A crowd of residents attended the recent Barrington 300 preview party, which was held at the McCulloch Center for the Arts on the campus of St. Andrew's School.

The event offered residents an opportunity to view some of the photos capturing Barrington's three centuries. The photographs will also be featured in a new book about Barrington's history. 

A number of interesting events are planned for the entire year. Some of the events planned are a Picnic Pow Wow at Haines Park; a town wide heritage weekend, summer beach concerts, and a Barrington 300 gala event at Rhode Island Country Club in October. 

The actual 300th birthday party will be held at the town hall on Saturday, Nov. 18.

According to the Barrington 300 group, the town was founded in 1717 rather than 1770 as shown on the signs at the entrances to town — 1770 was, in fact, the date of Barrington's refounding after 23 years as part of Warren. 

Sponsors have been quick to participate in the year-long celebration. Two anonymous residents stepped up as Silver sponsors, while Elfriede Collis, and Pamela and Robert Faulkner are "captains," Kimberly and Bradford Dimeo, and Barbara and David Stonestreet are "patriots." "Pilgrim" sponsors include Judy and Frederick Blount, Mindy and Todd Blount, Eloise and Henry Collins, Stephanie and Van Edwards, Mary Alyce and Pat Gasbarro, Gloria Hall, Cecil Daunis Sartor and Didier Sartor, Debra Page-Trim and Lawrence Trim, Jr., and Bonnie Warren.

Next event

Barrington’s own Nathaniel Taylor, family historian and publisher of The American Genealogist, will offer a morning workshop on genealogy with an East Bay focus on Saturday, April 29. Three back-to-back sessions will cover a range of beginning and intermediate topics, illustrated with many examples from Dr. Taylor’s research and teaching career, with question and answer time. The final hour will include hands-on presentation of unique and helpful local resources from Barrington Preservation Society record collections.

For more information visit www.barrington.ri.gov