OUR TOWN

MILLBURY BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Our celebration has begun! After four years of planning, the celebration for Millbury’s
Bicentennial opened with a spectacular concert by the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra
followed by an extraordinary display of fireworks on Saturday, June 16, 2012. The thousand plus
people who came to Windle Field that night were regaled with a very enjoyable evening.
In July, the History Committee started its West Millbury Tours. Once a month through
November, around 35 residents per tour were treated to a van ride with tour guides to traverse
West Millbury and over 20 sites that have contributed to our history. Members of the Fire
Department drove the vans and townspeople and visitors signed up ahead of time. More tours
are scheduled for March through June. To sign up you need to call the Town Hall and get your
name on the list, as long as room is available. So far, each tour has been filled.
The intended Balloon Festival for the end of August (in conjunction with the Fireman’s
Muster) had to be canceled because of the unfortunate death of the balloon-meister in May.
The month of October held numerous bicentennial events. In partnership with the Millbury
Improvement Initiative and the Class of 1963 reunion, a sock hop was held at the Millbury High
School gymnasium. Later in the month (after a rain postponement), the annual antique car show
took place at Windle Field.
In mid-month (October 20 and 21), Millbury held a Revolutionary War Reenactment thanks
to the support of the Pearson family and local re-enactors from Sutton and Millbury who spent
months working with the Bicentennial Committee to plan and spread the word. Nearly 400 reenactors
from all over New England, New York, and Pennsylvania covered the fields off
Backstrad Road. Thanks to the help from the Pearsons, Scales, Boy Scout Troop 109,
Assumption School children in addition to nearly one hundred 100 individual volunteers from
Millbury, this event was very successful and delighted nearly 1800 people.
At the end of October, the Millbury Historical Society conducted a ghost tour of the Central
Cemetery as part of Millbury’s bicentennial. Eight characters were resurrected and described
their role in Millbury’s past. The 600 people who visited the cemetery that night were enthralled
with riveting performances and the entire program. A job well done!
During the course of the year, the Millbury Bicentennial Committee continued to meet
monthly as did all the committees. In particular, the Finance and Fundraising Committee
continued its fundraising efforts through the Capital Fund Campaign, the Direct Mail Drive, and
the Annual Wine Tasting (held this year on November 3 rd ). Bernie Plante orchestrated an
Octoberfest to raise additional revenue bringing in over $12,000 for the Millbury bicentennial.
Fran King once again donated proceeds from his annual Chili Competition as well. As a result of
Rob Morton’s leadership and his committee, we expect to reach our goal of $300,000 by early
spring with the final pledges from the Capital Fund Campaign. The efforts of our businesses,
organizations and individual contributions have surpassed expectations in an extraordinary way.
Would you expect any less from this community? Simply put, the people of Millbury continue to
support its community in incredible ways. Thank you!!
Commemorative and promotional items for the Bicentennial continue to be on sale at Rays’
True Value and a variety of venues during the year. For example, we have promoted the
bicentennial celebration at the Firemen’s Muster, Block Party, Chain of Lights each year in
addition to other opportunities. New items were introduced this year: the pictorial history of
Millbury by Chris Sinacola published by Arcadia press, the Bicentennial plate designed by Pam
Gover, a wooden plaque with Millbury Bicentennial 1813-2013, and a framed picture collage of
nearly 30 historical sites of Millbury. If you haven’t purchased these or other items including