Evening star., 1942-09-10
BIadensburg Marks
bicentenniaI With
Program Tomorrow
Festival to Continue
Saturday; Parade
And Contests Slated

Motorists driving through Bla-
densburg, Md, tomorrow and Satur-
day will be transported back 200
years when they see the streets of
the historic Prince Georges County
town thronged with men and women
garbed in colonial dress.
The occasion will be the bicen-
tennial celebration of the founding
OF Bladensburg, to be held in con-
junction with the annual two-day
convention of the County Firemen's s
Association.
AS part of the observance.
women of the community, clad in
hoopskirts and tight bodices, will
conduct visitors through old homes
and other places of interest, some
of which are more than $50 years
old.
Historic in War of 1872.
The towns chief historical i'm
portance lies in the battle of Bla-
densburg during the War of 1912
when the British defeated American
militiamen during the formers
march to Washington, which cul-
minated in the burning of the
White House.
At one time, the port of Bladens-
burg was one of the most impor-
tant on the Atlantic seaboard, and
was the shipping point for much
OF the country's tobacco crop. The
first post Office in the United States,
built in TITS, was in Bladensburg
State Senator j. Harold Sothoron
and John S. White, majority leader
of the House of Delegates, will be
the principal speakers at the open
ing session of the f1remen's conven-
ton at 8 pm. tomorrow at the Bla-
densburg Elementary School.
Members of the ladies' auxiliary
will meet at the same time at the
Bladensburg Firehouse with Robert
w. Mccullough, Washington attor-
ney, as speaker.
Firemen to Register.
Saturdays session will begin at
noon with registration of visiting
firemen to be held at the firehouse.
High light of the convention will
be parade beginning at 2 pm.
Saturday, led by Andrew Gasch,
descendant of one of the towns
original settlers.
Included in the line of march will
be representatives of Is fire COM
panies, Is ladies' auxiliaries and six
rescue squads.
Among out-of- town fire companies
which will participate are those from
Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington
Counties, Rosedale, Annapolis, West
Annapolis, Herald Harbor, North
Beach, Leonardtown and Alexandria.
Other outfits which will join the
parade include the Maryland State
Guard and organized reserve militia,
under the command of 1t. Col. c. L.
Aiello; American Legion, Veterans
of Foreign Wars and Boy and Girl
Scouts
Prizes to Be Awarded.
Music will be provided by the Dis
trict Elks' Club Band, the National
Training School Band and the Seat
Pleasant Drum and Bugle Corps.
Prizes will be awarded the "best-
appearing" fire company, rescue
squad and ladies' auxiliary. Follow
ing the parade, flremen will COM
pete for trophies in hook and ladder
and other fire-fighting contests,
while members of the ladies' auxili-
ary units will compete for prizes in
first aid and rescue competitions.
Climax of the convention will be
a supper to be served by the Bladens-
burg Ladies Auxiliary at pm. at
st. Luke's Parish House, followed by
a memorial service in the Bladens-
burg Grammar School.
The annual election of officers will
feature business meeting to be held
at 8 pm. Speakers will include
Representative Lansdale G.. Sasscer
and T. Howard Duckett.