A 250th year anniversary is special no matter the event. This year's Margaretta Days Festival in Machias marks its 19th year while celebrating a momentous piece of history. And for a place as far and away as Machias, that significance is not lost to time. A battle was fought 250 years ago on its shores while smoke from musket fire was still heavy in the air in the city of Boston. The Battle of the Margaretta has since been officially recognized as the first naval battle of the American Revolution.
      While things boiled over with the April 1775 clashes between British troops and town militias in Lexington and Concord, a series of events unfolded in the northern territory of what was then Massachusetts. Having arrived in the Machias area in 1763, the settlers made quick work building a sawmill, housing and all the necessities required for a village to prosper and grow.
      With much of their supplies coming from Boston via British ships, it was only a matter of time, with things as they were in Boston, for the ember of revolution to be lit in Machias. Having heard the news of the April events and a shipping embargo still enforced, a small group of men decided enough is enough. On June 12, 1775, with their plan in hand, the patriots first captured a British cargo vessel and then sought and captured the British ship Margaretta.
      Sponsored by the Machias Historical Society, the festival will be held at West Branch Farms on Friday, June 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to the public. Now recognized as the unofficial beginning of summer in the Machias area, the festival has it all. On Friday evening a skirmish between the patriots and the British will be presented by the Revolutionary War Reenactors of Downeast Maine (RWRDM), followed by the Liberty Ball with music provided by Moose Island Contra Dance Band at the Foss Point Event Center.
      On Saturday a parade will start the day's activities, followed by a welcome ceremony conducted by historical figures Reverend and Mrs. James Lyon, first minister to Machias. The popular Piscataqua Rangers Jr. Fife & Drum Corps will also return to the pomp and circumstance of all that is military with the festival. Throughout the day the public can enjoy crafters, historical societies and other exhibitors; take a step back in time by visiting the patriot encampment featuring demonstrations of colonial era tools, skills, weaponry, clothing and food preparation; learn through historical readings of the events leading up and during the battle of the Margaretta; and enjoy plenty of food and music amidst a community that embraces its historical roots.
      The venue for this year's festival is new for this momentous anniversary. For the past 18 festivals, the University of Maine at Machias has served as host, but this year's festival will be held at West Branch Farms. Located on the shores of Little Kennebec Bay in Machias, this new location also comes with its own piece of history. A portion of the land was once owned by Benjamin Foss, who fought in the battle of the Margaretta, and today it is known as Foss Point.
      Both the Machias Historical Society and the RWRDM members see this new venue as an opportunity to both expand geographically and grow the festival without barriers or added costs while offering the beautiful backdrop of the bay. The Foss Point Event Center will house both the Liberty Ball and the craft fair on Saturday. Indoor bathroom facilities and on-site transport for individuals needing it will also be available.
      "This place and the battle specifically prompted us to think about the patriots as individuals ? who were they, where did they live, what were their roles in the battle, were they wounded or killed, did they stay in the Machias Valley after the war years?" says Machias Historical Society Treasurer Stephanie Larrabee. "We do know that many of the patriots involved in this battle lived in places such as East Machias (East Falls), Jonesboro, Marshfield, Whitneyville, Machiasport and other peripheral areas of the Village of Machias (West Falls)."
      The historic Burnham Tavern, the oldest building in eastern Maine, will also be the scene of plenty of activity. The building, now a museum, is the place where Jeremiah O'Brien and others made battle plans and also where the mortally wounded British commander of the Margaretta was taken. Hannah Weston Chapter of the DAR will be giving tours of the Burnham Tavern Museum from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
      For updated information before and during the festival, see the Margaretta Days Festival Facebook page or website at www.machiashistoricalsociety.com/margaretta days.