19-04-2025
Mainers mark 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride
Apr. 18—With a strong, clear voice, Libby Bischof read the opening lines of the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that solidified Paul Revere's place in U.S. history.
"Listen, my children, and you shall hear, Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ..."
A history professor at the University of Southern Maine, Bischof kicked off a public reading of "Paul Revere's Ride" on Friday evening in Portland's historic Eastern Cemetery on Munjoy Hill.
Bischof was one of 10 readers who took turns reciting the epic poem, stanza by stanza, as the sunlight faded on the 250th anniversary of patriot's famous ride. About 50 history buffs and curious passersby gathered for the event organized by Spirits Alive and the Maine Historical Society.
"If you, like me, had to memorize this as a child, you're welcome to say it along with me," Bischof announced before the recitation got underway.
The reading was one of many events held nationwide to mark the start of a yearlong celebration, including a reading of the poem Friday morning in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta by Portland Youth Poet Laureate Yashaswini Derisala.
Lanterns were lit across Maine, including in the Portland Observatory, and bells were rung in South Portland, Gorham and beyond as part of the Let Freedom Ring national celebration of the American Revolution "against tyranny and for liberty and justice for all."
James Barter, a retired longshoreman and school custodian, attended the Portland reading. He grew up on Munjoy Hill and lives in Falmouth.
"I wanted to hear the poem," said Barter, 73. "It sounded like a good social gathering and I'm feeling patriotic, I guess. It's a poem, but it really did happen."
In South Portland, about 20 people ventured out on the granite breakwater to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse to ring the bell at the top of the tower at 6 p.m. Friday.
Part of the Let Freedom Ring event, it was organized locally by the Friends of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, the Portland Friends Meeting of Quakers and the Maine Council of Churches.
"Maine has this cool connection because Longfellow was from Maine," said Rev. Jane Field, the council's executive director. And several Maine churches have bells that were made by Revere's foundry, she said.
The celebration of Revere's ride also comes at an opportune time, Field said, when the public needs to be reminded of the sacrifice and drive that it took for American patriots to win independence.
"Paul Revere was a powerful, independent person who took a big risk to stand up against tyranny and for liberty and justice," Field said. "We need that now more than ever. We're in a battle for the soul of our democracy.
"But he wasn't just a lone rider," she continued. "He was part of an organized group. It's important to remember that we need to coordinate and collaborate to get things done."
Amanda Brooks, 30, of Brownwood, Texas, was at the lighthouse with two sisters, one of whom came to Maine for a work conference. The chiming was a peaceful reminder of the progress the United States has made in the last 250 years, she said.
"It was really beautiful," Brooks said.
One Maine church that has a Revere bell is First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham. Founded in 1750, the church was built in 1798 and the bell was installed in 1822.
Senior Pastor Christine Dyke organized a bell ringing at 6 p.m. that was attended by about 40 community members of all ages.
"We had a party," Dyke said afterward. "A bunch of us went up in the steeple. The rope hangs all the way down to the vestibule, so people young and old were taking turns ringing the bell. It was a lot of fun."
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