The Annual Reading of The Declaration of Independence
in the Jaffrey Meetinghouse
Background
The Reading was launched in 2001. Letters were sent to various Jaffrey 'worthies' inviting them to the event. There was a good response but persons from the audience had to be asked to participate to round out the 38 Reader slots. All seemed to think the event was a great success, so it's been continued ever since.
Annual Programs
2001 1st Annual Reading - No program was produced.
2002 2nd Annual Reading
2003 3rd Annual Reading
2004 4th Annual Reading
2005 5th Annual Reading
2006 6th Annual Reading
2007 7th Annual Reading
2008 8th Annual Reading
2009 9th Annual Reading
2010 10th Annual Reading
2011 11th Annual Reading
2012 12th Annual Reading
2013 13th Annual Reading
2014 14th Annual Reading
2015 15th Annual Reading
2016 16th Annual Reading
2017 17th Annual Reading
2018 18th Annual Reading
2019 19th Annual Reading
2020 20th Annual Reading. Virtual. No program was produced
2021 21st Annual Reading
2022 22nd Annual Reading
2023 23rd Annual Reading
2024 24th Annual Reading
Annual Posters
2001 1st Annual Reading
2002 2nd Annual Reading
2003 3rd Annual Reading
2004 4th Annual Reading
2005 5th Annual Reading
2006 6th Annual Reading
2007 7th Annual Reading
2008 8th Annual Reading
2009 9th Annual Reading
2010 10th Annual Reading
2011 11th Annual Reading
2012 12th Annual Reading
2013 13th Annual Reading
2014 14th Annual Reading
2015 15th Annual Reading
2016 16th Annual Reading
2017 17th Annual Reading
2018 18th Annual Reading
2019 19th Annual Reading
2020 20th Annual Reading. Virtual. No poster was produced
2021 21st Annual Reading
2022 22nd Annual Reading
2023 23rd Annual Reading
2024 24th Annual Reading
Annual Press Releases
2001 1st Annual Reading
2002 2nd Annual Reading
2003 3rd Annual Reading
2004 4th Annual Reading
2005 5th Annual Reading
No separate press releases after 2005.
Handouts
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence "Let Facts (and propaganda) be submitted to a candid World." Provided by Cassius Webb
What Happened to Them? By Bill Starr, appearing in the Boston Globe, June 29, 2003.
June 17, 1775 A poem by William Schofield
Reader Assignment
Rob Stephenson (2001-02)
Amy Meyers (2003-05)
Ann Royce (2006-08)
Debbie Stewart (2009-12)
Frank Sterling (2013-16)
Caroline and Clay Hollister (2017-22)
Judith Goff (2023-)
Welcomers
2001 1st Annual Reading: Robert Stephenson, Jaffrey Historic District Commission
2002 2nd Annual Reading: Mary Payson, Village Improvement Society
2003 3rd Annual Reading: Mary Payson, Village Improvement Society
2004 4th Annual Reading: Janet S. Grant, Jaffrey Historic District Commission
2005 5th Annual Reading: Caroline K. Hollister, Village Improvement Society
2006 6th Annual Reading: Anne Webb, Village Improvement Society
2007 7th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll, Village Improvement Society
2008 8th Annual Reading: Deborah Stewart, Jaffrey Historical Society
2009 9th Annual Reading: Kathy Batchelder, SelectmenÕs Meetinghouse Committee
2010 10th Annual Reading: Ken Campbell, Village Improvement Society
2011 11th Annual Reading: Bob Chamberlain, Jaffrey Historical Society
2012 12th Annual Reading: Ellen Avery, Village Improvement Society
2013 13th Annual Reading: Bill Driscoll, Jaffrey Historical Society
2014 14th Annual Reading: Susan Campbell, Village Improvement Society
2015 15th Annual Reading: Robert Stephenson, Jaffrey Historical Society
2016 16th Annual Reading: Sam Hackler, Village Improvement Society
2017 17th Annual Reading: Bruce Hill, Jaffrey Historical Society
2018 18th Annual Reading: Tim Gordon, Village Improvement Society
2019 19th Annual Reading: Bruce Hill, Jaffrey Historical Society
2020 20th Annual Reading: Virtual. Suze Campbell, Village Improvement Society
2021 21st Annual Reading: Charles Turcotte, Jaffrey Historical Society
2022 22nd Annual Reading: Suze Campbell, Village Improvement Society
2023 23rd Annual Reading: Charles Turcotte, Jaffrey Historical Society
2024 24th Annual Reading: Suze Campbell, Village Improvement Society
Presenters
2001 1st Annual Reading: ?
