County Courthouse lights will carry Paul Revere’s signal ‘two if by sea’

NEW PHILADELPHIA – “Two if by sea.”

The Tuscarawas County Courthouse will follow the famous signal system of Paul Revere by shining two white lights Friday and Saturday. It’s to honor the 250^th anniversary of Revere’s famous ride to alert the minutemen in Massachusetts that the British were coming. County Commissioner Kristin Zemis grew up in Massachusetts, so April 18^th, 1775, is seared into her memory. She can recite “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on command.

“I always ask people in my organization, ‘Ok, it’s April 18^th. What happened on April 18^th?’ And they always look at me like, ‘Nothing. Nothing important happened on April 18^th.’ That’s not true. ‘On the 18^th of April in ’75, hardly a man is now alive, who remembers that famous day and year… One if by land, two if by sea; and I on the opposite shore will be, ready to ride and spread the alarm through every Middlesex, village and farm…”

https://poets.org/poem/paul-reveres-ride

The County Courthouse will be dark Friday and Saturday nights except for the two white lights.

Zemis says it not only commemorates Paul Revere’s ride 250 years ago, it also brings attention to the county’s celebration of America’s 250^th birthday on July 4^th, 2026.

The commissioners have commissioned a 250^th anniversary float to appear in local parades. Leaders of local organizations and tourist attractions are planning a host of events and activities.

Zemis says they will be announced in the near future. Already we know that Tuscora Park, Historic Zoar Village and the Ernest Warther Museum are featured on Ohio’s America 250 Creativity Trail.

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