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Come see history come alive, as the WHS brings Powder House Day to Wallingford.In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775 Colonial Minute Men clashed with British Regulars in Lexington, sparking the American Revolution.
By the morning of the 22nd, the Lexington Alarm has spread thru Connecticut. Men are answering the call and military units are assembling and planning to march to Boston. Across Connecticut, 4,000 men answer the Lexington Alarm. In Wallingford, 101 men leave for Boston on April 24th.
Among the 4,000 or so men preparing to march to Boston are Captain Benedict Arnold, Commander of Connecticut’s Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard, and 57 of the men under his command. They assembled on the New Haven Green vowing to march to Boston to assist their fellow patriots. They first head to the First Church, where the Rev. Jonathan Edwards gives them his blessing. Lacking adequate ammunition, the men then proceed to Beers Tavern to demand the keys to the King’s Powder House where the city leaders were deliberating over a response to the fighting. Reluctant to yield to their demands, General Wooster states the need to wait for regular orders. Arnold shouts, “No one but Almighty God shall prevent my marching” and then threatens to order his men to break open the building and help themselves if they don't have the keys in five minutes. The Selectmen are persuaded to surrender the keys, allowing Arnold to claim the much-needed powder, ball, and flint which was stored in the powder house. Later that day, the Foot Guard passes through Wallingford along the original Boston Post Road (Route 5) on their way to Boston.
On April 25, 2026 The Wallingford Historical Society will host the annual Powder House Day recreation.
Starting at 10:00 am, members of the 2nd Company Governors Foot Guard, along with an entourage of other re-enactors, will depart the Parsons House and march to the Congregational church where they will be blessed by a special guest.
From the Church, the Foot Guard will march to Town Hall to demand the keys to the powder house from another special guest.
Following a small ceremony, the entire entourage will then head back to the Parsons House were historic artifacts from the history of the foot guard will be on display.
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180 South Main St, Wallingford, CT, United States, Connecticut 06492
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