1925: "Told Again and Again"
Anniversary ball ticket, 1925.
A schedule for the annual Patriots' Day athletic meet, 1925.
A news clipping announcing athletic events for the 125th anniversary celebration, 1925.
The Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary celebration included new, modern offerings. In addition to the traditional parade, exercises, and gun salute, moving pictures played in the Armory. The US Marine Band gave a concert, and athletic events like track and field, baseball, and soccer were popular. For the first time, girls were included in the sporting events.
Concord Free Public Library and bandstand, 1925.
Buildings on Main Street decorated for the Sesquicentennial, 1925.
Sesquicentennial ribbon, 1925.
Town Official ribbon, 1925.
Town Official ribbon, 1925.
Community participation was a defining feature of the Sesquicentennial. The town provided ribbons for citizens, and businesses along the parade route were asked to decorate with bunting. The Committee also had several big ideas which did not come to fruition: President Calvin Coolidge was invited but did not attend, and the request to the US Navy to fly the USS Shenandoah blimp through Concord was denied due to scheduling conflicts.
Parade float from the Elks Club, 1925.
A young girl dressed in colonial garb for the parade, 1925.
The Sesquicentennial parade included a variety of floats. Most depicted historical moments or individuals, and were created by local organizations, such as the Corinthian Lodge and the Elks Club. Several hundred children marched in the parade wearing colonial costume.
Front side of the Commemorative Patriot Half-Dollar, 1925.
Back side of the Commemorative Patriot Half-Dollar, 1925.
Booklet accompanying the Commemorative Patriot Half-Dollar, 1925.
Like in 1900, a commemorative coin was minted for the occasion. Because the 150th anniversary was a significant one, the United States Mint produced the Commemorative Patriot Half-Dollar, a silver half-dollar coin representing both Concord and Lexington. The front of the coin depicts the Minute Man statue, while the back depicts Lexington's Old Belfry.