Annual event: The annual celebration will be held at the Colonial Courthouse, 157 W. Market St., to recognize the autumn of 1777, when the Continental Congress met in York to craft the Articles of Confederation.
Sharing stories of York's role in founding of the nation
When Gen. Edward Braddock was leading American and British troops in the Battle of the Monongahela River in 1755, he was in need of supplies and issued a call for help.
And Benjamin Franklin answered the call by first traveling to York, according to local historian Michael Bubb.
Bubb, a retired Red Lion teacher and principal, will be dressing as Franklin to tell his story at the Articles of Confederation Day celebration Sunday in York City.
Annual event: The annual celebration will be held at the Colonial Courthouse, 157 W. Market St., to recognize the autumn of 1777, when the Continental Congress met in York to craft the Articles of Confederation.
Bubb said he will be talking about Franklin's
role at the time the Articles of Confederation were written.
And he will also talk about the single time Franklin visited York in 1755.
At the time, the French and Indian War was taking place.
Braddock led British troops on an expedition to capture Fort Duqeusne, located near Pittsburgh. But Braddock's troops eventually ran low on supplies, and that is when Franklin stepped in to help, Bubb said.
York helps: "Ben Franklin came to York and asked its citizens to help gather supplies. He eventually gathered 250 wagons, 259 horses, and 1,200 barrels of flour," Bubb said.
Although Braddock's expedition failed, Bubb said the moment in history is important to remember because "it laid the groundwork for
York to eventually be a player when the original 13 colonies came together later in 1777."
Other activities: Bubb's re-enactment of Franklin is one of several activities planned for the celebration.
The program will begin at 2 p.m. with Central York Middle School's Fife and Drum Corps playing music from the Revolutionary War period.
After Bubb's presentation, York County students in grades 3 through 12 will be honored for their participation in the fourth annual essay
contest that encouraged students to write an essay on York's role during 1777.
The program will conclude with refreshments and a presentation by the Elmwood String Quartet.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact program coordinator Elizabeth Stein at 880-1404 or e-mail at jij2j31@comcast.net.
-- Reach John Walk at 505-5439 or jwalk@yorkdis patch.com or follow on Twitter @ydcity.
Read more at www.ydr.com
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