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Last updated on Thursday, October 30, 2014
(ORLEANS) - Historic Orleans turns 200 years old next year.
Orleans Clerk-Treasurer Robert Henderson Jr. says that the milestone will be celebrated with a number of special community events being planned throughout 2015.
Members of the Bicentennial Planning Committee, which has meeting monthly, continued their planning efforts.
The birthday celebration kicks off March 11th with birthday cake and the unveiling of a special commemorative postmark by the United States Postal Service.
The town's annual Dogwood Festival held in late April and early May will also carry out the 200th Birthday theme which is "Orleans 200: Honoring the Past-Anticipating the Future."
A Bicentennial Birthday celebration (Homecoming) will be held July 3-5 at historic Congress Square (town park square) celebrating the 200th birthday of Orleans. Planned events include the premiere of a new historical documentary highlighting 200 years of history, heritage activities, dignitaries, a barbeque, car show, parade, ice cream social, live entertainment, fireworks & more.
Area churches are being encouraged to plan homecoming events next year and a Community Choir, under the direction of Judy Toppe, will be a part of the Fourth of July weekend events, which will also include vignettes of the town's 200 years of history.
Numerous other commemorative types of events are also planned throughout the calendar year including a Civil War event, opening of the 1965 Time Capsule, Centennial of the Orleans Public Library, a living history event of the historic town cemeteries .
Committee member Robert Henderson presented the 2014 Christmas Ornament celebrating one of the town's legacy projects; the restoration of the historic 1926 Peter Pirsch Fire Engine. The limited edition of this year's collectible piece will be available for purchase prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Group members also learned that an impressive display of student artwork focusing on the town's 200th birthday was now on public display in the lobby area of Fifth Third Bank. Some of the artwork will be used for a historic coloring book to be printed and distributed by the committee to the elementary students.
A new historic mural is planned for the corner of Orleans Antiques which will celebrate the town's 1815 christening following Andrew Jackson's victorious battle with the British at New Orleans.
Janie Baker reported that plans are moving forward with a special Bicentennial cookbook to be made available during the birthday celebration. The book will focus on local family recipes passed down through the years.
Collectible lapel pins, coins, license plates, posters and other items will be available for purchase beginning in early 2015 at the Orleans Town Hall and other various Orleans locations throughout the year. For more information on Orleans' Bicentennial Celebration visit www.orleans200.org or call the Orleans Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at (812) 865-9930.
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