Clinton High School - Memorabilia Yearbook (Clinton, MA)

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Centennial .....'1350 As the Class of 1950 graduates from Clinton High School, it steps forth into a new era in the history of our town. This year marks the completion of one hundred years of Clinton's growth and prosperity, as well as the starting- point of our graduates upon the road which leads into our second century of progress. The birth of our town took place on March 14, 1850 when the Governor of Massachusetts signed a bill from the General Court to in- corporate the Town of Clinton. Since then, it has weathered the forces of nature and also the storms of hard times until today it is as we all know it- our beloved Clinton, advanc- ing in education, surging ahead in business, fostering religion, and developing leaders. Clinton's Centennial Year certainly could not pass unmarked. A General Committee of twenty-five hard-working citizens, with Hon. Austin J. Kiltredge as Chairman, was chosen to lay plans for the fitting observance of the one-hundreth anniversary of incorporation. Each member of this committee was given charge of a specific phase of the celebration, and all are to be commended for the energy which they devoted toward the success of the project. Early in the year the General Committee set tentative dates for the various events. March 14, the exact date of the anniversary, was selected to be the day on which the Centennial Banquet should be held. Many citizens soon signified their intention of attending the affair, demonstrating the willingness of the public to co-operate in the observance. The Committee also chose the week of May 8 through June 3 as Centennial Week, and scheduled the main celebration to take place at that time. An effort was made to interest every citizen in the observance, and organiza- tions were invited to participate.

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......1950 lt was fittingly planned that the Centennial Week should start with a religious observance in all the churches of Clinton, on Sunday, May 28, and that our new hospital be dedicated that afternoon. Throughout the week, band concerts, sporting events, folk dances, song fests, and firework displays were arranged, a Centennial Ball was planned for Thursday, June l, and the celebration was to be cli- maxed by a huge parade of local and out-of- town bands and organizations on Saturday, June 3. Invitations to attend the observance were tendered to Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, His Excellency Paul A. Dever, Governor of Massachusetts, Honorable Philip J. Philbin, United States Representative, Mr. Matthew Connelly, Secretary to President Tru- man, and a host of Clinton's sons who have distinguished themselves in various walks of life. All former Clinton residents were also invited to return to participate. We, of the Senior Class, also had a part in the celebration. Under the direction of Mr. Henry O'Toole, the History Circle undertook to present a historical pageant depicting Clinton's progress through one hundred years. The social, political, economic, religious, and educational aspects of Clinton's life were brought out in the pageant. Many citizens now in Clinton can look back upon the year l9OO and remember with pleasure the observance of the Semi-Centennial in that year. As we, the Class of l950 go forth into life, let us strive to continue to advance as they have done, and some of us shall, fifty years hence, look back with the same feeling of pleasure on this Centennial Year, with honest pride and loyalty toward our native Clinton.