b',, LOOKING BACKW ,Waassnntttthhaattaappaarrttyy??Wasn tthat a party?When P Port Perry has always loved a partyWhen Porort Pt Pererry ryPort Perry has always loved a party, and one of the best took place , and one of the best took place When Port PerryPort Perry has always loved a party, and one of the best took place over a period of four days, a half century ago.over a period of four days, a half century ago.over a period of four days, a half century ago.The V illage of Port Perry was incorporated, by a by-law of the The Village of Port Perry was incorporated, by a by-law of the tur ned 100 y00 yearears sThe Village of Port Perry was incorporated, by a by-law of the turned 1 County of Ontario, on June 9, 1871, with Joseph Bigelow elected as Port turned 100 yearsCounty of Ontario, on June 9, 1871, with Joseph Bigelow elected as Port County of Ontario, on June 9, 1871, with Joseph Bigelow elected as Port Perrys first Reeve.Perrys first Reeve.Perrys first Reeve.Unlike 50 years ago, when Port Perry pulled out all the stops to Unlike 50 years ago, when Port Perry pulled out all the stops to Unlike 50 years ago, when Port Perry pulled out all the stops to old in 1 hold a gigantic celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the town,ThePortPerryCentennialCommittee,electedinMay1970,fromold in 1979711, t, the hehold a gigantic celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the town, old in 1971, thehold a gigantic celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the town, it appears that this year, a Sesquicentennial or 150th celebration will it appears that this year , a Sesquicentennial or 150th celebration willThePortPerryCentennialCommittee,electedinMay1970,fromit appears that this year, a Sesquicentennial or 150th celebration will drift by with little or no inter frontleft,MarjorieJackson,Terr yHodgins,chairman,NormaCornish.drift by with little or no interest.est. frontleft,MarjorieJackson,Terrdrift by with little or no interest. yHodgins,chairman,NormaCornish.town threw a bige may be a couple of reasons for this lack of reasons for this lack of recognition: ecognition: town t TherThere may be a couple of r Backleft,BertStulen,ArtPanabakerandPeterHvidsten.town thrhreew a big w a bigThere may be a couple of reasons for this lack of recognition:Backleft,BertStulen,ArtPanabakerandPeterHvidsten.1. There are few, if any, remember its been 150 years since Port Perry 1. There are are fewe few, if any, if any, remember its been 150 years since Port Perry 1. Ther , remember its been 150 years since Port Perry was incorporated; and 2. COVID-19, has put the brakes on pretty much was incorporated; and 2. COVID-19, has put the brakes on pr 12 student at Port Perry High School was the winner. was incorporated; and 2. COVID-19, has put the brakes on pretty much etty much Centennial party any assembly of people for any kind of celebration. 12 student at Port Perry High School was the winner. Cent ennial partyty any assembly of people for any kind of celebration. The committee adopted his blue and white design and Centennial par any assembly of people for any kind of celebration. The committee adopted his blue and white design and Regardless, this article will take a look back at the massive four-day Regardless, this article will take a look back at the massive four hundreds of flags were ordered and sold to merchants and Regar dless, this article will take a look back at the massive four-day -dayhundreds of flags were ordered and sold to merchants and celebration Port Perry presented to the community a half-century ago.celebration Port Perry presented to the community a half-century ago. local residents to fly throughout the year.celebration Port Perry pr esented to the community a half-century ago. local residents to fly throughout the year.Plans for a grand celebration for the town began in May 1970, whenPlans for a grand celebration for the town began in May 1970, whenThe celebrating got underway January 2, 1971 when a Port Perry Centennial Committee was formed. They got off to a quickThe celebrating got underway January 2, 1971 when Plans for a grand celebration for the town began in May 1970, when ThePortPerryCentennialCommittee,electedinMay1970,froma Port Perry Centennial Committee was formed. They got off to a quick f to a quickmore than 1,000 people, ranging in age from 1-70 years, a Port Perry Centennial Committee was formed. They got of more than 1,000 people, ranging in age from 1-70 years, start, promoting a contest to design a Centennial flag, and less than frontleft,MarjorieJackson,TerryHodgins,chairman,NormaCornish.Backleft,BertStulen,ArtPanabakerandPeterHvidsten. took part in an all-day Old Time Skating Party at the start, pr omoting a contest to design a Centennial flag, and less thantook part in an all-day Old Time Skating Party at the start, promoting a contest to design a Centennial flag, and less than three months later, the designs were rolled out and Ross Carter, a gradelakefront on Lake Scugog. The climax of the day came thrthree months later lakefront on Lake Scugog. The climax of the day came ee months later, the designs wer, the designs were rolled out and Ross Cartere rolled out and Ross Carter, a grade , a grade Turn to page??? that evening with a huge bonfire. Hundreds of Christmas 12 student at Port Perry High School was the winner.that evening with a huge bonfire. Hundreds of Christmas1/2 PageTurn to page??? trees were piled on the ice, off the east end of the dock,1/2 PageTurn to