Pittsboro celebrates landmark birthday

PITTSBORO June 29, 2009 01:02 pm

— While most communities are gearing up to celebrate the Fourth of July, residents here got together over the weekend to celebrate a milestone of their own.
The Pittsboro Jaycees hosted a 175th anniversary celebration for the town from Friday to Sunday.
“This is our first three-day event for this generation,” Jaycee Richard Reid said.
Friday featured a fish fry, games, and the opening of the history building.
The building contained photographs and objects that showed the history of Pittsboro and the change over the years.
Mary Carter, who helped organize the display, explained, “A lot of the pictures, we already had. Some people brought some things in. Most (of the work) was just getting it organized. We’ve been working on it for a while. We’ve done most of it the last couple of weeks. It was fun to get it all together.
“Everybody really seems to enjoy it. I have wondered if people would actually walk around, or if they would actually read. A lot of people have started at one end and went all the way around to the other and read all the signs and everything. Then they stand and talk about it, so I think that it has added a lot. It gives people more of a sense of where they are. I think that it makes it more of a hometown if they know more about it.”
The history building was open throughout the celebration.
Saturday featured antique tractors, a parade, and a gala fireworks show.
On Sunday, the town hosted a church ceremony to go along with breakfast. Sunday also featured old-fashioned games, which included a watermelon eating contest, sack races, bubble gum blowing, and more.
Reid said the state of the economy most likely helped to bring out large crowds throughout the festival.
“I think that with as tight as money is with everybody, we’ll get good results from that,” he said. “I think people are home more now from a lack of funds, but we’re not seeing it here. We’re getting a good response from people.”
Reid said the town’s celebration had plenty of activities for old and young alike.
“I think that it’s important for the generations to come,” he said. “Everybody is always interested in history and knowing where we came from. With that aspect, I think that people are intrigued by what’s going on. Just to see how old Pittsboro is, is amazing to some people.”
Despite some growth, Reid says Pittsboro still has a small town feel, and that is appreciated by the residents.
“This is still a hometown (feel),” he said. “A lot of people know each other and it’s a safe community.”
In addition to the 175th anniversary, the Jaycees have also sponsored demolition derbies, July celebrations, Christmas celebrations, circuses, and parades.
“We just really enjoy giving back to our community,” Reid said. “It’s all about spending your time to give back. We just love it.”

ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com

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