DURHAM BOATS AWAY: General Washington’s Continental Army will again cross the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey this Christmas Day. And if weather permits, there will be smooth passage as in this scene photographed a few years ago. But you don’t have to wait until Christmas Day to see the action. A full dress rehearsal of the reenactment is scheduled for this Sunday, December 7, at 1 p.m. Unlike the free event on Christmas Day, however, there is an admission charge for the dress rehearsal, with proceeds benefiting programs at Washington Crossing State Park, where the event takes place. For more information, visit: www.WashingtonCrossingPark.org. (Photo by L. Arntzenius)

Several hundred soldiers clad in Continental military dress will reenact George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day, and even more viewers will be there to see the event. For those who find the outing a daunting prospect on the day itself, the dress rehearsal scheduled for Sunday, December 7 at 1 p.m. provides a less crowded alternative.

Essentially identical to the Christmas Day reenactment, the full dress rehearsal boasts a few extra activities and demonstrations for the public at the historic village on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Unlike the Christmas Day reenactment, however, there is an admission fee for the dress rehearsal: $8 for adults, $4 for children age five to 11. The Christmas Day crossing is free and also takes place at 1 p.m., although it’s necessary to arrive well before that time to find parking and a good spot along the viewing line either on the New Jersey or the Pennsylvania side of the river.

The reenactment, which has been going on for some 60 years, celebrates Washington’s original crossing in 1776 and now has a history of its own since it was first attempted in the first half of the 19th century. After history enthusiast John Davis gave a speech about the importance of Washington’s crossing, reenactors were inspired to try their hands at the oars in 1844. According to newspaper reports of the day, the event descended into a “sham” with “rowdy, drunken behavior.” At the next attempt, in 1876, behavior was not much improved. About 100 participants marched from Philadelphia to Taylorsville, with the Civil War General W.S. Truex portraying Washington. They crossed the river — although it’s unknown whether they boated or walked across the ice — and continued on to Trenton to take on the Hessians. As in Washington’s time, the weather was brutally cold and the reenactors encouraged themselves with alcohol. One critic noted “too much conviviality” and it looked like the end of the event.

However, on January 23, 1947, the forerunner of today’s reenactment took place. A group of Rider College students recreated the feat for pledges wanting to join the Phi Sigma Nu fraternity (a non-hazing initiation back in the day). This time 40 pledges crossed the river in four rowboats and then, after refreshments, motored on to Trenton. An article about the event appeared in the February 17, 1947 issue of Life magazine and gained national attention.

In 1952, National Geographic Magazine featured a story about Washington Crossing Historic Park and the historic crossing. The story included a photograph of park superintendent Granville Stradling rowing six young people across the river — one held a flag and one portrayed General Washington.

Perhaps the most famous of the Washington impersonators was St. John “Sinjin” Terrell, a fire-eating circus man and actor with a penchant for showmanship. In a presentation to a women’s organization in 1953, Mr. Terrell expressed his hope of someday reenacting the General’s famous crossing. After a half-scale Durham boat costing $800 was constructed, Mr. Terrell and six others crossed the icy river in what would become the first dress rehearsal for the reenactment. That was on December 20, 1953. Five days later, on December 25, 1953, Mr. Terrell and his crew made their way across the river in about eight minutes. After the crossing, “George Washington” signed autographs before packing up the boat and heading home. More than 700 people came out to witness the event and an annual tradition was born.

This year, General Washington will again take a Durham boat across the river, weather permitting, from the Pennsylvania bank of the Delaware River to the New Jersey side, at Washington Crossing Historic Park, at Routes 532 and 32 (River Road).

For more information, visit: www.WashingtonCrossingPark.org.