Mark Your Calendars! West Hartford America 250 Task Force Plans Semiquincentennial Celebrations

By Melissa Cole

“Semiquincentennial” try saying that three times fast! It’s a big word for a big celebration.

The country turns 250 this year, and the town of West Hartford has a lot in store to celebrate. In fact, there’s an entire volunteer committee dedicated to planning and bringing these events to life. It’s called The West Hartford America 250 Task Force.

Leading the charge are tri-chairs Renee McCue, Chuck Coursey, and Adrienne Billings-Smith. They’re joined by a team of 40 volunteers spanning generations, from high school students to senior citizens. They got the ball rolling last April and have been hard at work ever since. The goal is to bring educational and cultural opportunities to the community that spotlight diverse stories, encourage community dialogue, and reflect on the nation and the town’s history. 

“We really wanted to tell stories from underrepresented communities, stories that really haven’t been told in the past,” said Coursey.

Billings-Smith agrees. “We’ve progressed a lot over the last 250 years,” she said, adding “I think this entire committee did an amazing job making sure we were telling diverse stories about West Hartford and Connecticut.”

Have you ever wondered who your neighborhood school is named after? That question inspired the task force’s youngest member Ethan Zimmer of Hall High School to dig into the history behind the names of all 16 schools in the West Hartford Public Schools system. His research uncovers the stories and people behind each school’s name. You can explore it all at this link.

Zimmer says in the article: “Education has long been a staple in community life, but the names of those honored in the names of our schools are often overlooked. It is with this document that I wish to shine a light on these people, their accomplishments, and their significance in West Hartford.” 

McCue said the next major community event is the Memorial Day Parade, a longtime town tradition that typically draws large crowds. It’s on May 25th and this year organizers are adding something new.

“I thought it would be amazing if we had a flag from each of the countries representing the languages spoken in our homes,” McCue said. “So we have 80 flags from around the world, and we need 80 people to hold them.” A Nepalese dance troupe will also participate alongside the flag display.

For anyone who has ever wanted to march in the parade, this is a great opportunity. Participants do not need to have a personal connection to the flag they carry; the display is meant to celebrate the many cultures and communities represented right here in town. If you’d like to volunteer email: [email protected] or [email protected].

Many of us have enjoyed A.C. Petersen Farms Restaurant ice cream, whether after a school concert or on a warm summer day, but have you ever wondered how the beloved local business got its start?

Coursey, host and producer of the podcast Trout Brook Tales  (www.troutbrooktales.org), along with town historian Mary Donohue, will present a lecture exploring the history of Danish immigrant Andrew C. Petersen’s dairy empire. 

“He came by himself in the early 20th century and got a job working a milk route in Hartford,” Coursey says. Over time, Petersen acquired a great deal of land in town and became a successful businessman.

You can learn all about it at the lecture which will take place later this month at Playhouse on Park Theater (the former milk delivery truck garage!) And yes, guests will enjoy free ice cream courtesy of the restaurant. Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 31, at 4 p.m. at Playhouse on Park. Make sure to reserve your spot here.

Also save the date for Celebrate! West Hartford, June 6-7, and keep an eye out for the West Hartford 250 booth. There will be kids activities and a free “I Love America” book. There will also be town events to recognize Pride and Juneteenth in the month of June.

The finale event will be a free concert on Wednesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. at Duffy Elementary School. Titled A Concert to Salute America’s 250th Anniversary, the performance will feature the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the West Hartford Women’s Chorale. Duffy’s large auditorium can hold a big crowd and ensure the event can be held rain or shine. No charge for admission. 

The West Hartford America 250 Task Force, again made up of 40 of our friends and neighbors, hopes everyone will come out to each of these events and learn a little more about what makes our town so special, and how it has evolved in the last two and a half centuries. 

“It’s been a lot of fun. I just want to say a huge thank you to our committee chairs and our committee members for the work that they did because they did a phenomenal job, volunteering to get a lot of stuff done,” said Billings-Smith.

In case you missed it, here are some recent panel discussions from last month: 

• West Hartford’s America 250 presents Transitions: What We Gained, What It Cost, April 30, 2026. West Hartford’s America 250 presents Transitions: What We Gained, What It Cost, a virtual panel discussion exploring how West Hartford evolved from a quiet farming outpost and into the vibrant suburb we know today. Shifts in zoning laws, industrialization, and immigration created new opportunities for some while erecting invisible barriers for others. Panelists include Mary Donohue, Town Historian, Jack Dougherty, Professor and Author of On the Line, and Dan Sterner, Author and Historian. The event is held on Thursday, April 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. WHCi YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfvDdnXWjNg
• King Philip’s War and Indigenous Voices Today: Past, Present, and What Our Nations Continue to Teach, April 23, 2026. WHCi YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxeJt1PFTw. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we must acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who were here long before. Join Indigenous panelists from Southern New England for a thoughtful discussion on the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, resilience, and cultural survival. Hosted at King Philip Middle School, the event will respectfully acknowledge the history of King Philip’s War while centering the living cultures of Native Nations today.

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