Taunton High School AFJROTC will host the second annual Liberty & Union Drill Invitational at Taunton High School. Fourteen to fifteen schools from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island will compete in both Armed and Unarmed Drill Regulation, Unarmed Exhibition, Armed Exhibition, Color Guard and New Cadet Drill. Both the Armed and Unarmed Regulation competitions are prescribed routines involving 12 cadets plus a cadet commander, the former with replica M-1 rifles. The Exhibition routines consist of a minimum of 9 cadets including a commander. The Color Guard competition involves teams of four cadets, two of which are riflemen, and the other two, flag bearers. 9:00 a.m 4:00 p.m. at Taunton High School
Where it all began. Taunton's first Meetinghouse will open its historic sanctuary for self-guided tours. Visitors will be treated to a multimedia display of Taunton history featuring presentations on the Liberty & Union flag, raised in 1774, and Church Green area history. This program will include historically relevant First Parish sermons and the story of its evolution to a Unitarian Universalist congregation. 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at First Parish Church
The Society's building at 66 Church Green contains a museum of regional decorative arts and industrial artifacts, as well as a research library specializing in genealogy and local history. Just a few examples of the items on display are a rare Wampanoag carved stone interpreted as a grave marker, a painted "Taunton Chest" crafted by Robert Crossman in 1729, and a large collection of wares manufactured by local silver companies. The Old Colony's fall exhibit is "Pages from History: Taunton's Storied Past." Using Dr. William Hanna's new book, A History of Taunton, Massachusetts as a guide, visitors will be taken on a journey through time from the 1630s through present day. A document recounting the founding of Taunton will be displayed along with a 17th century grave marker from King Philip's War, a Revolutionary era powder horn, 19th century baseball memorabilia, and a poem written to commemorate the tragedy on September 11, 2001. Liberty and Union flags, pins, ceramic trivets and other specialty items are available for purchase. Please note that the Society's 1852 brick academy building is handicapped accessible to the first floor. 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. at Old Colony Historical Society
The grounds of both First Parish Church and the Old Colony Historical Society, will be used to bring alive days gone by. At First Parish Church, visit with the Rehoboth Minutemen and take a walk through the 18th century. At the Old Colony Historical Society, members of the 53rd Georgia Infantry will do demonstrations and discourse on the life of a confederate soldier during the Civil War. There will be activities for all ages to participate in. 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. at First Parish Church and Old Colony Historical Society
The Lydia Cobb-Quequechan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, based in the Taunton-Fall River area, will be serving as hostesses during the Open House at the Old Colony Historical Society. Representatives will be available to answer questions regarding D.A.R membership and their organization's objectives, as well as the topics of historic preservation and the promotion of educational and patriotic endeavors. Members also work with our local schools, veterans groups and are involved with community patriotic events. 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. at Old Colony Historical Society
History of Flags, with Al Soucey of the Rehoboth Minutemen In the Sanctuary of the First Parish Church, Al Soucey of the Rehoboth Minutemen will present a program on the history of flags. The program will detail flags in use during the Revolutionary era. This will include information about the Liberty and Union flag, through the battle of Bunker Hill, right up to the first Stars and Stripes. Additionally, there will be information on some regimental flags that were fought under before the first national flag existed. 10:00 a.m.11:00 a.m. at First Parish Church
Various members of the Rehoboth Minutemen will present a fashion show, highlighting the details behind what was worn in the colonial era. The show will display different types of military and civilian clothes worn by both men and women during our struggle for independence. 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. at Old Colony Historical Society
The Sanctuary of the First Parish Church will be the site of a power point presentation entitled, "The Evolution of Downtown Taunton." The show will highlight the development of downtown Taunton from a residential area to a thriving commercial area. Details will be presented about the raising of the Liberty and Union Flag, along with the contributions of Robert Treat Paine and Caleb Barnum. Also included will be information about the businesses and events that made downtown Taunton popular. 1:00 p.m.2:00 p.m. at First Parish Church
The genesis of his new book, A History of Taunton, Massachusetts, will be presented by William F. Hanna. This book is the result of nine years of careful research by the author, who holds a PhD in History, and his lifetime pursuit of local historical subjects. Dr. Hanna has written several other books and countless essays on both Taunton's history and wider historical subjects including Abraham Lincoln, baseball, and the Andrea Doria. A History of Taunton Massachusetts encompasses early European settlement in the 1630s through present day. Selected images from the collections of the OCHS and Charles Crowley will illustrate the text. Fully indexed, the book will be an excellent historical reference work that is also written with an engaging narrative style. The beautifully designed books are expected to be 624 pages long in a 6 x 9 format, and will be printed on archival-quality recycled paper with durable covers and bindings. Pre-orders of the book will be taken beginning on October 20, with delivery expected within a month. The hardcover cost is $35.00 and the paperback cost is $25.00 (plus tax). Dr. Hanna will be available to personally answer questions about his book while staff members can take book orders. 2:30 p.m.3:30 p.m. at Old Colony Historical Society
The entire community is invited to this service to celebrate and reflect on Taunton's special place in the history of the nation. The Taunton Civic Chorus will be our featured performers. The United States Air Force Junior ROTC will serve as Honor Guard. Following the service, the Liberty & Union Flag will be raised on Church Green and a reception will be held in the chapel. Immediately following the flag raising and reception, everyone is invited to proceed to the grave of Elizabeth Pole for a wreath laying in her memory. 10:00 a.m. at First Parish Church
Representatives of the Walker-Blake Graveyard Restoration Project will be at the graveyard to show visitors grave markers including Taunton's oldest gravestone, that of Elizabeth Walker who died August 14, 1678. In addition, visitors will be able to watch the work of conservators from Fannin-Lehner who will be repairing certain gravestones. Located on the grounds of TMLP's Cleary-Flood Station on Somerset Avenue (Route 138, south of Taunton Green). 11:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. at the Walker-Blake Graveyard
Following the Elizabeth Pole wreath-laying ceremony, the Old Colony Historical Society will sponsor a free, 90-minute walking tour of one of the oldest public burial grounds in Taunton. Knowledgeable guide and Society President Cynthia Booth Ricciardi will lead the tours, and participants will receive a free guide booklet. Aside from Elizabeth Pole, Taunton's "founding mother," the cemetery is the final resting place of many fascinating personages, including Gen. David Cobb, an instigator behind the raising of the Liberty and Union Flag. Diverse personalities, historical events, and beautiful slate gravestone carvings will be highlighted. (Route 138, Broadway, north of Taunton Green) 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. at the Plain Cemetery