You are invited to Plymouth Notch to take part in this year’s Fourth of July celebration. This year’s event, part of our summer of Coolidge Centennial celebrations, features a number of special activities including a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, the annual procession and wreath-laying ceremony at the Coolidge graveside led by the Vermont National Guard, and the final rounds of the Coolidge Cup National Speech and Debate Tournament. Join us as we celebrate American independence and President Coolidge’s 151st birthday.

The Coolidge Foundation is proud to partner with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation to host all of these exciting events at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site: 3780 VT-100A, Plymouth, Vermont 05056.

AGENDA

• 9:00 AM: Declaration of Independence Reading – Union Christian Church
• 10:00 AM: Octo-Final Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Throughout the Site
• 11:30 AM: Grace Coolidge Icebox Cookie Competition Judging – Village Green
• 12:00 PM: Procession and Wreath-Laying Ceremony – Gather at Village Green
• 1:00 PM: President Coolidge Birthday Cake – Picnic Area
• 1:00 PM: Quarter-Final Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Throughout the Site
• 1:30 PM: Address from President Coolidge (portrayed by Tracy Messer) – Cilley Store Porch
• 3:00 PM: Semifinal Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Visitors Center & Church
• 4:00 PM: Coolidge Cup Championship Round – Under the Big Tent
• 5:30 PM: Coolidge Cup Awards Ceremony – Under the Big Tent
• Throughout the day: Tours of the Historic Site, wagon rides, sheep shearing, children’s games, an old-time string band, cheese making at the Plymouth Cheese Factory, and more! Love Coolidge arcana? Coolidge author J.R. Greene will be on hand to sign copies of his books Calvin Coolidge in 100 Objects and Calvin Coolidge’s Plymouth Vermont.

Grace Coolidge’s Icebox Cookie Competition

Calling all bakers! Try your hand at baking Grace Coolidge’s famous icebox cookies, and enter them into this year’s cookie competition. To enter the baking contest please send an email of interest to site administrator Rejoice Scherry at rejoice.scherry@vermont.gov.

Cookie Recipe:

1 cup butter or shortening

2 cups brown sugar

3 ½ cups flour

1 Tsp. baking soda

½ Tsp Salt

1 cup chopped nuts

2 eggs, well beaten

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour, soda, and salt 3 times. Add nuts, add eggs, and flour. Mix all thoroughly and pack into mold (long narrow bread pan) and let stand overnight. Do not grease the mold or baking pan. Next day, unmold and slice very thin. Bake for 10 minutes.