Norwalk Celebrates Independence Day with More Than Fireworks

Depending on the weather, 200 or 300 people might turn out for Norwalk's afternoon Independence Day celebration, according to local historian Madeleine Eckert.

(According to the National Weather Service's latest prediction—continually updated on this Web page—for the weather in Norwalk, as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday, there is a 20 percent chance of precipitation Monday afternoon, which should be mostly sunny, with a high temperature of 86 degrees.)

Here's the agenda for the events on Monday, July 4:

12:00 p.m.—Church Open House and Cemetery Tour at St. Paul’s on the Green, 60 East Ave.

Take a look inside one of Norwalk's most prominent churches at its open house. , an Episcopal church, is now in its fourth structure on the same site at the northern end of Norwalk Green. The congregation is the oldest same-site organization in Norwalk. 

The cemetery tour is offered by Edward and Madeleine Eckert, local historians. Madeleine is a member of the Norwalk Historical Society board and the Norwalk-Village Green Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Buried in the cemetery are members of Revolutionary War Era families who were often torn apart between patriots and tories. The first licensed privateer from Connecticut (essentially a captain given the right to act as a legal pirate preying on the enemy's shipping), as well as the maternal grandparents of Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman are among those interred in the burial grounds, the Eckerts said.

1:30 p.m.—"Let Freedom Ring" national bell-ringing ceremony, on Norwalk Town Green

The ceremony includes singing of the National Anthem, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and remarks by Autier Allen-Craft, the first African-American member of the Daughters of the Revolutionary War in Connecticut. At 2 p.m. on the dot, bells will toll 13 times to commemorate the 13 original states.

2:15 p.m.—"Independence Day Program", Town House, Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall St.

Just to the southwest of the Green, at the Town House in , the Norwalk Historical Society will offer a program of music, remarks by various guests—and historical cookies.

"Cheryl Kemeny, singers from Crystal Theatre will perform renditions of three Revolutionary War-era songs that have Norwalk connections – 'American Taxation,' 'Hale in the Bush' and 'Yankee Doodle,'" according to a news release from the Norwalk Historical Society.

Madeleine Eckert will give a short talk, titled, “Did You Know? Little Known Facts About Norwalk During the American Revolution.” She'll focus on Stephen Betts, not only the hero in the Battle of Norwalk on July 11, 1779, but also at Yorktown, the final big battle of the Revolutionary War in October 1781.

Refreshments offered include some made from authentic Revolutionary War-era recipes, such as "Muster Day" gingerbread, "Aaron Burr cookies," as well as tea cakes and meringue cookies from the Travis House in Williamsburg, VA.

All Afternoon at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall St.

All three of Mill Hill’s historic buildings will be open with costumed hosts greeting visitors:

Norwalk Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel will be in costume portraying Revolutionary War Town Clerk Samuel Grumman at the Town House (an 1835 building). Visitors there can view the exhibition, “Collected and Cherished: Quilts Made and Collected in Norwalk” and see Norwalk Historic Commission Chairman Pete Bondi's collection of Revolutionary War artifacts. Bondi will be there to talk about them, too.

“Schoolmarm” Samantha Kulish will be in costume and in character at the Downtown District Schoolhouse (built in 1826) to "amuse 'students' of all ages with examples of early Norwalk educational practices," according to the news release.

At the Governor Thomas Fitch Law Office (a Colonial Era structure built in about 1720), John Atkin will portray Norwalk’s lively colonial governor.

Editor's note: This article originally was published at 3:39 p.m. on July 2.