Heritage Day

Sunday July 13th 2008
Noon-5:00pm

This year, Easton's Heritage Day will commemorate its rich history by including many additional historical events, as well as the traditional Declaration Reading and a full roster of entertainment events.

The Reading of the Declaration of Independence will return to Centre Square, at noon, to celebrate the public reading of that document on 8 July 1776 in only three places in America -- including Easton. Re-enactors and a church bell peal will enliven that event.

In addition, at 2 pm a pageant in Centre Square with both adult and children re-enactors will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the 1758 Treaty of Easton. At 3:30, a mock colonial trial will determine the guilt or innocence of an accused horse thief in the Bachmann Publick House (at the corner of Second and Northampton Streets).

Five separate walking tours will survey different collections of Easton's rich heritage of historic buildings near Centre Square, at various times during the day. Each of these will leave from the Heritage Day booth in Centre Square. Their coverage is more completely described in the attached schedule.

A trolley tour to the historic (1861) Northampton County Courthouse will leave the Bachmann Publick House at 4 pm. Until then, that Trolley will shuttle between Easton Cemetery and the Bachmann Publick House every half hour (until 4 pm), for both history lovers strollers alike. Another Trolley will provide tours up to the mansions of College Hill, leaving every hour from Bachmann Publick House.

Come and enjoy our history!

Free Historical Events Program Schedule

11:00 am “Walking” Tour of Centre Square – for those who don’t like to walk! Guide Richard F. Hope will point out the history of Centre Square and the buildings around it.  World empires, rebellion, rags to riches fortunes, and forbidden love affairs:  they were all here!

12:00 pm Declaration Reading, Centre Square – re-enacts Robert Levers original reading of the Declaration of Independence:  one of three places in Colonial America where the document was first read publicly. 

1:00 pm Walking Tour of Mansions Block – join Laini Abraham for this stroll past the spectacular mansions around the block north and east of Centre Square, ending at the Bachmann Publick House.    

2:00 pm Treaty of Easton Pageant, Centre Square – commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Easton, which in 1758 involved 2 colonial governors, a royal representative, and over 500 Indians.  This was important in the British conquest of North America, and was also the seed for the colonial disputes that led to the American Revolution shortly thereafter.  Watch political skullduggery at work! 

2:30 pm Heritage Walking Tour – Rev. Sue Ruggles & her congregation will conduct this stroll from Centre Square down Fourth and Ferry Streets (once the principal streets of Easton).  See historic buildings from the 1750s, 1790s, 1830s, and beyond.  Halfway rest at historic St. John’s Lutheran Church. 

3:00 pm Walking Tour of Millionaire’s Row – Richard F. Hope will guide a stroll past the mansions of North Third Street, north to Bushkill Street and back to Centre Square.  Can you name three of the “millionaires” of Millionaire’s Row? 

3:30  pm Mock Trial, Bachman Publick House.  Presentation of the colonial criminal trial of a suspected horse thief.  Was he guilty?  You decide!  (Space is limited – come early to reserve your spot.)

4:00 pm Courthouse Tour.  The trolley departs from Centre Square for this tour of the Courthouse, its historic 1860s courtroom, historic murals, pictures of the recent cupola restoration, the Northampton Liberty Bell that rang for the original Declaration Reading in 1776, and more.  Historian Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr. will be your guide. 

5:30 pm Walking Tour of East Northampton Street – walk from Centre Square down Northampton Street to the River (to stake out your spot early for the fireworks), while Guide Richard F. Hope points out the historic buildings along the way.