family Hospital) to participate in the reading of the Declaration of Independence.  On a first-come basis, people will be given a brief passage of the Declaration to read. People may also sign up to read by e-mailing the Historical Society at info@methuenhistoricalsociety.org The participation of children is encouraged.

 

Following the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Meeting House Hill Cemetery, Methuen’s oldest, will be open for browsing and tours.  Forty-seven Revolutionary Minutemen and soldiers are buried there, four soldiers from the earlier French and Indian War, and two soldiers from the War of 1812.  

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The Historical Society organized an enthusiastic group of volunteers to clean and catalog the graves in this cemetery.  Many of the old gravestones were not legible, but after careful cleaning, some look almost new! The project was funded by a grant from the Festival of Trees. In addition to the cleaning project, many of the broken stones will be restored by a professional firm. The cemetery will be open from 10:30 to 1:00 pm following the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Check out this searchable map of the cemetery on our website!

 

The Historical Society will also draw the winner of their annual lottery fundraiser. The $20 tickets may be purchased online until July 2 and at the event on July 4 prior to the drawing at 12:00 pm. Thank you for your much-appreciated support. We hope to see you there!