Bicentennial bash begins
Posted By CHRISTINE ENDICOTT , R & T STAFF WRITER
Approximately 200 people packed the Prescott Legion Friday for the event that launched Prescott's bicentennial celebration.
"This is a phenomenal crowd," Mayor Suzanne Dodge remarked during the New Year's Day levee. "I'm really thrilled that everyone is here."
Dodge also said in an interview that she plans to run for mayor again in the 2010 election. "Obviously I am running again."
While growing up in the Fort Town on East and West Streets, Dodge had "never" anticipated becoming the mayor, she told The Recorder and Times. "It was just one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time."
Dodge was pleased with the turnout at the levee. "It's almost breathtaking to be mayor of the town you were born in and to see all the people.
"I love history," she It's a phenomenal history that we've got here, and it's so exciting that you finally get to see it all come to life."
Town crier Lawrence Levere began the official proceedings by giving historical facts about the town and added, "May we remember our brave troops far from home."
The crowd included military re-enactors as well as Edward and Gary Jessup, descendants of the town's founder, Col. Edward Jessup, to whom Dodge presented a framed 1810 town survey map. The mayor later explained that this was used to prove the town's age to the federal government's Heritage department.
"This year we are celebrating the fact that we have been founded as a town for 200 years, and it's just amazing," Dodge said.
Although the first settlers arrived in 1784, as noted on the town's welcome sign, the town was officially created when Jessup received one square mile of land parcelled off from Augusta Township in 1810.
Referring to that historical fact, Township Reeve Mel Campbell jokingly presented Dodge with a copy of a book on Augusta's history so she could learn about Prescott's past, a gesture that elicited loud laughter from the audience.
MP Gord Brown, Counties Warden Bill Thake and Edwards-burgh- Cardinal Mayor Larry Dishaw also offered their congratulations and received bicentennial pins.
"I feel blessed to be here today," commented Dishaw, who noted that he was born and raised in Prescott.
The town has some 40 events planned for the bicentennial year -and Dodge said she hopes that number can be increased to 200 events. The town has applied to Heritage Canada for a $68,000 grant to fund three main legacy projects: a mural depicting Prescott's 200-year history, three commercials to tell the story of Col. Edward Jessup and his descendants, and a book of interviews of Prescott citizens aged 90 and older.
"It's amazing how many stories there are in this town that aren't written down anywhere," said Dodge.
The mayor remarked that she hoped council will approve some funding for bicentennial events in its 2010 budget.
"We are just doing it simple," she explained, adding that the bicentennial committee will seek supporters.
Dodge noted that the Prescott Legion covered most of the expenses for the levee, which included a buffet and live entertainment.
Two of the main events will be in early July.
"My big event will be a Canada Day parade," Dodge said. "I remember when I was a kid and we had a Canada Day parade. All the kids got dressed up in costumes and decorated their bikes."
July 3 is the date for the bicentennial gala, a costume ball to be held at South Grenville District High School. "You can come in any costume... from the last 200 years," the mayor said.
Educational programming for children will include public speaking, posters and artwork, she added.
Gary Jessup, who with his wife Lise relocated from Ottawa to Prescott two years ago, said he was proud of the way his ancestor Col. Jessup created the town and enjoyed its "beautiful location" on the St. Lawrence River.
"It's a great retirement village," he said in an interview. "We are hoping more people come in and develop it, because we need more development, for sure."