page??? trees were piled on the ice, off the east end of the dock, The committee adopted his blue and white design andand set ablaze. At times, the flames leaped 50 feet into theVertical hundreds of flags were ordered and sold to merchants andand set ablaze. At times, the flames leaped 50 feet into theVertical midnight sky.Size - 3.25 x 9.35local residents to fly throughout the year. midnight sky.Size - 3.25 x 9.35All agreed that Port Perrys Centennial celebrations The celebrating got underway January 2, 1971 whenAll agreed that Port Perrys Centennial celebrations had gotten off to a roaring start.more than 1,000 people, ranging in age from 1-70 years,had gotten off to a roaring start.Centennial celebrations got underway months later, took part in an all-day Old Time Skating Party at theCentennial celebrations got underway months later, on Wednesday, June 9th, the day which marked the lakefront on Lake Scugog. The climax of the day cameon Wednesday, June 9th, the day which marked the actual 100th anniversary of the town. About 1,500 people that evening with a huge bonfire. Hundreds of Christmas1/2 Page actual 100th anniversary of the town. About 1,500 people crowded a large stage facing the lake on Water St., for the trees were piled on the ice, off the east end of the dock,crowded a large stage facing the lake on Water St., for the opening ceremonies; Queen Street was closed to vehicles and set ablaze. At times, the flames leaped 50 feet into theVerticalopening ceremonies; Queen Street was closed to vehicles for the next four days; the area was turned into the St. for the next four days; the area was turned into the St. midnight sky.Size - 3.25 x 9.35 Charles Hotel with a bar extending the width of the floor. All agreed that Port Perrys Centennial celebrationsCharles Hotel with a bar extending the width of the floor. The next four days were filled with activities and had gotten off to a roaring start. events for young and old alike. Some of the highlights The next four days were filled with activities and Centennial celebrations got underway months later,events for young and old alike. Some of the highlights includedMPP Norm Cafik presenting the town with a on Wednesday, June 9th, the day which marked theincludedMPP Norm Cafik presenting the town with a Canadian flag which had recently flown over Parliament actual 100th anniversary of the town. About 1,500 peopleCanadian flag which had recently flown over Parliament Hill;Miss Sharon Baird chosen as Centennial Queen; a crowded a large stage facing the lake on Water St., for theHill;Miss Sharon Baird chosen as Centennial Queen; a large parade down Queen St. to the lakefront.opening ceremonies; Queen Street was closed to vehicleslarge parade down Queen St. to the lakefront.The winners of a beard growing contest announced; for the next four days; the area was turned into the St.dancing and entertainment in the arena nightly; The winners of a beard growing contest announced; entertainment nightly at the arena; midway; street Charles Hotel with a bar extending the width of the floor.dancing and entertainment in the arena nightly; dance; chicken and beef barbecues in Birdseye Centre; The next four days were filled with activities andentertainment nightly at the arena; midway; street regatta, fireworks display, and a Centennial Ball at the events for young and old alike. Some of the highlightsdance; chicken and beef barbecues in Birdseye Centre; arena to wrap up the events. On Sunday morning an includedMPP Norm Cafik presenting the town with aregatta, fireworks display, and a Centennial Ball at the interdenominational church service was held in Palmer Canadian flag which had recently flown over Parliamentarena to wrap up the events. On Sunday morning an Park on Sunday.Hill;Miss Sharon Baird chosen as Centennial Queen; ainterdenominational church service was held in Palmer Port Perrys Centennial Celebrations was the precursor large parade down Queen St. to the lakefront. Park on Sunday.to Western Weekend, which began the following summer,ThousandsofpeoplejammedQueenStreettotake The winners of a beard growing contest announced;Port Perrys Centennial Celebrations was the precursor partinthePortPerryCentennialCelebrationsinJune1971. and Festival Days, which followed in 1985, until it wasUpperleft,CentennialflagdesignedbyPortPerry dancing and entertainment in the arena nightly;to Western Weekend, which began the following summer, HighSchoolstudentRossCarter. discontinued in the mid-1990s.entertainment nightly at the arena; midway; streetand Festival Days, which followed in 1985, until it was By J. Peter Hvidsten, Focus on Scugogdance; chicken and beef barbecues in Birdseye Centre;discontinued in the mid-1990s. ThousandsofpeoplejammedQueenStreettotakepartin regatta, fireworks display, and a Centennial Ball at theBy J. Peter Hvidsten, Focus on Scugog ThousandsofpeoplejammedQueenStreettotakepart thePortPerryCentennialCelebrationsinJune1971.inthePortPerryCentennialCelebrationsinJune1971. Upperleft,Centennialflagdesignedby byPortPerry arena to wrap up the events. On Sunday morning anUpperleft,Centennialflagdesigned PortPerryHighSchoolstudentRossCarter.HighSchoolstudentRossCarter.interdenominational church service was held in Palmer 24 FOCUS - MARCH 2021 Park on Sunday.Port Perrys Centennial Celebrations was the precursor to Western Weekend, which began the following summer, and Festival Days, which followed in 1985, until it was discontinued in the mid-1990s.By J. Peter Hvidsten, Focus on Scugog'