250th Anniversary of the First Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Did you know that while we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, this historic document was not read aloud in public until Col. John Nixon presented it from the State House Yard in Philadelphia three days later, on July 8th? To commemorate this anniversary, the Town of Scotland will host a special event in collaboration with the Connecticut Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The event will take place on July 8th at 6 PM on the steps of the Town Hall. Author and historian Damien Cregeau will portray Samuel Huntington, a native son of Scotland and signer of the Declaration of Independence, as he reads this historic document. At the conclusion of the reading, the old Scotland Consolidated School bell atop the Town Hall will toll 13 times—once for each of the 13 original colonies in 1776. Residents and visitors attending the event will receive a dated commemorative token and cold refreshments.