The Gloucester Preservation Foundation and the Fairfield Foundation will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Walter Reed with a 171st birthday party at Walter Reed’s Birthplace in Gloucester from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Reed, the U.S. Army physician who led the team that confirmed the theory that yellow fever was spread by mosquito, was born in Belroi on Sept. 13, 1851. This insight most immediately allowed for the resumption and completion of the work building the Panama Canal.

The birthday celebration will include house tours, ongoing archaeology, 19th century reenactors and crafts, exhibits and a birthday cake walk.

Also part of the day will be a raffle drawing at 2 p.m. for a painting of the birthplace donated by artist Robin Marshall, who painted the piece for the Daffodil Festival poster contest in April. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Prints will also be available for sale.
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