Aspinock Memories
Putnam's Liberty Pole flag raising in 1974
By Terri Pearsall, AHS Curator
On May 5, 1974, Aspinock Historical Society held a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Liberty Pole Raising on Putnam Heights in 1774. So exactly what was the Liberty Pole and the history behind it?
In the 1760s, the colonies were governed by England who had levied many taxes on the colonists. The Sons of Liberty was a loosely organized, sometimes violent, political organization active in the Thirteen American Colonies founded to defend the rights of the colonists, including the right to representation in the British government trying to tax them. The name was an underground term for any men resisting the new Crown taxes and laws.
The flying of a flag on the “Liberty Pole” allowed organizers to make or create an anonymous summons to a public meeting-place. Their rallying cry “No taxation without representation” was one easy understood slogan stating the broad grievances with Britain.
The name Sons of Liberty was used first in New York and Connecticut. A committee was set up in New York City to correspond with other colonies, and a meeting in Windham, Connecticut, laid out organizational plans. An alliance was formed between groups in New York and Connecticut.
The underground group was made up of Patriot men from all walks of life, including dock workers, soldiers, merchants, tavern owners, and political leaders. The group was run in secret, and membership was loosely defined – many ordinary people contributed what they could, when they could, to the cause.
These men played a significant role in the Revolutionary War fighting for the freedom from tyrannical government of England and there was a group of the Sons of Liberty here in Putnam (which was Killingly at the time).
The Aspinock Historical Society decided to celebrate the raising of the Liberty Pole in Putnam Heights (Killingly at the time). The Society held a flag design contest to be used in the celebration in 1974. The winning design was submitted by Dr. Louise Cutler Pempek. She had researched the event of 1774 and found information that related specifically to the actual Liberty Flag in Putnam Heights was in Larned’s book that said, “it had a rising sun and other suggestive symbols.” She describes her design: “The Liberty Flag design has a rising sun standing for the dawn of a new nation. Thirteen rays emanate from the sun to signify the 13 colonies, all of whom were sowing the seeds of revolution. The pine tree was selected since it appeared on many of the flags of the time. Also, in the early days of this area, pitch was sold from such trees on this very spot, giving rise to the economy of this new settlement. The rattlesnake, in addition to being used on the Sons of Liberty flag and others of the time, has special significance for the people here on Rattlesnake Hill, as Killingly Hill (Putnam Heights) was called. The spear symbolized the willingness to bear arms; the moon and star, the prayer for help from the divine. The blue background symbolized the loyalty that these patriots had for their cause, Liberty.”
These brave men of the Sons of Liberty were dedicated to securing our freedom that we continue to have to this day. Let’s take a moment in this early part of May to continue to remember and celebrate the Sons of Liberty and the impact of their courage has had for all of us.
Article drawn from the Aspinock Historical Society's archives. Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam's history alive.
.