KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) As communities across the country prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, local historian Alan Rumrill joined WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell Tuesday to explore how the Revolutionary War shaped the Monadnock Region and the people who lived through it.

Rumrill, former executive director and current senior historian with the Historical Society of Cheshire County, discussed the region’s often-overlooked role in the nation’s founding and highlighted exhibits and events designed to connect residents with that history.

The conversation focused on the Historical Society’s current exhibit, “Beyond the Battlefield,” which examines the Revolution through the experiences of 15 local individuals rather than through military campaigns alone.

“Well, a lot of what we’re doing this summer obviously relates to the 250th anniversary of independence,” Rumrill said. “We wanted to do more than just talk about battles and the people who fought, so we focused on 15 local individuals and told their stories.”

The exhibit includes the stories of patriots, loyalists, people of color, and a woman who fought to protect her rights after her husband died during the war.

Rumrill also discussed a companion outdoor exhibit at the Wyman Tavern Museum in Keene and the Historical Society’s plans for Independence Day programming. On July 4, the Society will open all three of its facilities — its main headquarters, Wyman Tavern, and the Bruder House — for a day of hands-on history activities, demonstrations, crafts, tours, and Revolutionary War re-enactors.

Beyond the exhibits, Rumrill offered a detailed look at life in southwest New Hampshire during the years leading up to the Revolution. He explained that many early settlers in the region had roots in Massachusetts and Connecticut and often felt disconnected from New Hampshire’s colonial government.

“Southwest New Hampshire was a little different than the coast of New Hampshire,” Rumrill said. “We didn’t feel that we were well represented in the New Hampshire legislature at that time.”

The interview also explored how news of the fighting at Lexington and Concord reached the region and prompted local militia members to mobilize. Rumrill recounted how Keene leaders assembled volunteers on the town common before directing them to gather at Wyman Tavern, where Captain Isaac Wyman led a contingent toward Massachusetts.

“Twenty-nine men showed up to go down from Keene to support the cause,” Rumrill said. “It took them two and a half days to march to Lexington and Concord, which is a pretty good pace.”

The discussion touched on the challenges faced by local families during the war, divisions between patriots and loyalists, the role of local committees of safety, and the region’s contributions to key battles including Bennington and Saratoga.

Rumrill noted that more than 1,000 New Hampshire men responded following the alarm from Lexington and Concord, including more than 200 from what is now Cheshire County.

The interview concluded with a look ahead to Fourth of July activities at Wyman Tavern, where Rumrill plans to appear in period clothing and share stories about the tavern’s role as a gathering place for local militia members heading off to war.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Monadnock 250 Guide, your hub for events, local history, exhibits, walking tours, and stories celebrating the region’s role in America’s 250th anniversary.

Listen to the full interview: