Warren’s unabashed love for its local history has already put it at the top of the state’s list in terms of communities they can count on to provide fun, community flair for the upcoming celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

The so-called Semiquincentennial — at least at this very preliminary stage — is intended to be a year-long celebration of the unique history and important local lore from every municipality in Rhode Island; part of a larger national effort to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Lauren Fogarty, the Program Coordinator for the state’s Semiquincentennial (250th) Commission, visited the Warren Historic Armory on Monday night to talk with Warren’s Fourth of July 250 Commission about the program, tentative plans thus far, any ideas Warren had to help celebrate, and how the state could possibly help.

Of course, the first burning question asked was whether or not the state could provide any funding to help municipalities with event planning or execution during the celebratory year.

Fogarty said that the general assembly had generously given the commission $250,000 for programming. “We hope to give you some money in the future, absolutely,” she said.

Rob Rock, Deputy Secretary of State who attended in place of Secretary of State Gregg Amore (who we’re told had to shift his schedule around following President Joe Biden’s announcement over the weekend), said that the state could also assist by opening up the use of its extensive archives, bringing interesting artifacts or documents to the Town for their use.

Fogarty said that currently they have tree plantings for each municipality planned and various pop-up exhibits that can travel from place to place. Fogarty mentioned that the individual events happening in each town are really only limited by the time, resources, and interest from each municipality.

“The opportunities are really endless for this type of milestone, but with funds beings tight, we’re not trying to force people to plan and fund things they can’t necessarily afford,” she said. “This will be about coming together and celebrating ideals that we celebrate here in Rhode Island and hold near and dear.”

Sarah Weed, Fourth of July 250 Commission member and Warren Preservation Society Vice President, said that they had already starting gathering a list of possible partners and donors who would be willing to help towards the effort. She recollected for the Town’s bicentennial in 1976, they painted fire hydrants to look like colonial soldiers, and did a recreation of an 18th century raid on the town by British forces.

“There are still a few people around from this days who remember and a lot of photographs,” she said, adding that they were looking for another four committee members to join the existing 9 that have already stepped up to volunteer.

Fogarty and Rock were both impressed that Warren already had such a large and passionate group of volunteers working on plans two years in advance of the actual anniversary.

“There’s no doubt that you all are a leader in the state already having a group and starting to plan things out,” Rock said. “That puts you head and shoulders above many other cities and towns.”