The times and styles have changed but for two centuries the story of Plymouth has been closely linked with the evolution and growth of higher education.

Plymouth State University celebrated its 200th anniversary Monday afternoon at the Lamson Learning Commons. University faculty and town residents celebrated with a history lesson, musical re-enactment of the legislation that was passed to begin the school and dedication of a plaque to be hung in the library, "to mark this momentous and wonderful partnership," between school and town, said PSU President Sara Jayne Steen.

Steen said after so many years and so much hard work putting together the party to celebrate, "There's so many people to thank."

After citizens of the town of Plymouth signed a petition to the New Hampshire State Senate and House of Representatives, legislation was passed Dec. 7, 1808 to incorporate an institution of higher learning. The school opened as Holmes Plymouth Academy, the region's first institution of its kind.

The Academy was opened thanks to the generosity of Colonel Sam Holmes, who donated $500 from his Revolutionary War pension.

Tink Taylor portrays General Holmes during the unveiling of the plaque in celebration of 200 years of higher education at the Lamson Learning Commons at Plymouth State University. (RAY MONGEAU/CITIZEN PHOTO) * Order a print of this photo

The school went through hard times. From 1844 to 1871 it was called Plymouth Academy. On March 15, 1871, it reopened as a public institution called Plymouth Normal School, the first in the state. Eventually it became Plymouth Teachers College and then Plymouth State College and was finally incorporated as Plymouth State University in 2003.

Many people came together to celebrate and tell the history of PSU on Monday. The Plymouth Historical Society, Campton Historical Society, student interns and others gathered together the graphics and information.

Plymouth Selectman Patrice Scott discovered and donated an original copy of the Granite Monthly from the time of the opening of the school.

"There's a great discussion of education," she said. "It's very critical of education of the time."

Scott also said, "We always had the environment, I think, to foster education."

DR. MARCIA BLAINE portrays Betsy Mulligan-Rogers as she explains what life and education was like back in the early 1800s during Monday's Celebration of 200 years of Education. The program took place at Lamson Learning Center at Plymouth State University. (RAY MONGEAU/CITIZEN PHOTO) * Order a print of this photo

Marcia Schmidt Blaine, a history professor at PSU, played the part of Betsy Mulligan Rogers, a friend of the original Holmes Plymouth Academy and key player in its opening. Schmidt Blaine told the history behind the school, including a cultural background of the town and state and also the country in 1808.

Schmidt Blaine said that, at the time of the school's opening in 1808, many people lived in small towns such as Plymouth. Only three percent of the country's population lived in towns of 8,000 or more residents, according to a census from 1800. At this time slavery was not illegal but was slowly tapering off and in January of 1808, Congress banned the further importation of slaves.

Noah Webster came out with his first spelling book around this time and the way men and women were dressed was changing radically from knee britches to long pants for men and Empire-waisted dresses for women. Higher education was becoming increasingly common. The first public college was the University of Georgia, opened in 1801.

Concord became the official state capital in 1808. From 1800 to 1810, the state population rose 14 percent, while during the same period Plymouth's population rose by almost twice that rate by 26 percent — from 743 to 937 residents.

Local citizens and PSU faculty and staff dressed in period costume on Monday and portrayed the original signers of the charter, including Malcolm "Tink" Taylor, a writer, Holderness resident and Plymouth State alumnus who portrayed Colonel Samuel Holmes.

They performed a short musical theater interlude written by Patricia Lindberg, professor of education and coordinator of Plymouth State University's graduate program in integrated arts, and William Ogmundson, a Plymouth State alumnus well-known throughout New England as a pianist, composer and music teacher.