Copyright berkshireeagle
LEE — It’s never too early to start planning for a birthday celebration. Especially when it’s your 250th. Town leaders are inviting representatives from local organizations to join a 250th Celebration Committee that will work to commemorate the founding of Lee, which was officially incorporated in 1777, throughout 2027. At a Select Board meeting Tuesday night, the celebration was pitched as a series of events taking place over the course of a year. While the actual day of incorporation will be celebrated on Oct. 21, 2027, other events, such as the town's annual Founder's Day, will be folded into the anniversary festivities. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to celebrate the town's history, people in the town, and also kind of look to our future at the same time," Town Administrator Chris Brittain told The Eagle. "I look forward to bringing the community together." Community members are encouraged to attend the next regular Select Board meeting on Nov. 4 to share their visions for what the project could look like, including the kinds of programming available. The Select Board also said it hopes to develop a more detailed plan for the committee, including the number of members and its structure, at the next meeting. Lee isn’t the only municipality in Berkshire County with an upcoming anniversary. The neighboring town of Washington was also incorporated in 1777, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State website, while Hancock was incorporated in 1776. Lee’s 250th birthday will come shortly after the nation itself celebrates 250 years since declaring independence in 1776. Massachusetts 250, a statewide celebration of Massachusetts’ role in the Revolutionary War, is already underway and slated to continue into 2026.
