KENT, Conn.—Oh, the weather outside was frightful—but not in the way the Christmas song usually conveys.

Instead, the mercury topped 90-plus degrees with dew points in the mid-70s Friday and Saturday, July 4-5, creating heat index values of between 105 and 110 degrees across inland Connecticut. 

George and Martha Washington (William Watts and Sarah Chase) showed true grit Friday night, choosing to march behind colonial drummers despite the sweltering heat of a July evening as they led Kent’s parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Photo by Kathryn Boughton

But the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth happens only once, so Kent soldiered on, holding its semiquincentennial parade Friday night amidst sweltering conditions—tempered when the marchers reached the firehouse by cooling treats, lots of icy water, and a chance to play in the spray of a firehose at the Kent Volunteer Fire Department headquarters on Maple Street.

Temperatures were no kinder on Saturday, so the celebration originally planned for the town hall’s grounds moved indoors to the air-conditioned comfort of the Community House, where activities were carried on despite the frowning weather gods outside.

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The country had been well-celebrated, its founding ideals duly exalted by Saturday evening before a severe, slow-moving cold front swept through the region that evening, breaking the heat wave but sparking record-breaking storms with destructive winds that left thousands of utility customers in the Northwest Corner without power.

Falls Village and Salisbury sustained the most damage, with many trees snapped or uprooted, utility wires downed and 93 percent of Eversource customers without power in Salisbury on Sunday morning.

The storms also caused significant damage in Kent. The major point of impact was found on South Kent Road, which was closed in both directions between Route 341 and Spooner Hill Road due to trees falling onto utility wires. The road officially reopened early Monday afternoon, July 6.

Mother’s Nature’s temper tantrum delayed Kent’s Lake Waramaug fireworks display, planned to begin at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, but only by 45 minutes.

Despite the dramatic conclusion to Saturday, the town’s two-day celebration demonstrated a sense of unity and national pride as the town celebrated our heritage, reflected here in an album of pictures depicting Kent’s resilience in the face of daunting conditions.

Jodi Polsgrove, curator of collections for the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office museums, and Friends of Eric Sloane Museum member Scott Sheldon got the Kent celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence underway when they rang the bell atop the museum at 2 p.m. on July 3. It is an annual tradition at the museum. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Nancy (Devaux) Eidan, sister of Kent’s Tax Collector Debbie Devaux, was in town for the 250th celebration and took her hand at ringing the bell at 2 p.m. at the Eric Sloane Museum Friday afternoon, guided by Friends of the Museum member Scott Sheldon. Eidan now lives in California. She said she rings her bell every year at her home, but at 11 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. to take into consideration the time difference between the East and West Coasts. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Kent’s Hall-Jennings Post #153 of the American Legion was well-represented in Friday night’s parade through the town’s center. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
The Kent Lions Club was a lively presence in the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence Friday night. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
The Kent Volunteer Fire Department managed to look crisp despite the wilting heat on Friday evening as members marched in the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Two Ford Broncos made google eyes at the crowd Friday during the town’s 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Kent Historical Society President Deborah Chabrian, left, and Chris Adams, the society’s director, right, wave to residents during Friday night’s 250th celebration. With them is Oscar Lavato, who had asked for the privilege of riding on the historical society’s float. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
River Greenbaum, left, and Dan Greenbaum cut lively figures as they danced down Main Street on their stilts during Kent’s parade Friday evening. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Children enjoyed their moment in the spotlight during Friday night’s parade, waving happily from floats that made their way through town. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
With the parade over, a crowd gathered at the firehouse where townspeople were treated to cooling treats such as watermelon and popsicles. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
As Friday evening wound down, the firefighters brought out their aerial trucks and delighted children and adults alike with a cooling mist. Photo by Kathryn Boughton
Because of the intense heat, Saturday’s celebration moved indoors at the Community House, where the full program was presented, including food, a national birthday cake donated by SoDelicious Homemade Bakery, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, an opportunity for residents to add their names to a copy of that document and more. Photo by Elyse Sadtler
Sarah Chase, chairman of the 250 Committee, and Melissa Cherniske, committee vice chairman, cut the nation’s birthday cake created by SoDelicious Homemade Bakery. Photo by Elyse Sadtler
Residents clustered around a large replica of the Declaration of Independence, ready to affix their own names to the document. Photo by Elyse Sadtler

Kathryn Boughton has been editor of the Kent Dispatch since its digital reincarnation in October 2023 as a nonprofit online publication. A native of Canaan, Conn., Kathryn has been a regional journalist...

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