The Village of Put-in-Bay – known today as a great place to spend the day and drink – was actually starting the party a little early (rather than September 10th) to accommodate the tourists.
As the article above, which appeared in the Journal back on August 8, 1963 noted, "One-hundred-fifty years ago this year Commodore Oliver H. Perry defeated a British fleet in one of the decisive battles of the war of 1812 a few miles north of this little island community.
"The Battle of Lake Erie was one of the turning points of the war, which ushered in a century and a half of peace and friendship between the United States and its Canadian neighbors across the lake.
"And to commemorate those years of friendship and the hope of future peaceful years, the residents here are in the midst of a whopping anniversary celebration.
"The actual celebration doesn't come until Sept. 10, but the village of Put-in-Bay and the shore community of Port Clinton, which is cooperating in the project, are holding the celebration during the vacation season for the benefit of the thousands of tourists who visit the area each year.
"The celebration actually started earlier this week, with the 70th annual Inter-Lake Yachting Association Regatta Monday through Thursday, capped by sesquicentennial ceremonies.
"The crowning point of the celebration will be the International Queen of Peace contest August 24. Beauties from the United States and Canada will meet on South Bass Island, where Put-in-Bay is located, for the judging.
Yup, there's nothing like a beauty contest to celebrate an important naval victory.
The article also notes, "Another special U. S. celebration is being arranged for the early part of September to coincide with the anniversary of Perry's victory.
"This week's program was built around ceremonies at the 352-foot-tall Perry Memorial, where three American and three British sailors are buried. It also features parades, stadium programs and street dances."
Since the 150th anniversary was in 1963, that makes this year's observation of the victory the 210th. It probably won't rate as much fanfare as, say, the 200th, which wasn't that long ago.
I often wonder if the general public still has any interest in celebrating the anniversary of historical events, especially when it comes to wars. It seems that even the Civil War doesn't get much attention these days; I can only imagine that the War of 1812 is of even less interest to the average Joe – and more's the pity.
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The 100th anniversary was a big deal in Lorain. This post told how the Perry Centennial Celebration, held in July 1913, included the arrival of the raised and restored Perry flagship "Niagara."
This post covered the Lorain Journal's observation of the 122nd anniversary in 1935.
I recall being told by a Canadian friend that, in 9th grade, they spent an entire semester on the War of 1812. We got maybe a week? Maybe.
ReplyDeleteCelebrating a war?
Maybe the end of one.
If they ever really end, that is.
Commemorating one, maybe.
People in general don't know much of anything about history.
I'd bet dollars to donuts that an average US citizen couldn't tell you the decade the Civil War took place, or the decade we landed on the moon, or when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Hell, a lot of them think the Bill of Rights is a bad idea.
Hey Don,I don't like donuts so I'll take dollars instead.But your answers are the 1860's.The 1960's and Pearl Harbor was bombed by the savage killer Japanese on December 7th,1941.And the Bill of Rights is a very important idea,especially the 2nd Amendment.
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteYo, Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteI take that as proof that you're not average.
I keep waiting for that "well regulated militia" to appear from our overburden of deadly weapons.