Local planning session discusses Bristol celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary

Lee McFadden, Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution vice regent and organizer of Bristol's 250th anniversary events, addresses participants at the first planning session for the local effort. | David Fortier

Posted By: Staff December 20, 2023

By Rit Carter and David Fortier

The inaugural meeting of the local celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country drew almost two dozen people from different groups to the Bristol Historical Society last week.

“It’s a start,” said Lee McFadden, state vice regent of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution and America 250 state chair, who organized and led the meeting. “That’s the important thing.”

McFadden was very happy with the turnout for the first meeting, she said, and she hopes more people will join the next time around.

“The next steps will include continued brainstorming about what activities would appeal to our community and to begin to set up committees for public relations and for the schools,” she said.

“I feel confident Bristol will have meaningful and fun celebrations for our country’s 250th anniversary.”

McFadden is also the chair and site manager for the Gov. Jonathan Trumbull House in Lebanon.

Left, Lee McFadden, Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution 250 anniversary chair, addresses participants who showed up for the first planning session of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration here in Bristol. Right, Robert Adamczyk and Ellie Wilson, members of the Bristol Historical Society, and Sarah Larson, assistant superintendent of Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services. | David Fortier

Participants included residents interested in the planning of the anniversary, representatives from the Bristol Public Library and Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services as well as those from the Bristol Historical Society, Bristol Military Museum and American Clock and Watch Museum.

Participants brainstormed ideas from the types of stories they would like to collect to how to expand the planning to include people from more diverse backgrounds.

The 250th anniversary will be celebrated on July 4, 2026, but the conversation on Thursday included a conversation about events that would span the anniversary year. While the Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services was included in the discussion, the city is not officially associated with planning.

McFadden asked participants to think about the topics raised during the conversation as well as new ones for next time meeting and encouraged people to reach out to other groups and individuals to come to join the group on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the historical society.

For more information, contact McFadden via email at lee@gomcf.com.

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