Skip Motes' Letter to the Newburyport News
(Pictures inserted by Melissa Berry)
To the editor: Next year is the 250th anniversary of the
approval by the General Court of the petition to separate the
“Waterside” community from Newbury, forming the town of Newburyport in
1764. Several weeks ago, several of us were taking a break from a day’s
research in the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center and the
conversation turned to the 2014 anniversary.
At the 1764
founding, tensions were rising over British policies in the Colonies,
but the Revolutionary War was still years away. But now consider each of
the next 50-year interval anniversaries.
1814 ─ 50th: The War of
1812 was raging.
That year, after the defeat of Napoleon, the British
turned their full attention to the conflict here. The battle of
Baltimore Harbor and defense of Fort McHenry brought us the words to
“The Star-Spangled Banner.” The British made an unexpected move to
Washington, D.C., where they burned the Capitol, the White House and
other government buildings.
1864 ─ 100th: The Civil War raged on
with the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor; the
siege of Petersburg; and Sherman’s march through Georgia. Lincoln was
re-elected.
1914 ─ 150th: World War I had started in Europe and the United States debated its own involvement in the war.
1964 — 200th: The violence of the Civil Rights movement continued, and escalating involvement in Vietnam had started.
Perhaps 2014 will bring us a peaceful year for our celebration.
Skip Motes
Newburyport
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Rudyard Kipling.. From the Vault: Genealogy, Historical Photos, Newspaper Archives
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
As Port gets ready to celebrate 250 years
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