B = Bicentennial

2020 marks the 200 year anniversary of Maine’s statehood so the word “bicentennial” is most appropriate for the letter B in this alphabet series.

Of course, I could have used “Belated Birthday Bash.” The grand celebrations for this two century milestone were indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19. While we’re waiting for those to be rescheduled, we have time to take a peek back at the state’s 100th birthday in 1920.

1920 Celebration…for days

A hundred years ago, the Maine Centennial Committee — which was headquartered at City Hall in Portland — decided that one day wasn’t enough to mark this grand occasion. Not even an entire week was sufficient. Instead, they arranged TEN DAYS of centennial celebrations in Portland. Other events were held in towns across the state, but THE event was to be found in the big city.

Here is the schedule originally printed up in a program which sold for 25 cents. All quotes are from this pamphlet.

Saturday, June 26: Opening Day
The doors open to the Maine Centennial Exposition which was set up at the Portland Expo on Park Avenue. It was open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“The purpose of this Exposition is to show goods made and sold in the State of Maine; to foster unity of purpose among business men; to build up, strengthen and aid the industrial and agricultural interests, as well as develop Maine’s wonderful resources.”

Sunday, June 27: Historical Day
Many of the state’s officials gathered for an event during which an address was given by the Honorable James P. Baxter, president of the Maine Historical Society. He was mayor of Portland for 6 terms, and — yes — that boulevard was named in his honor.

Monday, June 28, Music Festival Day
If you lived in Portland and happened to still be sleeping at 7 a.m. on this morning, you would be quickly awakened when the salute of one hundred guns took place in Monument Square. The rest of the day and evening was filled with music, along with a picnic for various band and chorus members. A luncheon was held for “distinguished musical artists and other invited guests” at the Lafayette Hotel (now Lafayette Apartments at 638 Congress Street).

Tuesday, June 29: Exposition Day
There were events throughout the city, in addition to the exhibit at the Expo. Nearby, Passamaquoddy Governor William Neptune and other members of the tribe set up a village for the week in the park. The Maine Memory Network has an online exhibit of their gathering.

Wednesday, June 30: Civic Parade Day
There continued to be something to do all day long from one end of Portland to the other, but the big event was the evening civic parade “consisting of fraternal societies and other organizations.”

Thursday, July 1: State of Maine Day
This included a reunion of all present and former members of the Maine Legislature. They gathered on Peaks Island for a clambake. And — like all good politicians — they had a night of speeches.

Friday, July 2: Maine Women’s Day AND Mardi Gras Night
The day’s events were held at Frye Hall, the Women’s Literary Union Club House (demolished in the 1970s; the site is now the location of Holiday Inn By the Bay).
As far as the evening’s Mardi Gras, it is unclear how this is connected to Maine’s centennial! But it was quite the Friday night in Portland:

There will be dancing on Federal Street alongside Lincoln Park, and on High Stress between Congress Street and Cumberland Avenue. There will also be feature dancing in the dance halls of the city from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Fancy costumes, masks, confetti, etc.

I have questions about the “etc.,” but moving on…

Saturday, July 3: Veteran Fireman’s Day
After the parade of the New England States’ Veteran Firemen’s League in the morning, the men were engaged in “muster playout” all day at the Oaks with prizes awarded in the evening at City Hall. 

Meanwhile, over at the Eastern Promenade, there was a water carnival with rowing and swimming races, as well as sailboat races.

Sunday, July 4: Church Service Day
Events were held in churches all around the city with a special service at City Hall which included “a program of music on the municipal organ, the finest instrument of its kind in the world.”

New arrivals — the Third Maine Regiment — showed up in town and settled in for a two day encampment off Brighton Avenue. 

Monday, July 5: Independence Day
For the parade lover, this was their day. The first began at 7:00 a.m. It was the “Parade of Horribles and Antiques” (no typos in that sentence). This was followed by a significant mood shift with the military and naval parade, then a historical floats parade. As one would anticipate, the entire ten day events concluded with fireworks.

No undue pressure on the present day Maine200 Bicentennial Commission, but my expectations have been raised after reviewing the events of the centennial. We can’t wait to see what you have planned when rescheduling is possible!

While waiting, the commission has created an excellent online resource with many videos. Here is one to get you started.

This post is part of my A to Z Challenge Series with the overall theme, “This Maine Life.” I am covering a Maine-related topic with a different letter of the alphabet every day except Sundays throughout the month of April 2020.