Wethersfield: General Washington

ambience: Fife and Drum Corps, parade

George Washington really did sleep here, and the town of Wethersfield, Connecticut celebrates its historical roots every June. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

“It’s really a celebration of Wethersfield history.

Anne Kuckro is the Historical Activities Coordinator for the Wethersfield Festival.

“The town was settled in 1634 and has been in continual growth and existence since then. We’re very proud of our history and the festival was conceived as a way of letting the outside world know what we’ve got here.”

ambience: Yankee Doodle, fife and drum

“The interesting thing is that Washington actually visited the town three different times during the Revolution. There was never a battle in Wethersfield but when the Continental Army was formed, Washington asked Congress to create a mounted unit, they’re called dragoons, and the very first one that was authorized by Congress was actually called the Second Continental Light Dragoon and they were formed in Wethersfield and they trained in Wethersfield from January to June of 1777. And so the enactors are demonstrating some of the training tactics and battle techniques that they would be using when they eventually joined Washington’s army on the Hudson.

ambience: fix bayonets, firelocks, fifes, commands

We’ll hear more about the Wethersfield, Connecticut Festival in future programs. From the Wethersfield Festival, .Pulse of the Planet is presented with support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I’m Jim Metzner.

Wethersfield: General Washington

Wethersfield, Connecticut has a special place in American history, and every June, folks come here to celebrate it.
Air Date:06/07/2006
Scientist:
Transcript:


ambience: Fife and Drum Corps, parade

George Washington really did sleep here, and the town of Wethersfield, Connecticut celebrates its historical roots every June. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

"It’s really a celebration of Wethersfield history.

Anne Kuckro is the Historical Activities Coordinator for the Wethersfield Festival.

"The town was settled in 1634 and has been in continual growth and existence since then. We're very proud of our history and the festival was conceived as a way of letting the outside world know what we’ve got here."

ambience: Yankee Doodle, fife and drum

"The interesting thing is that Washington actually visited the town three different times during the Revolution. There was never a battle in Wethersfield but when the Continental Army was formed, Washington asked Congress to create a mounted unit, they’re called dragoons, and the very first one that was authorized by Congress was actually called the Second Continental Light Dragoon and they were formed in Wethersfield and they trained in Wethersfield from January to June of 1777. And so the enactors are demonstrating some of the training tactics and battle techniques that they would be using when they eventually joined Washington’s army on the Hudson.

ambience: fix bayonets, firelocks, fifes, commands

We'll hear more about the Wethersfield, Connecticut Festival in future programs. From the Wethersfield Festival, .Pulse of the Planet is presented with support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I'm Jim Metzner.