Come View the Declaration of Independence: A free event sponsored by Hallowell Initiatives, July 4th

Issue 7 Volume 3

Jun 25

Written By Dave Hayes

Hallowell's rare copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on view July 4th from 10am-2pm

at City Hall. Connect a festive day of fun and fireworks to the shot heard ‘round the world!

In the year of our country's bicentennial, 1976, Hallowell City Historian and beloved

teacher, Sam Webber, found one of the only remaining early prints of the Declaration of

Independence hanging in an office at the Hubbard Free Library. How long it had graced that wall,

no one is quite sure but thank goodness it was because it remained protected from sunlight,

wrinkles and greasy fingers all those years.

According to Hallowell Initiatives President, Sandy Stubbs, "Everyone should get a chance to see

this beautiful broadside, especially children, since they learn about our country's birth, but

rarely get to see any physical piece of it."

Hallowell's copy was later confirmed to be a rare early print–a national treasure and the

rightful property of the City of Hallowell. It is one of only 11 known copies

of the approximately 200 printed by Ezekiel Russell, a Salem, Massachusetts, printer, about

July 20, 1776.

After the original, hand-written declaration was signed by the founders, it was rushed off to

be typeset and printed overnight by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap. Dunlap's copies were

immediately delivered to colonial cities, including Salem, where Hallowell's was printed. These

were rushed across Massachusetts (including the province of Maine), to be read out loud to

parishioners to proclaim the news of our dissolution from Britain and to recruit soldiers to fight

in the Revolution. Hallowell's copy was sent to Fort Western, where local parishes borrowed it

for public readings. At some point, it wasn't returned to the Fort and disappeared from historical

records until 1908 when evidence was discovered that

E.T. Getchell, a Hallowell local, had donated it to the Hubbard Free Library, where Webber

finally tracked it down.

Since discovered, this precious document has only ventured out a few times. This Independence Day,

take your family to City Hall, any time between 10am and 2pm to see it for yourselves. Those who are there

at 11:00 will enjoy a reading by our own local patriot, Maureen (Mo) AuCoin, who has served in many

elected and volunteer posts in our city. Beautiful copies of the Declaration will be available for purchase to

cover the cost of the printing. Thanks to the local historical group, Hallowell Initiatives, for

sponsoring this free event.

Photo: Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Dave Hayes

Independence