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LEXINGTON BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Minutes - November 8, 1972
The meeting was called to order in the Legion Room of Cary Hall at 7 40 p m. by
the Chairman King Howard Members present were Linc Cole, Rudy Fobert, Dick
Michelson, Miriam Butts, Warren Butters, Tony Mancini, Pat Wheatley, Fred James,
Alan Adams, and Becky Nussdorfer Roland Greeley arrived later The minutes of
the last meeting were approved
Becky reported that David Hughes has sent requisition forms to the Bicentennial
Committee for ordering any supplies There is a new centralized system which should
make ordering easier and more efficient Becky also reported that Shirley Stolz of
the Cary Library Trustees had invited any members of the Bicentennial Committee who
wished to see the plans for the additions to the Library and to discuss ideas for
the use of the space available to be present at a meeting at the Library at 10 a m.
on Saturday, November 11
Miriam Butts gave a very thorough report on ideas for the Arts during the
celebration. She feels that the theme we choose should have two objectives
Freedom and a sense of place She feels that the press has not done a good job
of revealing these objectives and that this should now be stressed She made five
important suggestions
1 She has chosen seven portraits of historic figues who were
very important in decision making in the revolutionary period - 4
men and 3 woman Biographies and the prints in the paper at inter-
vals would be a boost to the theme stressing freedom and sense of place
2 For the problem of a dramatic contribution to the Bicentennial,
she had contacted Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops concerning a
commemorative concert The price would be $10,000 Therefore ruled
nut- However-there is the -thought-that music-co-41d Lc �....orporated
in the celebration by the use of mini-Tanglewood ideas or mini-pops
performed by young people in town - concert in a shell located at the
playground or the tent proposed by New England Opera at our last meet-
ing It could be a continual thing - throughout the year or years
after the celebration.
3 To incorporate modern Lexington into the celebration, there
should be some sort of exhibition - perhaps the crafts of the past
and present - 18th and 19th century home industry and 19th and 20th
systems perhaps through photography,ship building, models, quilt
making, woodworking, etc
4 A light show on April 19 - show development from farming
community to professional and scientific community
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5 Historic emphasis - conservation, resurrection, display
Mr Adams emphasized that we need good publicity before the next Town Meeting
This should create interest The events which we plan should be publicized
Organizations are looking for speakers
Dr Fobert outlined a few thoughts on School participation He is strongly
in favor of direct involvement of the youngsters The band and choral groups
will surely be involved He felt that the experience the youngsters had in the
excavation of the foundation of the Hancock-Clarke House was invaluable and is
hoping that something in that nature can be developed for 1975 The use of the
school facilities must have School Department OK, the LBC would like answers as
to the use of cafeterias, scheduling of the holidays so that the students can
participate, and the use of school parking lots for campers A discussion
followed as to whether LBC really wants to celebrate the 19th on Saturday or
on the Monday as presently perscribed by the Legislature Linc is submitting the
bill again to have the day always on the 19th not the nearest Monday No decision
was made
At this point LBC welcomed Mr Gates of Capron Lighting He described his
company's activities They are special and in a theatrical vein - such things
as the Plymouth Pageant, rock concerts, Polaroid Stock Holders meeting, etc He
is interested in the Bicentennial and feels that Lexington seems to be the only
town with direct involvement which is being specific He went into some detail
as to how the Capron Lighting systems might work There is a cassette tape
deck; reel to reel etc Using a light show in the daytime is of course a problem-
if Lexington would have one after dark in the summer it would necessarily be
quite late in the evening Accommodating those who want to see the show is a
real pLUosemu wiLli any-of-the locations-in-Lexington. King-outlined-a-h-ypo-thetic-al
situation to narrate the story of the 19th of April, 1775 Mr Gates said such
a proposal would entail in the neighborhood of $30,000 to $40,000 Mr Gates
said he would be available anytime for inquiry or further development of ideas LBC
may have
A discussion concerning the invitations which will soon be necessary for the
VIP's brought out that the President of the U S must be asked but there are
some problem details to be worked out Should Lexington work with Concord on the
issuing of the invitation? Can Linc contact the proper persons in Washington?
Who else should be invited? There will have to be a commitment made in the near
future Mr Finigan of Concord is having a meeting tomorrow on this subject
King will be in touch with him.
Another meeting will be held on November 16 at Hanscom Field as a follow
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up to the one in August Linc Cole and King Howard will attend the 8 p m meeting
in the Officer's Club King also noted that the organizations MAPC and SILC are
important to our area planning The Route 2 enviornmental study has also been com-
pleted and has been rejected, so that a decision on Route 2 is still far off
Linc will check on the facts
Those persons nominated for Vice-chairman indicated that they felt the job
required someone outside the present committee since there is too much work involved
A nominating committee was appointed consisting of Linc, Cole, Holy Greeley, and
King Howard These men will submit a name or names of someone outside the committee
To set the records straight Pat Wheatley was officially appointed by LBC, and
accepted by acclaimation The historians and the historical records committee
appointed by Warren Butters of the Historical Society were discussed in relation
to their functions and how these functions aid or overlap those of LBC Alan
Adams and Ann Scigliano have been named by the Historical Society as the Historical
Records Committee LBC would like to ask Ed Worthen to be the Historian for the
town The function of the historian would be to alert LBC to the events between
1772 and 1775 so that LBC can use those events as a basis to stimulate celebration
interest; and as a record keeper for the events of 1975-1976 King Howard will
approach Mr Worthen with this request
The next item on the agenda was the status of the welcoming signs at various
locations in Lexington There are 5 signs erected as a joint effort of the Rotary,
Lions, JC, Kiwanis, and Historical Society and are kept up by the C of C
Questions of numbers, location, or additions to the present signs were discussed
Dick said the C of C will assume cost for addition strips to be put on the
present signs Additional signs would have to go through LBC and the Selectmen
King also asked Dick to see if there were any funds for a portfolio such as Dick
has for the members of LBC
The meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m. The next meeting of LBC will be on
November 29, at 7 30 p m.
Respectfully submitted, A'
Becky Nussdorfer, Secretary