Published: June 26, 2009 02:04 pm      

Pittsboro celebrates 175 years

PITTSBORO — Any birthday is special. But No. 175 calls for something extra.

In the case of this community, it’s celebrating its terquaquicentennial with a three-day, town-wide event June 26-28 featuring food, games, live entertainment, a parade, and fireworks.

Lynn T. Love came up with the idea and presented it to the Pittsboro Jaycees in March 2007. They started having public meetings about the anniversary in July of last year. Love ended up serving as chairman of the planning committee.

“I raised my hand for a question and they thought I wanted to be chairman,” he said.

Festivities informally commence at 4 p.m. June 26 with a fish fry served by Pittsboro Christian Church and games. Fonda and the County Road Band perform at 5 p.m., followed by a street dance at 7 p.m. sponsored by the Pittsboro High School Alumni Association, and a magic show at 7:30 p.m. by Daniel Lusk.

June 28 features breakfast served by the Tri-West Band Boosters from 7 to 11 a.m. at Pittsboro Methodist Church, and Famous Dave’s BBQ served from 3 to 9:30 p.m. Highlights of the day include a parade on Main Street starting at 2 p.m., live music by Joe Davidson and The Skyline Grass and Just Us, and a fireworks display starting at 10 p.m.

The last day includes breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. in Scamahorn Park, a community church service, a car and bike show, games and pony rides, a water ball contest hosted by the fire department, and live music by The Thunder Brothers.

Antique tractors will be on display that Saturday and Sunday at Scamahorn.

Pittsboro’s One-Room Schoolhouse also will be open from 4-7 p.m. Saturday and 1-3 p.m. Sunday.

Ditto the town’s new history exhibit, occupying the former Tucker’s Corner building. It will be open all three days and features photos and displays dating back to the 1800s up to native Bridget Sloan’s Silver Medal performance in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Love says about a dozen residents contributed their collections to the exhibit. Many others donated a photo or two.

“We’ve got a pretty good spectrum,” he said.

As well, most of the businesses in town currently have displays in their windows showing what used to be housed there. Dirt Terminator, the car wash Love owns, for example, sits on the land where his grandmother’s house was before being razed 15 years ago.

“Most of the buildings have some kind of history,” Love said. “I had someone recently tell me they enjoyed seeing that. I can remember the last 40 years, but to see what it looked like in the 1800s is neat.”

Forget the last 40 years. Much has changed just in the past 10. Bill Compton, who retired from teaching and coaching at Tri-West High School this year, said the population of Pittsboro was 800-some in 1990. By 2000 it was almost 1,600.

“We almost doubled in 10 years what took to get to 800 in almost 200 years,” said Compton, who figures it’s more than 2,000 now.

Love has certainly noticed.

“At 20 years old I knew everyone in town and they knew my name,” he said.

While that may no longer be the case, it’s still home.

“I was born and raised here,” Love said. “It’s been a great community. I’ve raised my family here.”

Pittsboro still retains that familial atmosphere too. Love says 20 people have served on the planning committee for the 175th celebration. He estimates 150 volunteers total will make the event reality.

Love doesn’t know what’s in store for Pittsboro’s bicentennial in 2024 except for one thing.

“I won’t be chairman for that one,” he said with a laugh. “I won’t raise my hand to ask a question.”



SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

June 26

4-9 p.m. — Fish fry served by Pittsboro Christian Church

4-9 p.m. — Games, treats, and cake walk

4-9 p.m. — History building open

5 p.m. — Fonda and the County Road Band

7-10 p.m. — Street dance sponsored by PHS Alumni Association

7:30 p.m. — Opening ceremony

7:30 p.m. — Magic show by Daniel Lusk



June 27

7-11 a.m. — Breakfast at Pittsboro Methodist Church, served by Tri-West Band Boosters

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — History building open

12:30 p.m. — Begin parade line-up, east end of town at Smith and Walnut streets

2 p.m. — Parade rolls west on Main Street to Scamahorn Park, turns back east on Osborne

3-9 p.m. — Distributors building open

3-9:30 p.m. — Famous Dave’s BBQ served by Pittsboro United Methodist Church

3-9:30 p.m. — Games and treats

4 p.m. — Joe Davidson and the Skyline Grass

4-6 p.m. — Town hall building open

4-7 p.m. — One-room schoolhouse open

4-9 p.m. — History building open

4-9 p.m. — Antique tractors on display

6:30 p.m. — Just Us

10 p.m. — Fireworks



June 28

7-10 a.m. — Breakfast served by Pittsboro O.E.S. 416

10 a.m. — Community church service

11:30 a.m. — Hogg Heads served by Pittsboro Jaycees

Noon-4 p.m. — History building open

Noon-4 p.m. — Car and bike show

Noon-5 p.m. — Distributor building open

Noon-5 p.m. — Games and treats

Noon-5 p.m. — Antique tractors on display

1 p.m. — Thunder Brothers

1-3 p.m. — One-room schoolhouse open

1-5 p.m. — Pony rides

2 p.m. — Water ball contest on north maple at stoplight

2:30 p.m. — Old-fashioned games (watermelon eating, sack race, bubblegum blowing, and more)

4:30 p.m. — Closing ceremony, awards, and thank-yous