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NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1965
NUMBER 9
Almost 50 American towns
will hold anniversary celebra
tions this summer, highli^ted
by historical pageants.
No community, according to
our best information, is going
to make New Bern’s blunder
and stage its pageant Indoors
with a small cast, as was done
on our 250th birthday.
You’ll recall The Mirror
pleaded with those in charge
of the matter for an honest to
goodness pageant, wider the
stars at New Bren High school
stadium. It could have been
everybody’s pageant, with
hundreds performing.
This editor was soundly
criticized, but what happened?
Despite the air conditioning
system installed in New Bern
High school auditorium for the
pageant, it played to empty seats
and was a financial flop.
Other towns, before and
since, displayed better judg
ment. Their pageants (out
doors of course) have had casts
ranging as high as 1,500. In
every Instance, such pageants
drew larger crowds than all
other anniversary events.
Records show that during the
past 60 years, more than 4,000
American communities have
celebrated anniversaries. Few
of the towns had a historical
heritage that could compare
with ours, but fore runs rapg-
Ing.-from five, days toffiveweek^
their pageants were successful.
You’re apt to find yourself
in the midst of one of these
celebrations, if you travel very
far on your vacation this year.
Seaiord, Del., started its Cen
tennial last week, and Ports
mouth, Ohio, launches its
Sesqulcentennial on June 5.
The Centennial at Clarion,
Iowa, opens the following day,
and two days later, Arkansas
Pass, Taxas, unveils its 75th
anniversary celebration. On
the same day, Lee’s Summit,
Mo., starts its Centennial.
Wllburton, Okla., and Bloom
field, Neb., each will be
observing their 75th anniver
sary for four days starting June
9, while Stroudsburg, Pa., and
Greenville, 111., open their
Sesquicentennlals for five-day
runs on June 15.
Osmond, Neb., is observing
its 75th birthday June 17-20,
while Kirkwood, Mo., and
Mason, Mich., have Centennials
June 19-26. During this same
period, AsMand, Ohio, will have
its Sesquicentennial.
Wilmerdlng, pa., celebrates
its 75th birthday June 23-26,
and Port Lavaca, Tazas, ob
serves its 125th anniversary
June 29- July 4. Carrollton,
Ohio, is equally excited about
its 125th anniversary, July 1-4.
Woburn, Mass., only town on
the list that is as old or older
than New Bern, stages its 325th
anniversary celebration July 3-
10, and pottstown, pa., will
present its Sesquicentennial
July 5-10.
Carlisle, Indiana, has its
Sesquicentennial July 14-18,
while Cass City, Mich,, and
Lockport, N, Y„ will observe
their Centennials July 18-24
and July 19-24 respectively.
Stockton, ni., has its 75th an
niversary July 11-17.
Friendship, N. Y., holds its
Sesquicentennial July 25-31, and
Six Mila Run, Pa., its Cen
tennial July 29-August 1.
seneca, ni., has its Centennial
July 27-Augustl, while Orleans,
Ind., comes up wl& its
(Continued on page
COULDN’T BE CUTER—Pictured are members of the
Garber Methodist Kindergarten, on Countiy Club
CSrcle. Berleen Burnette, their teacher, launched the
venture two years ago. Seated left to right are Rusty
Sugg, Kenny Tyndall, Tanya Ives, Beth Kunkel, Cindy
Overman, Paula Batten, Tommy Pate, Nan Blackerby,
Paul HiU, Bill Pope and Tommy Robinson. Standing
are Steven Gwaltne^r, Lane Alcoke, Linda Lafferty,
Michael O’Daniel, Liza Turley, Peter Summerville,
Scott Campbell, Nicky Grabarz, Mark Pelurie, Eliza
beth Gryb, Duff La Vigne and John Johnson. Louanne
Smith wasn’t present.—^Photo by John R. Baxter.
WE’VE DONE IT AGAIN—Here’s another remarkable
Mirror photograph for your scrapbook. You see here
16 of the 20 members of New Bern High school’s
1914 graduating class, with their teacher, mss Bessie
Summerell. See if you can identify George Green,
Sophia Hollister, Fred Cohen, Georgia Keene, Char
lotte Howard, Margaret Smith, Mollie Swinson,
Charles Wooten, Boone Groves, Lacy Meredith, Sam
Ferebee, Pearl Jennette, Ida Gordner, Lula Disosway,
Ruth Baxter and Dot Rea. Hot rodding was fun then
too.
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