Esperance ready to celebrate 200th anniversary
This Schoharie County community is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its formation and incorporation of its fire department on July 14 with a parade and fireworks.
The celebration begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Methodist Church on Main Street, followed by a flag ceremony, entertainment, trophy awards, children’s activities, live music and a bicentennial cake prepared by Hannaford.
Food and craft vendors will line Church Street and the Village Commons, as well as exhibitors from local nonprofit groups.
The parade is set to begin at noon, west of the village on Route 20, and will feature a number of fire departments, horses, antique cars, the Albany City Pipe Band and the Rensselaer Yankee Doodle Band. Ramona Feuz, the oldest resident of the village, active member of the community and booster of the Bicentennial Celebration; former Fire Chief Charlie “Tinker” Stanton, active in the Fire Department for more than 60 years, and former mayor Lawrence Rockwell, who had one of the longest terms in office in the state, will all serve as grand marshals.
Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. from Feuz Terrace and guests are later invited to dance at the fire house.
Displays can be seen throughout the day from the Esperance Old Stone Presbyterian Church and the Esperance Schoolhouse Museum and Chapel Library of local Bibles. Hear stories about their owners covering more than 200 years of family history, as well as about the Esperance Fire Department.
Old firefighting and agriculture equipment may also be viewed at the Gus La Monica carriage barn.
For more information, contact Ken Jones, chairman of the Bicentennial Committee at 518-8756854.