NEWBURYPORT — The First Religious Society on Pleasant Street will be throwing open its doors as part of this year’s Yankee Homecoming festival. Tours of the historic 223-year-old meetinghouse will be offered Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tour participants will learn about Newburyport’s history, including a lightning strike at the old Market Square meetinghouse in 1754 that brought Ben Franklin to town as part of his research into electricity, the Great Fire of 1811, and many stories that helped form the city’s history.
In addition to the tours, the church will join the sidewalk sales for the first time. Hats and shirts that celebrate the iconic steeple in the center of town and other memorabilia will be available for sale. The church will also “Bring Back the Books” with the revival of its used book sales inside Parish Hall.
Come on down to Pleasant Street from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, for fun games and events that celebrate this unique building that is on the National Historic Registry and continues to be a thriving part of our community since 1725.
For more information, visit www.frsuu.org