By Donald Norton

What has to be the coldest ever Patriots’ Day event was held this past Monday in Somerville. A crowd of about 100 attended this 239th year of the event at Foss Park.

The annual ride of Paul Revere from Boston through Somerville up to Medford and finally ending in Concord/Lexington was commemorated, as the city of Somerville welcomed attendees with colonial games and colonial dress of the period. From jump rope, to cats cradle to jacob’s ladder, all games played in the late 1700’s.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, along with Alderman Bill White, the president of the Board, Alderman Maryann Houston, Alderman Bob McWatters, Alderman Jack Connolly and Alderman Dennis Sullivan, joined in welcoming the small but hardy crowd in freezing, windy, cold weather.

The Somerville High School Band was out in full uniform to entertain before Paul Revere arrived.

This year Brandon Wilson, who is the director of the Historic Preservation Commission, did a great job as usual getting people to man various tables and demonstrate the games of that era.

If you’d like to find out more about the event, which happens every year, go online to www.somervillema.gov/historicpreservation or contact Wilson at 617-625-6600 x 2500.