The Powder Road: Patriots, Tories & a Secret in 1776

Step into the unsettled world of 1776, when the area that would become Troy, New Hampshire, was still a rural settlement—not yet a town.
Participants will take on the roles of real local residents, examine historical documents, follow clues across an old regional road, and debate a central question: Who supported the Patriot cause, who may have favored the Crown, and who was simply trying to protect family and livelihood?
This interactive historical mystery combines local history, Revolutionary-era records, maps, rumors, and role-play. No prior knowledge of history is required.
The Story
In 1776, residents in the area were asked to declare their loyalty to the American cause. Most signed. Several refused.
At the same time, men from the settlement were leaving to fight at places such as Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Bennington. An old road through the region may also have carried troops and supplies toward Vermont.
Participants must determine:
● Who fought for the Patriot cause?
● Who refused to sign the loyalty declaration?
● Why might someone have refused?
● Who stayed home, and why?
● What may have traveled along the Powder Road?