The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-26
THE SESQUl-UEEMHTENN1AL.
Georgetown Citizens Planning for
Splendid Celebration.

The Sesqui- Centennial Committee of the
Georgetown Citizens Association held an
interesting meeting last night at the hall
of the First Cooperative Building Asso-
citation, j. Hadley Doyle presiding. The
programme of the proposed celebration
was outlined and will be presented at The
regular meeting of the Citizens Associa-
ton, which Will be held Friday evening.
The plans suggested cover a celebration
extending from early in the morning until
late in the evening, Upon the adoption
of the report by the Citizens &ssocia ton
with such amendments as might be sug-
gested. the whole will be presented to a
mass meeting of the West End people, to
be endorsed a general executive commit
tee appointed, and the details worked out
For the reason that there may be some
alteration in the programme mapped out
last night by the committee, the report
was not given out in full for publica ion
The general outline, however. provides
for the ushering in of the day with sun
rise salute by a detachment of artillery
and a simultaneous explosion of blasts
at the numerous quarries on the Virginia
side of the river.
The forenoon of the day will most likely
be devoted TO celebration. in which the
children will take part. There VIII be
either special exercises held in the fore
noon in the public schools of=the West
End, or else a parade will be organized
in which the scholars will participate.
marching over a route to be determined
upon and breaking up into divisions, each
of which will be assigned to some church,
where a special programme will be held.
1t is possible that the early afternoon viii
witness a regatta en- the river front, in
which all of the local boat clubs and
great many outside rowing organizations
will be requested to participate. Suitable
trophies VIII be provided for each event.
A military parade. later in the afternoon,
will also probably be held, in which 1t
is expected that a good many of the vol
unteer and regular soldiery of the Distrtet
will take part. Owing to the fact tfat,
at the time of its birth, Georgetown was
part of Maryland, a liberal represen a.
ton of troops from the State viii be
sought. The plan, it is understood, also
provides for a civic display, in which the
business men Of Georgetown are expected
to make a good showing.
An aquatic and pyrotechnic carnival
will take place upon the Potomac River.
This promises to be one of the unique
features of the celebration. 1t will in
clude an Illuminated parade of all the
small craft on the Potomac, prizes being
awarded to those making the best display.
In connection with the parade, aquatic
fireworks will be introduced. 1t is ex-
pected that this display will produce
beautiful effect. Arches will most likely
be erected at all of the bridges leading to
Georgetown from Washington. liberal
display of set fireworks for the evening is
also to be included in the programme,
which if possible, viii, be located on the
Aqueduct Bridge While only the prelim
mary steps have been taken. the details
will be worked out later. 1t is the desire
to make the Centennial celebration a
memorable one. About fifteen years ago
Georgetown had its last celebration, the
occasion being the opening Of the Aque-
duet Bridge as a free thoroughfare The
late Austin Herr was In charge OF the
affair." and largely through his efforts the
event was successful. The interest in the
sesqui- centennial has been on the in
crease. and there is every Indication that
it will surrass the showing made at the
bridge opening.