PLYMOUTH - Since its founding on July 20, 1763, Plymouth has been home to several large-scale enterprises, including a baseball-glove manufacturing company, a shoe-tree maker, the Pemigewasset Hotel, and, more recently, Plymouth State University.

Over the next several months, the town will be honoring that heritage as it celebrates the town's 250th anniversary.

"We're still putting together the dates and times of the events, but we'll be celebrating everything about Plymouth, leading up to the big events on July 20," said Steve Rand of the town's 250th anniversary committee.

One of the largest celebratory events is a special play about the town's history featuring residents, PSU students and others. The Educational Theatre Collaborative's original musical, "Marking the Moment," was written and created by PSU professor Trish Lindberg and professor emeritus of History Manuel Marquez-Sterling.

The play's cast will be rehearsing all month and the performances will run from Jan. 23-27 at the Silver Center. More information can be found at silver.plymouth.edu.

Beginning next month, the town's historical society will be holding monthly presentations on various topics, Rand said.

On July 20, the town's celebration will include an amphitheater on the town rotary, plenty of entertainment, train rides, and more.

More events are being scheduled, and dates and times will be posted on the town's website, www.plymouth-nh.org, Rand said.

According to town historians, Plymouth was part of a large plot of undivided land in the Pemigewasset Valley before its founding.

Many named in the 1763 charter were soldiers from the Seven Year's War who had come north from Hollis.

The town was named after the original Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.

Plymouth State University was founded here in 1871 as a normal school, later becoming a teachers college, a state college and now a state university.



dseufert@newstote.com