Clermont County is gearing up for a historic nod to America's past, choosing to remember Paul Revere's iconic ride from 1775 with the symbolic lighting of two lanterns at the courthouse on Main Street. As the clock strikes midnight today, these lanterns will shine as part of the 'Two Lights for Tomorrow' initiative, honoring the message — "one if by land, two if by sea" — that signaled the approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord. According to Clermont County's official website, David Painter, president of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners, spotlighted the national effort during a recent board meeting.
In the words of Painter, "This national initiative commemorates the start of the American Revolution," acknowledging the significance of Revere's message that roused the patriots to action, and in a statement obtained by Clermont County's official website, Jeff Blom, president of the Clermont County Convention and Visitors Bureau and co-chair of the Clermont County America 250 Committee, reflected the community's excitement about the kickoff of the America 250 celebrations with this event by expressing how thrilling it is to embark on this historical remembrance.
The call for public engagement is clear. Residents and local businesses are encouraged to light two candles or lanterns of their own and then take to social media, sharing images of their commemorative efforts with the hashtag #TwoLightsForTomorrow. This unites the community in remembrance and serves as a modern twist to the bygone era's style of spreading awareness and rallying people together.
As Clermont County bridges its past and future, the Bethel Historical Society is set to share designs for two notable art pieces during a fundraiser this evening, one paying tribute to America’s 250th birthday and the other recognizing Clermont County's own Ulysses S. Grant, the mural envisioned by traveling artist Ben Harrison, that will showcase his design at the Grant Career Center in Bethel but also Tom Tsuchiya, a Cincinnati sculptor who has crafted a model of his statue featuring Grant alongside Ely Parker, who was the 19th-century Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and also Frederick Douglass the famous abolitionist and statesman, will be presented for community admiration.
This artistic endeavor isn't confined to one location, for it is set to expand across Clermont County with seven murals planned to be on display in several towns in 2026, including Milford, Loveland, New Richmond, Williamsburg, and within Miami and Union townships, turning the county itself into a canvas that narrates its ties to the greater tapestry of American history.
