Jamestown to celebrate 175th birthday

When there's a 175th birthday, what do you call it?

Organizers of the July 7-8 weekend event to celebrate the founding of the little Mid-Missouri town of Jamestown turned to the Internet to find the answer.

Wikipedia reported that the name was Dodransbicentennial as used by Tonawanda in upstate New York during its 175th celebration while other hits showed a more modern version called Dosquicentennial. When Arkansas residents observed the 175th anniversary of their statehood, they coined the phrase Septaquintaquinquecentennial. Rabbit Hash General Store in Boone County, Ky., used Terquasquicentennial for the term of their 175th anniversary bash.

Folks in Jamestown found it mind-boggling. Not only were they confused about which name to use, they had difficulty pronouncing them! Mayor Jon Imhoff said the town council ditched the fancy names for a more simple term - Jamestown's 175th Birthday Celebration! And the planning began.

Two full days of activities are on the schedule beginning with a 5k Walk/Run at 7 a.m. Saturday. A parade will follow beginning at 10 a.m. that is expected to exceed the 100+ entries from the town's last major parade, which was held their Sesquicentennial celebration in 1987, an event that drew an estimated crowd of 7,500. Visitors and townspeople are asked to sign the guest book at City Hall where free birthday cake and punch will be served from 1-4 p.m. Saturday.

Other events on Saturday include living history demonstrations, cruise-in car show, bingo, live music entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, cemetery walk, antique pipe organ recitals, kids games, dunking booth, hog calling contest, husband calling contest, washer tournament, cupcake walk, fish fry and dance.

Sunday's events begin with an 8 a.m. community church service, country breakfast, Little Mr. and Miss 175th Contest, rubber duck race, bingo, pedal tractor pull, and lots of live music featuring local talent.

Free tram service is being offered from designated parking areas. Everyone encouraged to bring umbrellas and sun screen. Lawn chairs are welcome at all events.

For more information, call Jamestown City Hall at 660-849-2339, email questions to [email protected] or see Jamestown175th on Facebook.