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CHAPTER 3
Community
CELEBRATIONS
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Brunswick has a reputation for celebrations. In 1940 the town celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1890 incorporation and name-change from Berlin to Brunswick. The events began on Wednesday October 16 with a Mummers' Parade at 7 PM. During the four-day celebration there was a variety of events such as contests, street dancing, carnival, antique displays by the B&O and town residents. The final parade on Saturday afternoon of October 19 was culminated by speeches given by Maryland Governor Herbert R. O'Connor; Ex-Governor Westmoreland Davis of Virginia; Charles W. Galloway, VicePresident of the B&O; and N. Clarence Smith, Chairman of the Virginia State Conservation Commission.
DIAMOND JUBILEE
In 1965, as the 75th anniversary of the town's incorporation approached, a representative group from the various organizations planned a celebration for August 28 through September 6. The planning committee wanted to have a great celebration with a professional touch; they therefore engaged the John B. Rogers Company of Fostoria, Ohio, to manage the enterprise. The cost would be $17,000.
There was a contest for someone to draw an official seal for the celebration. The winner was Carroll Kehne, art instructor at Brunswick High School. His entry eventually became the town's logo.
The celebration was headed up by corporation officers, division chairmen, and other committees and leaders. There was a merchants promotional committee, a music committee, a belles" committee, and a brothers of the brush" committee.
Every available avenue was used in order to raise money to pay the cost of the celebration.
Metal coins and wooden nickels were sold. Shares of stock were sold, to be redeemable only if there were remaining funds after all bills were paid.
The daily special events began August 28 and continued through September 6. There was a crowning of a queen, "Miss Diamond Jubilee," and a prince. The crownings were featured at the opening Celebration Ball, which was held at the Fire Hall with Phil Young's fifteen-piece orchestra.
Each day's celebration had a theme: Religious Heritage Day; Senior Citizen Day; Ladies Day; Youth and Education Day; and Good Neighbor Day. Saturday September 4 was a parade day.
The Pageant Spectacular was held on the baseball diamond of the new high school; and the areas on either side of the road approaching the ball diamond and adjacent to it were used for the Carnival and other special events of the week.
Brunswick's Diamond Jubilee was a "spectacular event for this little town and it probably will never be duplicated. The pageant was an unbelievable performance of 256 people. The 200 foot stage with 15 foot high set backings was engineered by SonnyCannon, who also supplied the superb sound system.
The pageant, which was titled "Home of the Iron Horse," presented the thrilling living history of Brunswick from the early Delaware Indian days to the present. Each of the six nightly performances was followed by a gigantic fireworks display.
Women of the town who participated in the mdaily events wore period dresses and the men sported their beards, goatees, and mustaches and wore bowties and black derby hats.
After the spectacular final parade, the new Brunswick High School was dedicated. The community of Brunswick went all out for the Diamond Jubilee in 1965.
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