Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Paul Revere’s Ride”
DOVER — On Friday, Delaware history lovers will pay tribute to Paul Revere’s midnight ride with lights at Legislative Hall and other historic buildings and homes.
Margaret Hughes, coordinator of Delaware 250, said “Two Lights for Tomorrow” is one of the lead-up events to next year’s semiquincentennial celebration.
It is important to note that it’s not just about hanging two lanterns in recognition of what happened 250 years ago ahead of the Revolutionary War. It’s also a call to action.
On Saturday, Delawareans are asked to participate in a day of service. There are cleanups planned at multiple state parks, including First State Heritage Park in Dover and Cape Henlopen State Park, near Lewes.
“His ride was really to alert people, to let people know to rally forth, so we thought we would kind of do a pay-it-forward by having a day of service so that people can recommit to being lights in their own communities,” Ms. Hughes said.
“We want to commemorate the past, but we also want to think about who we are as a community today and what we want the next 50 years to be. Community service will be a through-line for us.”
She said the Delaware 250 approach right now is to build interest and support local efforts ahead of July 4, 2026.
Most of our readers will remember the excitement that went with the bicentennial nearly 50 years ago — at least remembering things such as the commemorative quarters and the fire hydrants that were painted to look like Colonial characters.
Ms. Hughes said there have been discussions about banners to be hung in Delaware communities. There’s no plan for those hydrants just yet.
“If next year is going to be the anniversary we want it to be, this needs to be grassroots, across the state, communities coming together, sites doing their part,” she said.
***
The next big event will be a mock Continental Congress, with students statewide visiting Legislative Hall in Dover on June 6. Middle and high school students will debate Virginian Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to declare the 13 colonies “free and independent states.”
“We want to put them in the shoes of the people in the original conversations,” Ms. Hughes said.
For example, the loyalists’ views on trade with England was seen as essential.
She said scholars will be there to discuss with the students the limits of the Declaration of Independence and who was excluded. “It’s going to engage kids with history and allow them to think about how they can see themselves as part of the legacy of the declaration.”
***
Last week, Delaware 250 announced that, so far, 34 organizations in the state have been awarded grants, totaling more than $275,000.
The Greater Harrington Historical Society will be using one of the grants to improve archival storage and collections management. The society’s museum will be among the Delaware sites with lanterns on display this week.
To learn more about Delaware 250 initiatives and opportunities, visit
delaware250.org.
By Andrew West
