Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration set for June 4

 8 a.m.          A Walk Through History (Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm St.)
10 a.m.         Sesquicentennial Parade (Pine Street, Downtown Rolla)
11 a.m.         Performances by Rolla Community Choir, Men of Song and Rolla Choral Art 
                      Society Jazz Choir (Jeff Sandquist, Choir Director and Kathy 
                      Mazzeo, Jazz Choir Director and Accompanist)
11:30 a.m.  Sesquicentennial Official Program (Downtown Bandshell)
12-4 p.m.    Pioneer Crafters/Artisans, Living History, Museums, and
                     Entertainment (Old Phelps County Courthouse)
1-2 p.m.      Secession Debate (Old Phelps County Courthouse)
2 p.m.          Historic Re-Enactments (Old Phelps County Courthouse)
4 p.m.          Commemoration of the Old Phelps County Courthouse (150th)
   The City of Rolla, which was incorporated in 1861, will be holding a day-long Sesquicentennial Celebration on Saturday, June 4, 2011 in conjunction with Route 66 Summerfest in downtown Rolla, Missouri.
   The celebration kicks off at 8 a.m. with 'A Walk Through History' at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm St.) that includes vintage photographs of Rolla and Phelps County, oral and written histories, tours of the nearby Frisco Caboose, and the Historic Walking Tour of Rolla. 
   The Sesquicentennial Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla, is an opportunity to see 150 years of Rolla history pass along Pine Street, which continues to be a center of historic significance with its U.S. Route 66 roots, and the old-world Edwin Long Hotel (now Phelps County Bank). The landmark building where numerous celebrities and dignitaries have visited is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
   Following the parade, the Formal Sesquicentennial Program begins at 11:30 a.m. at the downtown bandshell. Several City, County and State officials, as well as long-time Rolla residents, will be part of the ceremony, which will include a tribute to Rolla’s rich heritage and history. Later that afternoon from 12-4 p.m. festivities continue with historical re-enactments, a living history demonstration and lots of historic exhibits, crafters, displays and tours of the pre-Civil War old Phelps County Courthouse, and the 1857 John A. Dillon Log Cabin, (the first Phelps County Courthouse, which serves now as the Phelps County Historical Museum). The Secession Debate will be held between 1-2 p.m. at the Old Phelps County Courthouse.
   At 4 p.m. a ceremony will be held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Old Phelps County Courthouse, one of only two pre-Civil War courthouses still in existence in Missouri.
  The entire community, State and Midwest region is invited to participate in and help celebrate Rolla’s Sesquicentennial on June 4, 2011. For more information, please contact Scott Grahl, Chairman of Rolla’s Sesquicentennial Committee, and the City of Rolla’s Communications Officer, at 573-426-6943 or at sgrahl@rollacity.org.

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