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Planning begins on Plymouth’s 2020 Quadracentenial It’s only a dozen years hence! The well-publicized success of Virginia’s Jamestown 2007 celebration, which began in 2006, inspired Plymouth’s civic leaders to begin planning for Plymouth’s own 400th anniversary in 2020. At a Selectmen’s meeting on May 29, 2007, Town Manager Mark Sylvia reported on research into the Virginia event, and Selectman Kenneth Tavares, a long-time advocate for Plymouth history, moved to authorize the Town Manager to begin meeting with appropriate parties about Plymouth’s 400th anniversary celebration. Selectman Tavares was later designated as the Board’s representative on the 400th Anniversary Committee. On September 4, 2007, Reverend Peter J. Gomes “addressed the Board and pointed out that, while 13 years is not a great amount of time, Plymouth could seize the opportunity to re-brand itself and live up to the myths and symbols of being the oldest community in the Commonwealth and perhaps—if only sentimental—in the nation. He referred to the recent standard set by Jamestown, Virginia, who recently celebrated their own 400th anniversary, which was a success due to well-directed planning and organization. Plymouth is just as deserving of publicity and funding as Jamestown, he said, and if we combine international interest with a comprehensive community effort, we could certainly match, if not exceed, their success.” “During Plymouth’s tercentenary in 1920, Reverend Gomes pointed out that monuments were erected; Memorial Hall was constructed; wharf buildings were removed along the waterfront; and Main Street Extension was connected. Conversely, he said, the 350th celebration in 1970 was not met with as much fanfare, as there was little help from the town, state, and federal governments.” “In order to begin planning a successful event for 2020, Reverend Gomes offered the following suggestions to the Board:
The Plymouth Board of Selectmen then signed a letter addressed to Governor Deval Patrick requesting the formation of a State Commission to address plans for Plymouth’s 400th Anniversary Celebration on September 11, 2007. Rev. Gomes, Town Manager Sylvia, and Selectman Tavares constituted a preliminary strategic committee (local historian James Baker was subsequently included) for developing goals for the 400th celebration. This Plymouth 2020 Celebratory Advisory Group met in October and November to compile names of potential volunteers, inquire into the planning and operations of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, and met with Kathleen Melia from Representative Delahunt’s office to discuss the possibility of Plymouth’s historic venues achieving national park status before 2020. On December 3, the first public hearing on the 400th anniversary celebration took place at the new Plymouth Center for the Arts (the former Plymouth Public Library Russell Building) on North Street. In addition to organizations and individuals invited to attend, public participation was encouraged through media announcements. Chairman Gomes welcomed the 60 or so interested citizens and introduced the members of the Advisory Group. He then presented the charge of the committee, and reported on progress to date. As Old Colony Memorial reporter Wesley Ennis related, “Gomes described the mission and goal of the committee for the anniversary that is 13 years away. He wants to conduct the planning in a transparent manner with a broad base of participation. The group will seek input from all sectors of the town in order to plan the anniversary celebration. It will celebrate not only the Pilgrims’ landing in 1620, but, moreover, it will celebrate the town and its people that grew from their beginnings. ‘I know there are some risks in asking citizens of Plymouth to speak their mind,’ Gomes said, ‘we might hear from no minds, or too many.’” Rev. Gomes went on to cite precedents for the commemoration of Plymouth’s founding, such as the institution of Forefathers’ Day by the Old Colony Club in 1769, the bicentennial anniversary in 1820 when the Pilgrim Society was formed and Daniel Webster spoke in the then new Plymouth courthouse, the preservation of which concerns the town today (as Harold Boyer observed). He noted that the tercentenary celebration of 1920/21 had involved practically the entire town, drawing in people from all walks of life and ethnic origin to participate in the massive “Pilgrim Spirit” pageant on the Plymouth waterfront. This sort of broad civic engagement was of equal or greater importance today, as “diversity is the key to the long term survival of Plymouth” and vital in maintaining the national significance of the Pilgrim story and the town’s symbolic position in American memory. He spoke of his own ties to Plymouth and the Pilgrim story, and of the town’s long and not altogether successful pursuit of its historic goals. While a grand “birthday party” with parades, speeches and ephemeral events was desirable, there should also be some more lasting result associated with the anniversary, such as the implementation before 2020 of the Downtown/Waterfront Public Space Action Plan. The 1920/21 Tercentenary had left a sufficiency of monuments in its wake, and the 2020 Quadracentenary might concentrate on more functional improvements. One particular piece of unfinished historical business that he found compelling was the return of Gov. Bradford’s manuscript history to its true home in Plymouth. On the question of financial support raised by John Talcott, chairman of the 1970 375th celebration, chairman Gomes and committee member Sylvia addressed the importance of state and federal funding, and reported that Gov. Patrick had been approached about developing a state commission (and a 501 (c)(3) corporation able to raise private funds). Analogous federal support would be sought in the near future. Achieving national park status was also discussed, as was the creation of a commemorative coin and postage stamp. Public comments following chairman Gomes’ inspirational address attested to the desire of many people to participate in the process. Among the historical community, Directors Peggy Baker (Pilgrim Hall) and John McDonagh (Plimoth Plantation), representatives of both the General and Massachusetts Societies of Mayflower Descendants, Sachem Randy Joseph (Federation of Old Plimoth Indian Tribes –Wampanoag) and Dexter Olsson (Old Colony Club) spoke in support of the initiatives and volunteered to aid in planning. The central role of religion in the story was attested to Dr. Paul Jehle (Plymouth Rock Foundation), while Peggy Baker, Larry Walsh (Pilgrim Hall) and Ginnie Mucciaccio (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants) addressed the importance of educational initiatives. Tamson Burgess of the Old Colony Memorial offered help with anniversary publications and David Kirkpatrick of “Project Julia” (Plymouth Rock Studios) generously offered the use of office space in the ancient house at 33 Leyden Street. The meeting concluded with members of the audience cueing up to sign in as volunteers. We’re off to a great start.
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