BIRTHDAY BASH
Residents invited to make noise during borough’s 150th anniversary observance
NORTH WALES >> In just a few days, all of North Wales will raise a racket they hope residents will remember for centuries.
Preparations are nearly complete for Incorporation Day, a night of noise and celebration meant to formally mark the town’s 150th birthday.
“We’re encouraging all residents, business owners, and the like to celebrate this historic milestone: ring your bells, blow your whistles, join the fire whistles, church bells and police sirens,” said Borough Manager Christine Hart.
Throughout the year, a volunteer committee has planned and put on a series of events meant to mark the town’s 150th year, and Incorporation Day will be the largest, and loudest, yet.
At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20, the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company will ring the whistle at their newly refurbished
firehouse on Main Street, and borough police cars will start up their sirens, and residents are encouraged to join in with their own.
“The fire whistle will blow at 6:30, followed by the church bells, and continuous police sirens, so we are encouraging people to join in on that,” Hart said.
As the noise subsides, residents are invited to walk to Weingartner Park, where the borough will host a free concert by the Montgomery County Jazz
Band, starting at 6:45 p.m., with free water ice, a display of the historic school bell from the old North Wales School, and what Hart called “a very large birthday cake.”
In the event of rain, the concert will instead be held indoors at St. Rose of Lima School, located at 424 S. Main Street. For those looking to celebrate in the daytime, the North Wales Area Library will offer a special story hour at 10 a.m. on Aug. 20, with books about birthdays and local history being read to preschool children in a free program.
Each council member received a whistle from the
North Wales 150 committee, engraved with the borough’s anniversary logo and years, and Hart said borough police will hand out similar whistles to children in the town’s neighborhoods that night. Following the Incorporation Day events, the next and final event will be a 150th anniversary parade down Main Street, starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14.
“I am looking for one or more council persons to
lead the way, for how they are going to be in the parade — whether you’re going to create your own float, whether you would like to march as a group?” Hart asked council.
Numerous local nonprofits and organizations have already committed to taking part in the parade, according to the manager, including the Philadelphia Mummers Ferko String Band, the Reilly Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps
from Willow Grove, and Bethlehem-based Scottish marching band the Mackay Pipe Band. Other groups expected to participate will include those bringing ponies and horses from local riding clubs, military reenactors from local historical groups, representatives from other local clubs and youth groups, and more.
Council President Jim Sando said he would coordinate council’s appearance, and let the public
be surprised by their arrangements. Hart said borough staff are planning to ride a float in the parade, and Sando replied that the same was unlikely for council.
“The only float I can think of is root beer,” he said.