Historical Society marks 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride

ByLocal Sources Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Dubois County Historical Society is reminding the public that 2026 will be the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and initiating its celebration by remembering “Paul Revere’s Ride,” which took place on April 18, 1775.

Just as two lamps were placed in Boston’s Old North Church Tower to alert Minutemen of the approaching British troops, Dubois County Auditor Sandy Morton will mark the event by placing two lamps in the north tower windows of the County Courthouse in Jasper during the evening of April 18.

The historical society is lighting the two lamps as part of a nationwide initiative called Two Lights for Tomorrow?to commence the celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

The famous ride of Paul Revere occurred overnight on April 18 – 19, 1775. Two Lights for Tomorrow commemorates that famous ride and uses the imagery of that shining light today as a uniting call to action for our citizens to celebrate and serve.

According to organizers of the Dubois County event, it is also a reminder to local organizations to begin preparing for the 250th celebration.

Along with lighting the two lights in the courthouse, the Society, in collaboration with Dubois County Broadcasting/18 WJTS, has brought together community volunteers to create a video presentation of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Community members who will be reading include:

  • Mayor Dean Vonderheide – City of Jasper
  • Councilperson Debbie Johnson – Town of Ferdinand
  • Mayor Neil Elkins – City of Huntingburg
  • Shawn Dooley – Northeast Dubois County School Board
  • Commissioner Chad Blessinger – Dubois County Government
  • Christine Golden – Jasper-Dubois County Public Library
  • Rossina Sandoval Monsivais – Asociación Latinoamericana del Sur de Indiana (ALASI)
  • Corie Eckerle – Jasper Strassenfest Committee
  • Ty Hunter – Dubois County Broadcasting Inc.
  • Isabelle Schipp and Amelia Schipp – 1812 Theatrics
  • Liz Book – Daughters of the American Revolution

The video will be available for viewing starting the evening of April 18 on 18WJTS YouTube page (youtube.com/@18WJTS), and on the Dubois County Historical Society Facebook page.

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