“Standoff” celebrated

NORTH BENNINGTON - Fun fact: six years before the Battle of Bennington, the Green Mountain Boys bravely made history there and, at the same time, the entity that became “Vermont” was born in Bennington. The history that happened in July 1771 will be celebrated in the same location on the 250th anniversary this month.
This decisive confrontation occurred on July 19, 1771 at James Breakenridge’s farm in North Bennington. A New York sheriff’s posse, including the mayor of Albany, lawyers, magistrates, and militia clashed with the emerging Green Mountain Boys militia at Henry Bridge, which crosses the Walloomsac River, stopping the serving of papers and blocking the New York surveyors.  The success of Hampshire Grants settlers in resisting the New York land claims made July 19, 1771 the birth of the Green Mountain Boys and, in a sense, the birth of Vermont.
On Sunday, July 18, the 250th anniversary of the historic “Breakenridge standoff” will be celebrated in and around McWaters Park by local and regional volunteers with history tours, presentations, reenactors, and more.  
The event will run from 1 to 4 pm. Public parking is located entirely in a side yard of Henry House on Orebed Road.  There will be public information tables to explore, representatives of regional living history reenactor organizations, interactive demonstrations and presentations, and self-guided history tours.
At 2 pm, there will be a very special commemoration to honor the 1771 birth of Vermont and of the Green Mountain Boys. At 3 pm, historian Robert Hoar will lead a public history walking tour to the Breakenridge farm property.
For grown-ups, Village Garage Distillery, which produces handcrafted spirits in the Vermont tradition, will host tastings at the corn-crib barn on the Henry House property from 1 to 4 pm. The original Green Mountain Boys frequented Bennington’s Catamount Tavern.
Admission is free to all. For updates leave a voicemail at (802) 388-2967 or check the 1771BirthOfVermont2021 Facebook page.