09/24/2026
On July 4, 1776, after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress, John Dunlap, the official printer for the Continental Congress, worked through the night and printed an estimated 200 broadsides (large poster-sized sheets) of the document, intended for public distribution. The Maine Sheriff’s Association worked with the Maine Historical Society to bring one of only 26 surviving broadsides to Maine to be displayed in each of Maine’s 16 counties. On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office had the honor of escorting the broadside of the Declaration of Independence from the Bangor Public Library to the Skowhegan Area High School, where approximately 1,300 individuals viewed the document. On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Deputies then escorted the broadside to the Margaret Chase Smith Library where it will be on display for the public to view on September 25 & 26, 2026 between 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. The MCSL website says “walk-in registrations are welcomed but on a first-come-first-served basis”. They recommend you reserve a separate ticket (available on their website, free of charge) to help manage the number of people in the viewing gallery. If you have the time, I hope you get a chance to view this historic document. Sheriff Lancaster
Picture below are Sergeant Joseph Jackson and Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell
