2005 Year in Review

Sesquicentennial Committee says "Thank you!"

We are confident there is something for everyone during this weekend. We will be posting very soon the schedule of events but here is a sampling: A Morrison High School reunion group photo at the football field bleachers for any Morrison graduate. A High School open house immediately following hosted by retired teachers, administrators and employees of the school system. There are no fewer than 6 high school class renuions that weekend. We will have a parade so large that it can't fit thru downtown so it's starting at the GE parking lot and winding it's way thru the south side of Morrison and into the Fairgrounds.There is a pagaent celebrating Morrison organizations, people and business announced by our very own Tommy Vogel at the mike. We will have a large scale authentic Civil War group Battery G occupying the entire race track interior that will take you to a time and place you will remember forever. We will have an authentic Native American 9 tipi village complete with lodges and descendants of Native Americans.

You will enjoy the many food booths at the fairgrounds and kid's games and the entertainment fills the musical spectrum with Bluegrass, Gospel and Rock & Roll. The Sunday ecumenical service will be enjoyed by all faiths and the Classic Car Show will be a real crowd pleaser with special surprises included. The Craft Show will have many vendors displaying their own sesquicentennial memory items and the Model Train Show will sure to please young and old alike with all the operating train layouts. And don't forget to try a tug on the authentic steam whistle, how long has it been since you heard one of those coming down the tracks? The end of the weekend will also bring one of the finest firework displays you will ever witness.

Absolutely none of this could be possible without the support of the community thru volunteer efforts and financial donations. We remember the 7 year old girl coming into our store location giving $1.00 for the fireworks because she wanted us to have "a really big show!". We also remember the many people who gave freely of their dollars at our fund raisers selling brats and shirts and coffee mugs.

We have raised over $20,000 and still have about $11,000 to go and we of course hope we get at least a couple of interested citizens to attend the 3 day celebration! We wish to thank all of those who have been so kind with their donations to this once in a life time event for Morrison. There is still time to join with us to complete this journey we call the Sesquicentennial Celebration and we thank each of these kind businesses and individuals so far:

Leader ($5,000 to $6,999) City of Morrison, Wells Fargo Bank NA

Benefactor ($1,000 to$2,999) Schuler Motors, Inc.

Sponsor ($500 to $999) Community State Bank, Sterling Federal Bank, Hilltop Lanes, Thecity1.com

Donor ($250 to $499) Asylum of Mad Dreams, Sullivan's Foods, General Electric, HB Wilkinson Title Company, Parkview Motel, Morrison Family Health Clinic

Honorary ($100 to $249) Ernest & Jennie Huling, David Damhoff Auctioneering & Appraisal, Mickley Insurance, Happy Joe's Pizza Parlor, Nelson, Kilgus, Richey and Huffman, Morrison Physical Therapy, Coplan Law Office, Karen Bramm Insurance, Winning Wheels of Prophetstown, Dr. William J. Simpson, Climco Coils Company, Shawver Press, Morrison Community Hospital, Barbara Kophamer

We now have the 3 day $2.00 passes on sale at the Sesquicentennial Store at 218 West Main Street. This pass is required for anyone entering the Fairgrounds and is good for all 3 days. The parade route will be posted soon on PEG Channel 18 and in the Sentinel and online at www.thecity1.com We fully expect our community to be overflowing this weekend in July and we wish for all to have a safe and memorable event. Stop in soon at "The Sesqui Store" for all current information.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
April 28, 2005