(La Porte, IN) - “Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere...”
In April of 1860, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired as he climbed the tower of Boston’s Old North Church—the place where two lanterns were hung 85 years before to warn local colonists that the British were coming. His quickly-penned poem. “Paul Revere’s Ride,” though not entirely true to history, became a classic for generations of Americans.
Revere’s aim was simple: to preserve a pivotal and historic moment for posterity. “Hardly a man is alive,” he wrote, “Who remembers that famous day and year.”
La Porte, not immune from tradition, is celebrating Paul Revere’s historic ride, which this weekend celebrates its 250th anniversary. Local historian and longtime South Central school teacher Bruce Johnson offers a quick lesson for any La Porteans who have forgotten the tale:
“On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, members of the Sons of Liberty, were prepared to alert the colonists of the advancement of the British Army. Spies had learned that the British were planning to march to Lexington to destroy patriot military weapons and supplies and capture the patriotic leaders, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The sexton of the Old North Church in Boston was to hang 2 lanterns in the steeple as a warning if the British were seen advancing on the Charles River. If they were seen advancing by land, there would be one lantern put in place. When Revere learned that the British had 'arrived by sea', he set off through the countryside to Lexington to warn Adams and Hancock and many people along the way.”
In honor of this historic event, two lanterns have been placed in the La Porte County courthouse tower. Households and businesses throughout La Porte County have been encouraged to hang lanterns as well.
The commemoration, dubbed “Two Lights for Tomorrow,” is one of several events that have been set in motion to celebrate our country’s Semiquincentennial in the coming year. Johnson is Chairman of America 250 La Porte County and is heading up the efforts locally.
The first event took place last September, when the Miriam Benedict Chapter of the D.A.R. and the City of La Porte declared the 17th- 23rd as Constitution Week to observe the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
At that time a “Liberty Tree” was planted at the entrance to Soldiers Memorial Park on Pine Lake Avenue near the Veteran’s Walk. According to Johnson, “The original Liberty Tree was an elm tree on the Boston Common in Massachusetts where patriots would gather to protest against the rule of the British over the colonists. The tree became a symbol of the American Revolution.” La Porte’s Liberty Tree pays tribute to the seven Revolutionary War soldiers who were buried in La Porte County. “Abijah Bigelow was buried in Greenwood Cemetery,” said Johnson, “Clark Burlingame and Ezekiel Smith in Door Village Cemetery, John Stoner in Miller-Griffith Cemetery, Henry Vandalsem in Oak Grove Cemetery, Simeon Wheeler in Low Cemetery, and Thomas Burch on his family homestead.”
The next Semiquincentennial event will honor “Old Glory” for Flag Day. Beginning June 14th through the Fourth of July, all public buildings, businesses, and homes will be encouraged to prominently display the American Flag. Other patriotic events will follow in 2026.
In the meantime, La Porteans can cast a gaze at their courthouse tower and remember Paul Revere, the Boston silversmith, burdened with heavy purpose, who rose to the occasion in aid to his fellow colonists.
