Hillsborough marks the 227th anniversary of when the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, went into force, protecting Americans’ essential freedom, on December 15th, 1791.
Bill of Rights Day Community Bell Ringing will take place Saturday, December 15th, 2018, at noon.
To mark the 227th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, bells will ring for 227 seconds.
The public is invited to gather and “Bring Bells, Ring Bells” at the Historic 1845 Courthouse, 104 E. King Street, Hillsborough.
Historic Bells will ring simultaneously from:
- Dickerson Chapel AME
- First Baptist of Hillsborough
- Hillsborough Presbyterian
- Hillsborough United Methodist
- St. Matthews Episcopal
- In front of the 1845 historic courthouse on King Street
- 1771 Regulator Historic Site
If you’re in the historic merchant district of Hillsborough you will hear bells for 3 minutes and 47 seconds starting at noon.
Unique in the nation, 2018 marks the seventh year that Community Bell Ringing has been done to mark Bill of Rights Day in Orange County, Birthplace of the Bill of Rights.
Started by Scott Washington, Public Historian and former Assistant Director of the Orange County Historical Museum, back in 2012, this event has become a popular, fun, educational and meaningful way to mark the last great American holiday of the calendar year. It’s also the shortest, too.
This is a non partisan event. There are no speeches, only the sounds of bells of all sizes ringing at the same time, celebrating Bill of Rights Day and giving new meaning to the age old refrain, “Let Freedom Ring.”
Hillsborough’s connection to the Bill of Rights? Delegates debated the U.S. Constitution here July 21-August 4, 1788 and voted to delay ratification until the Bill of Rights was added.
There’s a marker at Churton Street and Queen Street.
