Windham’s 250th anniversary celebration in 1987 featured a parade of marching bands, including the Scottish Gams playing bagpipes. Contributed / Windham Historical Society
In 1987, the town of Windham celebrated its 250th birthday and they had a party that is still remembered by the many townspeople who attended.
It all began in December of 1986 when Windham residents opened their historic homes to the public for a fundraising Christmas tour. The houses ranged in age from the 18th century Edward Anderson House to the 20th century house of hometown doctor Sidney Branson, Stonehedge on Main Street in South Windham. Led by Cindy Bailey, Betty Barto and Linda Griffin, a troop of volunteers baked Christmas cookies, sold tickets and acted as tour guides. More than $2,000 raised at the event was the beginning of fundraising efforts for the upcoming celebration.
To help get local children into the spirit of things, fifth graders at Manchester School were treated to an old-fashioned day with workshops provided by Norlands Living History Center in Livermore Falls. They learned about crafts such as spinning, soap making, food drying and basket making. It was a wonderful way to show the kids what life was like for people who lived 250 years earlier.
At the costume ball, Windham residents dressed in Colonial attire. Fran Manchester blew out the candles on the festive birthday cake. Contributed / Windham Historical Society
The official 250th anniversary celebration began May 31 with town criers Malcolm and Betty Barto and Larry and Nancy Ziehler, all dressed in Colonial fashion, visiting local churches to proclaim that the celebration had begun. Then the official opening ceremony took place June 4 at Windham High School. The crowd arrived early and could purchase tapes of Rick Charette’s new song, “Celebrate Windham, Maine.” Event chairperson Gary Plummer and Sidney Branson addressed the crowd, and sixth grade storyteller contest winner Greg Burns told tales of Windham in the past.
The festivities continued June 5, a Friday, when over 1,000 people poured through the gates onto the Windham High School grounds where they were greeted with community booths, food, games, souvenirs and entertainment.
As evening approached, if you were hungry, you could take a trip to the nearby Windham Hill United Church of Christ for a church supper. Baked ham, baked beans, salads and homemade pies were on the menu. More than 200 people were in attendance to enjoy the fine family fare.
Meanwhile, back on the high school grounds, the Lions Club was hosting an auction under a big top with items from local businesses. The auction raised more than $4,000 and was the most successful the club had ever had. There was also a Variety Show that night with 15 acts competing for a prize. The audience was particularly taken with first-prize winner Diane Lombard, who sang an Italian street song. The evening’s events concluded with a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by Coors Distributors, who provided $2,500 to make sure the event went off with a bang.
June 6 began bright and early. At 7 a.m., the Lions Club tent became the place to go for an old-fashioned pancake breakfast. The crowd had begun forming at 6 a.m., anticipating the delicious meal that awaited them. Then at noon came one of the biggest anniversary celebration attractions, a massive parade organized by Tim Dolby of Windham and Wayne Drown of Gorham. It began on Varney Mill Road and the 2½ route went all the way to the high school. The parade, which lasted for 2½ hours from start to finish, had marching bands, floats, Windham’s Revolutionary War reenactors the New Marblehead Militia in their Revolutionary War garb, military veterans, the Willis Farm milk wagon, antique cars, a unicyclist and more.
Haley Pal, a Windham resident and active member of the Windham Historical Society, can be contacted at haleypal@aol.com.
That night, young people filled the Windham High School auditorium to listen to rock artist Rick Pinette sing some of his most popular songs. The main event of the evening, however, was for the adults in town. A gala costume ball at St. Joseph’s College featured horse-drawn surreys, lights, flowers and balloons. There was even a town crier who announced the guests as they entered the ballroom.
The next day, the activities continued with the Volksmarsch headed by Sidney Branson. This 8-mile hike took participants through some of Windham’s most historic neighborhoods. The day also included a United States Cycling Foundation road race co-sponsored by the bicycle shop Frost and Flame, a quilt show with over 50 quilts on display, a Revolutionary War militia encampment and a Scottish Festival complete with bagpipes, Scottish dancers, Border collies and tartans galore.
There was never such a celebration in town and there hasn’t been one to equal it since. Paraphrasing the words of the Rick Charette song, “People gathered down on the corner, gathered all around town, brought their friends, brought their brothers and sisters, they brought everyone around to celebrate Windham, Maine” – our hometown.
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