New London - Two centuries after American and British military leaders celebrated the end of the War of 1812 with a Peace Ball at the Huntington Street Courthouse, commanders in their dress uniforms are returning to the historic building to commemorate the continuing good will between the two countries.

The New London County Bar Association has organized a ceremony at the courthouse Friday and a Commodore's Ball at the Coast Guard Academy Saturday to celebrate the bicentennial of the end of the war. U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and British Royal Navy representatives will be on hand at the courthouse Friday as the bar association unveils a granite plaque, etched by Ledyard High School wood shop students. Speakers at the 4 p.m. ceremony will include Cmdr. Justin Burvill of the Royal Navy and Edward Baker, former executive director of the New London County Historical Society.

"What's really wonderful is actually having participation from the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard and the Royal Navy, and at the same time to recognize the treasure that we have in the 1784 courthouse that is still functioning as a courthouse over all these years," said Emmet L. Cosgrove, administrative judge for the New London Judicial District.

New London attorney Matthew G. Berger, a history lover, said when he noticed the bicentennial of the Peace Ball was approaching, he suggested the local bar association do something about it.

Berger said the British had successfully blockaded the port of New London for most of the War of 1812. He said Stephen Decatur, one of the great naval heroes of the early Republic period, had a fort in Ledyard where the Dow chemical plant is now located.

"Every time he would try to escape, the British would get wind of it and stop him," Berger said.

Decatur was captured in New York and taken to Bermuda but was brought back to New London when the peace treaty was signed.

"The local citizens pulled his carriage by hand and took him to the courthouse, where he co-hosted the ball," Berger said. "That he was there, with the British naval officers who had blockaded him in the Thames River, and that they were able to come together to celebrate the peace between their nations at the end of the war, with the people of New London, makes this one of the most significant events to have ever taken place in the courthouse."

Attorney Michael Cartier, president of the New London County Bar Association, said about 120 people will be attending Saturday's Commodore's Ball, a black tie optional affair with dinner and dancing. The Navy's Top Brass Quintet will perform along with the Coast Guard's choral group.

"We're calling it a Commodore's Ball as opposed to a Peace Ball because we're not at peace right now," said Cartier, a retired Navy commander. "There are Americans in harm's way. There are British in harm's' way. We didn't feel it was the proper thing to do."

The organizers also minted a commemorative "challenge coin," designed by the court system's Deputy Clerk Kraig Sanqudolce. One side of the coin features a picture of the courthouse, with the date of the original Peace Ball, Feb. 23, 1815. A British and American flag, are intertwined on the other side.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN