Village prepares to celebrate bicentennial

Grafton kicked off its bicentennial on Jan. 15 during a open house for the bell of Grafton at the Village Hall.

Doris Wildenheim, the 98-year-old co-chair of the bicentennial committee, has been around for half the time Grafton has been a village. She has planned a year full of events that are dedicated to Grafton.

Wildenheim started working on the bicentennial events in 2015. She is also chief historian, she wrote a book 10 years ago about the first 190 years of Grafton.

Wildenheim is honored to be a part of the bicentennial committee and happy to be able to work with some of the people she has worked with.

“Personally, I can’t comprehend that I am able to be involved in this,” Wildenheim said.

“Just to be able to work with these people and put this together for the entire village is rewarding.”

Wildenheim says there has been numerous changes throughout her time living

in village.

“It’s crazy to think I have been around for so long, I have seen a lot of change including when the village was only forest land to what it is today,” Wildenheim said. “We have had a lot of high and low points.”

Carlee Mahajan, the head of the bicentennial committee, said she is looking forward to every event as each one is different.

Mahajan said there is a lot going on that showcases what Grafton is all about.

KHADIJA SMITH — MORNING JOURNAL Grafton Mayor David DiVencenzo, left, Carlee Mahajan, spreadhead of bicentennial committee, right, and Doris Wildenheim, co-chair of the bicentennial committee, far right, stand with the bell of Grafton.