Today is Ledyard's 175th Birthday

Ledyard is 175 years old today.

It was on June 1, 1836, that residents of north Groton voted to incorporate. They named their new town after a local Revolutionary War hero, Lt. Col. William Ledyard. Eleven days later, residents elected leaders of their new town.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

To mark the town’s “demisemiseptcentenial,” a month-long schedule of activities has been planned. Among the events will be a quilt show at the Congregational Church on June 3 and 4, a canine wellness fair at the high school on June 5, a tree planting at Town Hall on June 11, and a blood drive at the Gales Ferry Firehouse on June 14.

This is Ledyard, after all.

If you’re looking for a different sort of entertainment, there will be a Ledyard High School Spring Chorale Concert on June 10 and 11, “Sweet Laughs,” a dessert tasting and comedy show at the high school on June 17 to benefit the Gallup Hill School PTO, and an Army Band Concert at the Ledyard Center pavilion on June 20.

The celebration will conclude with an “Old Fashioned Fourth” at the Nathan Lester House with a concert by the Silver Cornet Band Concert on July 4.

Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr., who has played a central role in coordinating the celebration, said the 175th is an opportunity for residents to become more familiar with their town, explore the fabric of the community, and mostly just enjoy the moment and have a good time.

Tying together all the events, which will include open houses at practically every business in town, will be a “Passport” that can be obtained at the libraries, the banks, the Parks & Recreation office, Holdridge’s and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.  The passports may be stamped at any of dozens of activities between now and July 4. As described on the town website:

“At the conclusion of the Celebration period, July 5, 2011, you are encouraged to turn your documentation in to Town Hall. If you have had your “Passport” stamped at a minimum of 15 locations your “Passport” will be entered in a drawing for gifts. The drawing will be held September 10, 2011, at the Ledyard Fair.”

Winners need not be present.  

There may be a small hitch with the passport program. As of Tuesday, the passports were still at the printers, although Allyn was hopeful that they would be available by June 11, when the events really kick off in earnest.

Today, however, is one of the biggest events of the year, at least according to Town Planner Charlie Karno. The Ledyard Farmers Market opens for the season at 4 p.m. in Ledyard Center. Organizer Bob Burns said this market is notable for two reasons: most of the producers are right here in Ledyard, and most of the food was raised organically.

Happy Birthday Ledyard! 

(Click here for a list of events.)