LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — A Lower Macungie Township Historical Society docudrama centered around the 1790s Macungie area is set to premiere trailers at local stops as part of a fund-raising effort to finish production on the film.
Penned as "a film about self-discovery and political protest in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley," the movie focuses on the Fries Rebellion, an armed anti-tax revolt that arose from Pennsylvania Dutch farmers in 1799 that lasted about a year during President John Adams' administration.
Rebellion leader John Fries and two others were tried for treason, but pardoned by Adams.
- The Lower Macungie Township Historical Society is set to produce a historical docudrama film focused on the Fries Rebellion, a 1799 rebellion that resisted federal taxes
- The historical society and local partners are hoping to raise over $200,000 for the project
- Three trailer premiere events are set to take place next week throughout the Lehigh Valley
The historical society will partner with production companies In the Wee Hours and ubiFire Video Productions of Allentown to produce the 30-minute, professionally produced and edited film.
"It was really a very crucial time in the development of the country. The Constitution was only 10 years old and this was the first tax that Congress had approved."Lower Macungie Township Historical Society President Sarajane Williams
"It was really a very crucial time in the development of the country," historical society President Sarajane Williams said. "The Constitution was only 10 years old and this was the first tax that Congress had approved.
"That being added on top of the Alien and Sedition Act really fueled a lot of fire in the local people, and they felt they were being discriminated against as Germans. There was a lot of different political things, but most of it was a lot of misinformation and bravado and stepped up, kind of like we're going through today," Williams said.
Showings set
The film is being pursued as a part of nationwide celebrations of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026.
"Audiences of all ages will be entertained and informed about an insurrection that occurred in 1798-1799, primarily in the German-speaking populations in and surrounding the 'Lehigh Hills' region of then Northampton, eastern Berks, upper Bucks and upper Montgomery counties of Pennsylvania," the historical society states website.
"The film will provide insights into the ongoing, unfolding American experiment, highlight aspects of local heritage, and be a legacy for generations to come."Lower Macungie Township Historical Society website
A small kickoff tour is set to take place at Lehigh Valley area locations, showing a three-minute teaser trailer for the film that the production companies involved volunteered to make to promote the project.
Showings will be:
- Teaser premiere: McCoole's at the Red Lion Inn, Quakertown, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 7, with a cast-and-crew meet-and-greet and question-and-answer session.
- Rising River Brewing, 1955 Willow Lane, Lower Macungie Township, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 8, with cast and crew flyer signing
- Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St., Easton, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 9, with cast and crew postcard drive
The film's organizers hope to raise more than $216,000 to produce the film in full and the trailer will be available online later in August online.
Williams said the historical society is working to get grants and sponsorships and encourage those in the community to donate via an upcoming IndieGoGo campaign.
Following production, the historical society said, it is intended as an educational tool for K-12 teachers in eastern Pennsylvania as a tool to help fill gaps of local history in school curriculum.
It also will be distributed via streaming services, film festivals and to museums and historical societies.
Through the eyes of a modern schoolgirl
The society also hopes to serve the local historical legacy, and to show "the beautiful countryside" of Pennsylvania and the varied German communities who settled here.
"The film will provide insights into the ongoing, unfolding American experiment, highlight aspects of local heritage, and be a legacy for generations to come," the historical society states on its website.
It is set to explore the places and events of the Fries Rebellion seen through the eyes of a modern schoolgirl and historical flashbacks, both in the buildup to the rebellion and the crackdown from the still-new federal government.
"Our area, especially Macungie, was the hotbed for protests for the Fries rebellion, but it affected the whole region. So that would certainly unite all of us in telling the story about Pennsylvania German involvement in the development of the country."Lower Macungie Township Historical Society President Sarajane Williams
Williams said she researched several months to write the script, seeking advice and additions from other board members and historians.
"Our area, especially Macungie, was the hotbed for protests for the Fries rebellion, but it affected the whole region," Williams said. "So that would certainly unite all of us in telling the story about Pennsylvania German involvement in the development of the country."
Scenes are set to feature original sites that still exist, such as the Red Lion Inn (then Enoch Robert's Tavern) in Quakertown, Buckeye Tavern in Macungie, Jamision Publick House (then Conrad Mark's Tavern) in Geryville and Commix Hotel (then Martin Ritter's Tavern) in Allentown.
"We can still capture these buildings that exist, but the way the development goes, and people don't care about local history, they could just be destroyed overnight, and we don't have anything left," Williams said.
"So it's important thing to capture this in real time now. You wonder what it'll look like 50 years from now?"
Locally, John Fries and the Fries Rebellion still has a mark on the area, notably in the naming of the John Fries Highway.
The rebellion's 225th anniversary is in 2024.
