BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – St. Lawrence County officials are getting a nearly three-year jump on celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America — and they want the Canton community to help plan the celebration.

Both the town and village board addresses the county’s invitation to participate at their respective July board meetings.

The county is asking both boards to create a local 250th anniversary committee composed of elected officials and a wide range of local citizens.

“We would like you to appoint your own local 250th anniversary committee composed of leading citizens, business people, veterans, fraternal organizations, educators, historical groups, museums, libraries, tourism leaders and others who can put together a series of events and activities while also coordinating with our county-wide effort to observe this once in a lifetime anniversary,” a letter from County Administrator Ruth Doyle and chair of the Board of Legislators David Forsythe stated.

“It is our intent to encourage communities across the county to create a series of events and activities from now and through 2026 and beyond celebrating our nation's history. Instead of regarding history as the dry realm of musty old books on some dusty shelf, the North Country needs to use this opportunity to harness the stories of our colorful past for economic development by using it to attract visitors and tourists to visit our communities, our stores, our restaurants and our lodging places”, the letter continued.

“Many of our communities were settled by veterans of the American Revolution. Some stood in the snow at Valley Forge with George Washington, others fought at Saratoga, Fort Stanwix and other battles that helped free our nation from a foreign king. Our history is also entwined with British and Loyalists from the 13 colonies who fought for King and Country. It's also about the Oswegatchies and St. Regis Native Americans, some of whom fought for the Revolution and others who fought for the King. Some of the heroes from both sides of the Revolutionary War served in or settled in what is now St. Lawrence County. They built communities along the St. Lawrence River and over time carved out homes in our river valleys, the foothills of the Adirondacks and in between.”

“We should take pride in our colorful past. We hope to work with tribal leaders from both sides of the border, representatives of the Loyalists and others who can help tell their important stories to give our children a better understanding of the important role so many people played in carving out what we now call St. Lawrence County.”

“We also are organizing a county-wide 250th Anniversary Commission that will partner with your community and all the communities in St. Lawrence County to help tell our unique stories about our role in our nation's history.”

“The Commission will work with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce to provide an appropriate commemoration of the important observance of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 2026) and to provide a centralized registry of events, celebrations, and programs throughout the period we know as the Revolutionary War and during the early days of the Republic.”

“This is your community's history. We hope you will work with us to make it a memorable event for everyone.”