Liberty Minute Historical Presentation at Huntington Town Meeting - June 16, 2026
Liberty Minute Historical Presentation at Huntington Town Meeting - June 16, 2026
The meeting featured a special 'Liberty Minute' segment as part of Huntington's celebration of 250 years of American independence. This historical narration detailed the role of Old First Church during the Revolutionary War, including its use by British troops, the removal of its bell, and its subsequent reconstruction after the war. The presentation highlighted the sacrifices of Huntington Patriots and concluded that liberty endures.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to this Liberty Minute, part of Huntington's celebration of 250 years of American independence. During the Revolutionary War, British troops used Old First Church as a storehouse and stable. The church bell was taken and installed on the British ship the Swan. Near the end of the war in November 1782, the church was dismantled and the lumber used to build a fort on top of the old burying ground. Almost immediately after British troops evacuated in 1783, the fort was dismantled and the current church was built. The bell was recovered, damaged, it was recast and hung in the church steeple until 1967. Thanks to the sacrifices of generations of Huntington Patriots, Liberty endures.
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