Keeping Time, Groton’s Historical Theater Piece,
Will Be Reprised

Keeping Time is back by popular demand.  The original play about Groton’s first 350 years will run for two more performances, Sept. 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on Main St., Groton.

Keeping Time is a two act musical.  The play is narrated by the keeper of the clock in Groton’s First Parish Church.  The Clock Keeper tells the town’s story, beginning with the native people who first settled on the banks of the town’s three rivers, John Tinker who opened a trading post in the early 1600s, and the Indian Wars which followed.  Through narrative, music, movement, action and dialogue, the first act carries the audience through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the underground and above ground railroads, and arrival of immigrants, the founding and implementation of the Groton Woman’s Club, the First World War and the Groton Hospital.  The first act ends with a town band scene on Main Street at the end of the Roaring 20s.  The second act begins with the Depression, quickly followed by a humorous scene about the arrival of the telephone.  The central moments of the second act revolve around the Second World War, where the Clock Keeper takes the audience to Sherwin Brothers Market in West Groton and shows them the effects of those years on the people who stayed home and the people who went overseas.  The final scenes of the play reflect on the change and growth of the last 50 years, with a particular focus on the Nashua River.

The cast includes 20 children between the ages of five and 17 and 40 adults, several of whom are in their seventies.  The play is an ensemble piece, so the cast is on stage for the full length of the show.

Tickets will be available for the reprise of Keeping Time at Main Street Café and Workers’ Credit Union on Main Street, Groton beginning on Monday, Aug. 29, at Grotonfest or at the door of the Performing Arts Center on Sept. 22 and 23, the nights of the two 7:30 p.m. performances.  Tickets which were purchased for the March performances, but which were not used due to the inclement weather, may be exchanged for either September performance by calling 978-448-6620 or 978-448-6629.  The deadline for this exchange is Friday, Sept. 16.

Groton kicks off 350th Saturday with lighting of Celebration Tree

ANDREW RAVENS, Lowell Sun Staff
Thursday, November 25, 2004 - GROTON  Residents and town officials are eagerly anticipating Saturday's lighting of the Celebration Tree, the first of several events scheduled to celebrate the town's 350th birthday.

Residents and the Groton Minutemen will meet at 3:45 p.m., at Town Hall, then march to Sawyer Common, where a 57-foot spruce tree decorated in 25,000 red, white and blue lights will be illuminated.

It should be quite a scene, according to 350th Celebration Committee Chairman Donald Black.

"Bring sunglasses," said Black, explaining that the tree will be very bright.

Each light has special meaning, including 10,344 white lights representing each town citizen.

The Minutemen plan to make a few stops along their short march.

They will pause at the old burial ground on Hollis Street and fire a musket salute in honor of residents who contributed to the town. The Minutemen will also make a similar offering 200 feet up the street at the town's second meetinghouse.

Once the Minutemen reach Sawyer Common (at the corner of Hollis and Martins Pond Road), a ceremony honoring 12 community service-driven residents, varying in age from 60 to 95, will begin.

Residents will present a 350th anniversary quilt to selectmen, and a local choir will sing "Let Not the Torch Be Dropped," written by Groton's Stephen Burne.

Everyone is invited back to Town Hall for refreshments after the tree is lit.

Committee members, who have been hard at work for four years, are giddy with expectation.

"Now I am realizing all this hard work is coming to fruition," said committee member Jane Bouvier. "It's very exciting."

The next scheduled event happens New Year's Eve at 6 p.m., at the Town Field. Committee members have planned a huge bonfire and 350 continuous seconds of fireworks.

Andrew Ravens' e-mail address is aravens@lowellsun.com.

The 350th Celebration Committee has been hard at work for four years to arrange an amazing celebration for the Town of Groton. Members of the group include. Karen Tuomi, Linda Nucci, Pat Hallet, Su Peyton, Jane Bouvier, Connie Sartini, Tom Hartnett and Chairman Don Black.

Beginning with the Lighting of the Celebration Tree on November 27, the year will include the Christmas Tree Bonfire and Fireworks on New Year's Eve 2004, a play production on March 11 and 12, Judy Collins in Concert at the Performing Arts Center on April 2, Lighting of the Liberty Tree and Gathering of the Minutemen on April 18.

Continuing in May, the Founders Day Celebration will take place on May 21 with a celebration of Groton as a plantation on Revolutionary Common, in front of the First Parish Church, State and National officials will be in attendance and a festival of Town Businesses and Artisans will take over the Main Street area throughout the day.

On May 30 the Town will celebrate Memorial Day with a parade in the style of years gone by. On June 18 plan to attend the Gala Ball at the Groton School Dining Hall, an amazing evening of joyous celebration, which will seat a limited number of guests. Praise our country on July 5 with Fireworks and more and on July 29, 30 & 31, treat your family to a Civil War Reenactment.

In August the Committee will present a Classic Auto Show and as we move into September a fantastic 350th Parade, which will include may floats decorated by individuals and groups representing the past years and much more!

On September 11 a sensational Airshow, Concert and Fireworks Display will take place and on the 25th a Golf Tournament at the Country Club. The Celebration will wind up with Closing Ceremonies and the Burial of the Time Capsule on December 31, 2005 winding up a celebration, a year of excitement, education and festivities, never before seen in a small New England Town!

Throughout the year and beginning within the next two weeks, Legion Hall, the home base of the 350th Committee, will open on Saturday mornings to make available information, memorabilia and Schedules of our Anniversary Year.

Sub Committees have been hard at work to produce publications to be sold including a 225 page hard cover book entitled Groton at 350, The History of a Massachusetts Town, priced at a modest $35 this book will include hundreds of hours of research by authors Jayme Kulesz, Deborah Johnson and Barbara Murray and Editor Chase Duffy. The book includes unbelievable photographs of times past and prominent members of the community.

Reservations and holiday Gift Cards are available now. Also on sale a terrific 15 month calendar featuring frameable old post card prints of Groton's past and listing all the events of the anniversary year. Gorgeous ornaments, sweatshirts, a children's coloring book, and many more items, authorized by the 350th Committee are also available now.

The website, grotonturns350.com, is in the process of being updated and the phone number is now up and running, 978-448-1101. LOOK OUT GROTON AND EVERYONE ELSE, 2005 is going to be the most exciting year ever and the 350th Anniversary Committee looks forward to welcoming everyone to the celebration!