COLRAIN — Residents are invited to honor the soldiers of Colrain’s past and the town’s involvement in the American Revolution on Sunday with doughnuts, a cemetery tour and tales of determination.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, battle broke out between British soldiers and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the American war for independence. In Colrain, about 91 miles away, residents learned of the battle and prepared for war. While the men packed their bullets and guns, the women spent the night making doughnuts for their soldiers to eat.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the battle this weekend, and the Colrain response, residents and history buffs are invited to the town common on Sunday, April 20, to enjoy doughnuts from Pine Hill Orchards, and tours of cemeteries where some of these soldiers are buried.

“It seemed like something worth commemorating,” said Nina Reyes, a resident who learned about Colrain’s Revolutionary War history in a book and felt inspired to hold a celebration. “It’s a fun thing to do on a nice Sunday morning.”

Historical Commission member Belden Merims said Colrain residents were a part of the war efforts from beginning to end. While they may not have fought in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Colrain men found out about the start of the battle and marched off for war the next day.

“We know they found out on the day of the Battle of Lexington and Concord,” Merims said. Regarding how the message made it to Colrain so quickly, she said, “How somebody rode a horse from Lexington and Concord to Greenfield in one day I don’t know.”

Merims said that according to historical records, the townsfolk gathered at a house to prepare for war. Men spent the night making bullets while the women made doughnuts, believed to be apple cider doughnuts, for the soldiers.

“We’re assuming that’s what was made because cider was huge back then,” Reyes said.

Merims said it is unclear what happened when the men arrived in Lexington, but they did not just turn around after learning the battle had ended. Colrain men fought in battles throughout the war, including at Fort Ticonderoga.

“In a world before internet, telephone and cars, they were on the move the next day,” Merims said. “It’s amazing.”

Reyes said she and David Allen of oldmaps.com found a muster roll featuring the names of Colrain men who fought in the revolution, but there may have been a second company as well.

“We know of at least 30 but there was probably double that,” Reyes said.

Reyes said nine of the men who left Colrain to fight in the war are now buried in cemeteries in town, which will be toured as part of Sunday’s celebration. There will be a table where people can stop by, ask questions and get a tour of the graves of men who charged off to Concord.

As a result of their research, Reyes and Allen were able to get veterans markers from the Department of Veterans Affairs. After learning the men served in the American Revolution, and that their paperwork does not match current standards for discharge paperwork, the department accepted the muster roll as documentation.

The grave markers were placed this past week, Allen said. Now anyone who stops in for a tour, or passes the graves in the future, will know these men from Colrain served in the Revolutionary War.

Doughnuts will be passed out at the town common at the intersection of Jacksonville Road and Greenfield Road on Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m., while supplies last. During that time, participants can visit Chandler Hill Cemetery for a tour.

Reach Madison Schofield at mschofield@recorder.com.