Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FrIDAy, JUly 3, 2026 Local DAR chapter plans July 4 bell-ringing ceremony to begin Saugus Celebrates America at the Iron Works By Mark E. Vogler T he Parson Roby Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) will distribute bells for people attending tomorrow’s (July 4) America 250th celebration at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site as part of the nationwide “Ring Bells at Noon on July 4” initiative. Sponsored in part by the local NSDAR chapter, the old-fashioned patriotic gathering will be held from noon to 4 p.m. and is open to the public for free. A reenactor dressed in a colonial costume as Parson Joseph Roby – who served as a Saugus pastor for more than half a century and who led 62 men from Saugus to LexingFREEDOM TRAIL | FROM PAGE 3 came an independent town in 1815. “ The church originally stood where the Civil War Monument now stands, and the cemetery extended from there to the central walkway. In the late 1800s, the development of the rotary island around the monuments resulted in the relocation of many graves from the roadton and Concord on April 19, 1775 – will portray the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Members of the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) will honor those patriots by reading the names of the men who answered the call to service. The celebration will recreate the spirit of 1776 with period games, food and colonial attire, along with photo opportunities featuring George and Martha Washington cutouts and period costumes. Winners of the chapter’s K–5 “What Freedom Means” writing and drawing contest will also be announced and recognized with prizes. Throughout the event, the Parson Roby Chapter will host a NSDAR information table to share the Society’s mission of historic way areas to the space to the west of the central walkway.” Jean Swanson, a member of the Saugus Historical Commission and a member of the Saugus 250th Celebration Committee, texted us a copy of “Saugus Center, A Historic Walk,” produced by the Saugus Historical Commission in September 2015. The pamphlet mentioned the old cemetery with the exact wording. The cemetery was the only site on the walking tour talk from the American Aluminum Aluminum Everett Everett Aluminum Supplies Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Vinyl Siding Decks • •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Free Estimates • • Replacement Windows • Carpentry Work • Roong • Fully Insured• Fully Insured Fully Insured Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com • Replacement Windows •Roong Free Estimates Fully Licensed • Roong 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Everett Aluminum Supplies preservation, education and patriotism. Here is a tentative schedule for tomorrow’s event at the Iron Works: From noon to 4 p.m. – BBQ (hot dogs, rolls, condiments, baked beans, lemonade, water, ginger cookies, cakes. DJ Anthony Arone will provide entertainment throughout the event. There will be a photo area with cutouts of George and Martha Washington and others. Noon – Ringing of the Bells – Daughters of the American Revolution, Color Guard Presentation Master of Ceremonies – Steve Castinetti – Pledge of Allegiance National Anthem – Mary Beth Maes Opening invocation – Pastor Revolution era. Laura Eisener, president of the Saugus Historical Society, who writes “The Saugus Gardens” column for The Saugus Advocate, offered several ideas for sites that should be on a Saugus Freedom Trail. She mentioned the monument in the old cemetery, which includes the monument that lists the minutemen who went to Concord/ Lexington on April 19. As another, she mentioned the marker on a stone in the rotaWayne Shirk Presentation of Citations – State Rep. Donald Wong and Saugus Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta Children’s games throughout Iron Works: Tug of war, three-legged race, sack races, corn hole, ring toss. 1 p.m. – General George Washington 2 p.m. – Parson Roby Narration; Reading of the Saugus Men who marched to Lexington; reenactment of the signing of the Declaration: John Hancock will read his story leading up to the Revolution and Ben Franklin will read a modern version of the Declaration of Independence. 3:30 p.m. – Presentation of winners to: “What Freedom Means to Me” writing and drawing contest; winner of ry in Cliftondale put up by the DAR to the “Sons of Saugus.” “Probably others have suggested those two locations, but here are two slightly less obvious - Appleton’s Pulpit which was the site of a rebellious speech well before the fighting actually broke out in Lexington, and Saugus Ironworks because without this industrial capacity the Colonies would be severely dependent on Europe,” Eisener continued. Eisener offered these as Best Decorated Truck. 4 p.m. – Program concludes A Shuttle for Senior Citizens – they can gather at the Saugus Senior Center at 11:45 a.m. and leave promptly in the shuttle to the Iron Works (if more than 12 people are there, a second shuttle will be available. A return shuttle from the Iron Works to the Senior Center will be made at 3:45 p.m. Heat advisory – temperatures are expected to reach 95 degrees on Saturday. There will be several tents set up for people to get under for relief from the sun. The public is advised to keep hydrated and bring sunscreen to the event. The event goes on, rain or shine. There is no rain date. Organizers hope for a rainfree day. possible candidates: · “The original meeting house/church opened in 1750 with Parson Joseph Roby as its minister from 1750-1803. It was approximately where the Civil War Monument stands today. It was an intersection rather than a rotary at that time. · “Ironworks House AKA Appleton Taylor Mansfield House - built in 1685 or so, FREEDOM TRAIL| SEE PAGE 6 Summer is Here!
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