2002 2nd Annual Reading: Rebecca English
2003 3rd Annual Reading: Rebecca English
2004 4th Annual Reading: Rebecca & Jennifer English
2005 5th Annual Reading: Helen & Henry Soney
2006 6th Annual Reading: Katie & Grace Chadbourne
2007 7th Annual Reading: Mitchell & Duncan Pierce
2008 8th Annual Reading: Julaluk Trimble
2009 9th Annual Reading: Alicia & Garrett Cournoyer
2010 10th Annual Reading: Maria & Elicia Dupuis
2011 11th Annual Reading: Dustin Bergeron
2012 12th Annual Reading: Sigmund & Henry Winiecki
2013 13th Annual Reading: Dylan McKenna & Olivia Blanchette
2014 14th Annual Reading: Lily & Oliver Tullio
2015 15th Annual Reading: Samantha Newton
2016 16th Annual Reading: Blake Ferguson
2017 17th Annual Reading: Raymond Dolan & Helen Wagner
2018 18th Annual Reading: Ethan Donaway & Harrison Wagner
2019 19th Annual Reading: Logan Hoctor & Ethan Hutchinson
2020 20th Annual Reading: Virtual. No Presenters.
2021 21st Annual Reading: Logan Adam & Ben Twombly
2022 22nd Annual Reading: Agnes & Chip Bergeron
2023 23rd Annual Reading: Logan Ethan Hutchinson & Adam Twombly
2024 24th Annual Reading: Lee Backstrom & Beckham Gaudreault
Yankee Doodle & Three Cheers
2001 1st Annual Reading: ?
2002 2nd Annual Reading: Bryan English
2003 3rd Annual Reading: Bryan English
2004 4th Annual Reading: Bryan English
2005 5th Annual Reading: Owen Houghton
2006 6th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll
2007 7th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll
2008 8th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll
2009 9th Annual Reading: Bruce Larsen
2010 10th Annual Reading: Bruce Larsen
2011 11th Annual Reading: Bruce Larsen
2012 12th Annual Reading: Ellen Avery
2013 13th Annual Reading: Ellen Avery
2014 14th Annual Reading: Ellen Avery
2015 15th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2016 16th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2017 17th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2018 18th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2019 19th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2020 20th Annual Reading: Virtual. No Yankee Doodle & Three Cheers
2021 21st Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2022 22nd Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll
2023 23rd Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
2023 24th Annual Reading: Bill Raymond
Bell Ringers
2001 1st Annual Reading: ?
2002 2nd Annual Reading: Rebecca English
2003 3rd Annual Reading: Anne, Thomas & Teddy Oliver
2004 4th Annual Reading: Anne, Thomas & Teddy Oliver
2005 5th Annual Reading: Helen, Henry & friends
2006 6th Annual Reading: Erickson & Kennedy Richard
2007 7th Annual Reading: Hadley Greene
2008 8th Annual Reading: John Madigan
2009 9th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll, Jr.
2010 10th Annual Reading: Sean Driscoll, Jr.
2011 11th Annual Reading: Joseph Bergeron
2012 12th Annual Reading: Margaret Winiecki
2013 13th Annual Reading: Dylan McKenna & Olivia Blanchette
2014 14th Annual Reading: Christopher Newton
2015 15th Annual Reading: Christopher & Samantha Newton
2016 16th Annual Reading: Blake Ferguson
2017 17th Annual Reading: Harrison Wagner
2018 18th Annual Reading: Ethan Donaway & Harrison Wagner
2019 19th Annual Reading: Ethan & Harrison Wagner
2020 20th Annual Reading: Virtual. No Bellringers.
2021 21st Annual Reading: Emmett Twombly
2022 22nd Annual Reading: ?
2023 23rd Annual Reading: Bernie Hampsey
2023 24th Annual Reading: Rob Stephenson [Bell gave out early; since repaired]
Other Helpers
Bunting & Set-up: Sean Driscoll, Steve Miller, Rob Stephenson
Flowers: Claire Bean, Nancy Belletete, Jane Cunningham, Eleanor McQueen, Margaret Pokorny, Dee Poole, Ann Royce, Elizabeth Smith
Pianists: Virginia Eskin, Millie Vigneault, Louise Watson
Sound system: Sean Driscoll
Publicity / Graphics: Rob Stephenson
Video of the 2013 Reading. This is a large file.
Video of the 2020 Virtual Reading.
Miscellaneous
The Welcome
Yankee Doodle
The Signers