By Lynne Smith
The 1775 Lincoln Town Meeting featured a heated but civil debate about the need for a tax increase to equip Lincoln volunteers to fight the British.
This debate came alive last Saturday at the 2025 Town Meeting as seven reenactors, led by Rick Wiggins as Eleazer Brooks, argued the topic. The passion and clarity of the different views rang out in the Donaldson Auditorium as they must have done in the Old Town Hall 250 years ago. Those in favor of the tax were eloquent about the need for Lincoln volunteers to be armed and ready. Those opposing the tax and the revolution explained the difficulties caused by a tax increase, the loss of their sons to work the farm, and their hope that the problems with the British could be resolved without resorting to war.
I was deeply moved by the elegant language of the reenactors. It was, in fact, a recreation written recently, but it captured the serious tone and reflected the views of the speakers, pro and con. That our town records preserved the outcome of this 1775 meeting illustrates the value our Lincoln forebears had for free speech and civil debate. Thank you to Kim Bodnar, the Lincoln Minute Men, and the Lincoln250 Committee for reminding us of what we are celebrating this year — and what we hope to continue.
“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.
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