MONTEREY, Mass. — The Bidwell House Museum will present the first of two off-season Zoom programs about the Revolutionary War era, a timely topic in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

 

For the first talk on Feb. 26 we will be joined by Asher Lurie who will present The Life of a Continental Soldier. This talk will be followed by a lecture in late March about life in New York City during the British occupation of 1776-1783.

 

According to a press release:

 

What was it like to be a continental soldier, and what are the truths and myths we associate with those who took up arms against the Crown? Asher Lurie will explain the experiences of a soldier in the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, including their hardships, how they fought, drilled, dined, and marched, and the purpose of the items they carried on their backs. This talk will highlight the evolution of an army that lost many early battles against one of the world's best armies and went on to become capable of going toe-to-toe with British regulars.

 

Asher Lurie is the Executive Director of the Hopewell Museum in Hopewell, New Jersey. Before coming to the Hopewell Museum, Asher was the chief of Historical Interpretation at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, New Jersey. At the Old Barracks, Asher organized the annual recreation of the Battle of Trenton, which is also the largest event that takes place annually in Trenton. During his tenure at the Barracks, Asher focused on quality of interpretation and programming which dramatically increased visitation at large scale events.

 

The lecture will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Museum event page is required, https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/the-life-of-a-continental-soldier/

 

Details for how to access the event will be sent via email a few days in advance.