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Newton City marks 250th anniversary with public reading of the Declaration of Independence
Summary
Newton City hosted a 250th‑anniversary ceremony at War Memorial Auditorium where state officials presented a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence, local readers recited the document aloud and a student vocalist performed the national anthem and "America the Beautiful."
Newton City held a public ceremony at the War Memorial Auditorium to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, where state officials presented a historically produced reproduction of the Declaration of Independence and attendees heard the document read aloud.
State representative Amy Masangiolo presented the reproduction and described it as "a faithful reproduction of the Declaration of Independence" created "using historically accurate printing press on linen and cotton paper," a work she said was produced by the nonprofit Revolution250 and distributed to municipalities statewide.
Representative Greg Schwartz said the presentation was "especially meaningful in Newton," recalling the city's Revolutionary‑era contributions after the April 19, 1775 Lexington alarm and urging that the replica be preserved and displayed for future generations.
District Attorney Marianne Ryan and other invited readers took part in a public reading of the Declaration. The text recited included the document’s opening statement on natural rights and the list of grievances against the British crown; the reading concluded with the pledge "to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor," and a reading of signatures including John Hancock.
Before and after the reading, local student Caitlin (introduced in the program as a Newton resident and an incoming Newton North High School student) performed the national anthem and, later, "America the Beautiful." The moderator thanked the honor guard and visiting officials, including City Council President John Oliver and several city councilors, and closed the program with remarks about the continuing relevance of the Declaration’s principles.
The presentation highlighted a statewide project to distribute replica documents to all 351 Massachusetts municipalities and framed Newton’s event as part of a larger effort by the Massachusetts 250th commission and local lawmakers to commemorate the nation’s founding.
No formal votes or municipal actions were recorded during the program; the event was ceremonial and informational.
