More than 75 people gathered Sunday at Prospect Hill Cemetery in the Village of Victory, Saratoga County, — just steps from the site of British Gen. John Burgoyne’s 1777 surrender—to commemorate four Revolutionary War anniversaries and rededicate a cornerstone of American memory.
The event, hosted by Saratoga 250, featured the dedication of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Knox Artillery Cannon, the 248th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, the 250th anniversary of Gen. Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery, and the 148th anniversary of the Freemasons’ cornerstone-laying of the Saratoga Monument.
The public ceremony brought together Masonic leadership, state and local dignitaries, heritage organizations, and living historians for a program that highlighted Schuylerville’s role in Revolutionary War memory and heritage tourism. The event also underscored the region’s leadership as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Town of Saratoga Historian, Saratoga 250 Vice Chair, and regular contributor to New York Almanack Sean Kelleher opened the ceremony by honoring Henry Knox, a patriot and Freemason whose winter expedition in 1775-76 helped shift the tide of war. Knox moved cannons from Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, ultimately forcing the British to evacuate the city. The same artillery later contributed to the American victory at Saratoga.
Saratoga County Historian and Saratoga 250 Chair Lauren Roberts welcomed guests and acknowledged members of the Saratoga 250 Commission and the Campaign for Saratoga 250.
Guests of honor included George F. Hamilton, grand master of Masons in Massachusetts; Lance Wang, district deputy grand master for the Masons in New York; and Lisa O’Brien, state regent of the New York Daughters of the American Revolution.
Saratoga Town Supervisor and Saratoga 250 commissioner Ian Murray led the dedication of the Knox Artillery Cannon using a reproduction Revolutionary War sword. The cannon, cast by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, includes the lodge’s bronze seal and is engraved with the names of Saratoga 250 commissioners. The piece will travel through Massachusetts as part of that state’s Knox Trail commemorations before becoming an artifact at the Grand Lodge.
Following the cannon dedication, Masons from Massachusetts and New York jointly rededicated the cornerstones of the Saratoga Monument. The ritual echoed a ceremony first held in 1877, when more than 40,000 people gathered to lay the monument’s original cornerstone.
“Events like these bring history to life,” Roberts said. “They connect our Revolutionary past to present-day visitors, families, and those seeking a deeper sense of place.”
The ceremony concluded with a wreath laying in honor of those who fought and died during the Battles of Saratoga, which historians widely recognize as the turning point of the American Revolution.
Heritage tourism continues to grow in Saratoga County, drawing thousands of visitors to battlefield sites, monuments, and commemorative events each year. The July 20 program also served as a launch for continued public engagement in the lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Knox Cannon Relay Set for December
New York and Massachusetts are collaborating on a multi-year schedule of public events to mark the 250th anniversary of Knox’s “Noble Train of Artillery.” The 300-mile winter expedition, which began in upstate New York and ended outside Boston, is widely regarded as one of the most audacious logistical feats of the Revolutionary War.
One of the key highlights is the Knox Cannon Relay and Festival, scheduled for December 12-14. This three-day, four-county partnership will span Warren, Washington, Saratoga and Albany counties, connecting local communities to a pivotal moment in the nation’s founding.
Dec. 12 – Lake George, NY: The relay opens with a reenactor portraying Gen. Knox arriving by bateau at Lake George Battlefield Park, then proceeding by horse-drawn cart to Fort George. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson will headline an evening reception and public lecture on Knox’s expedition.
Dec. 13 – Washington and Saratoga counties: Activities include parades in Fort Edward and Fort Miller, a ceremonial cannon hand-off at Dix Bridge in Hudson Crossing Park, and living history programming at Fort Hardy Park in Schuylerville. The day concludes with a concert of 18th-century music at the Arts Center on the Hudson in Mechanicville.
Dec. 14 – Saratoga and Albany County: The relay finishes with interpretive programs at Peebles Island, Van Schaick Mansion in Cohoes and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany. Reenactors will interpret the support Knox received from Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler.
For a full schedule of events and visitor information, visit www.Saratoga250.com.
Photos, from above, provided: Officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts rededicate the cornerstone of the Saratoga Monument using the Masonic ritual of corn, wine and oil, a tradition dating to 1877; and a close-up of the Knox Artillery Cannon, dedicated July 20 at Prospect Hill Cemetery, displays the bronze seal of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.
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