Two years of research. Five elementary schools. And a piece of Revolutionary War history that happened right here in Summit. Now it's all coming together as part of the city's yearlong America 250th anniversary celebration — and the students behind it deserve the spotlight.
Fourth-graders in the IDEAS program at Lincoln-Hubbard, Jefferson, Franklin, Brayton and Washington elementary schools spent two years digging into local Revolutionary War history, then turned what they learned into games, plays, crafts and interactive activities, according to the City of Summit's official 250th anniversary page. The projects, guided by teacher Brittany Goodman, are a joint effort between the city and Summit Public Schools — and they range from historically accurate Reader's Theaters to a Choose Your Own Adventure story about the Battle of Trenton.
Here's the part that makes this project hit close to home: Summit was actually part of the story. A plaque at 226 Hobart Ave. marks the hilltop spot in the Watchung Mountains where a cannon nicknamed "Old Sow" and a signal beacon once stood. During the Battle of Connecticut Farms and the Battle of Springfield in June 1780, that beacon flashed the warning that sent local militia into action. It was one link in a chain of beacons running the length of the Watchung ridge through Morristown, Long Hill and Bound Brook.
Each school took on its own slice of the Revolution:
- Lincoln-Hubbard students built colonial games like ninepins and hoop-and-stick, showing them off at the Revolutionary Trail Day event on April 18.
- Jefferson students wrote a Reader's Theater on the Battle of Newport and told the story of influential Black soldiers in the war.
- Brayton students staged three historically accurate plays covering different Revolutionary War moments.
- Washington students went all in on a Colonial Boston Tea Party event, planning menus, games and two Reader's Theaters.
The Summit Free Public Library joined the celebration in its own way. Thanks to a donation from the Beacon Fire chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, library cardholders can now borrow a free pass to visit the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Abigail Brady, the library's head of adult services, organized America 250th programming that included Franklin Elementary IDEAS students presenting on local battles back in April.
More events are on the way across Summit and Union County through 2026 — this is only the beginning.
Thursday, July 23 — Screen on the Green at the Village Green, 356 Broad St. Bring the whole family: a dance party kicks things off at 7:15 p.m., followed by a movie at dark. Admission is free. Grab a blanket and a lawn chair, and swing by the food trucks on site.
