1976 Bicentennial Celebrations In The Valley, Town By Town

1976 - The Nation's Bicentennial Year

In The North Central Susquehanna Valley  Region of Pennsylvania

And in The Nation As A Whole

An Index 

In 1976 the United States Of America celebrated it's Bicentennial - The 200 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.  This page is meant to be an index of photos, stories, and videos from our local towns celebrations that year.

On down in the "National" section, find articles on the American Freedom Train, The Wagon Train, Dress Patterns, the origin of Legionnaires disease, and more.

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Bicentennial Photo Albums

 By Town

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(In Progress)

	Sunbury  Bicentennial Photos
Watsontown - Where the Official Bicentennial Bricks Were Made	Watsontown Bicentennial Photos

A Video of the Festivities in Williamsport, 1976

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NEWSPAPERS

BICENTENNIAL EDITIONS

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Danville News

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AROUND THE NATION
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"FOR SEVERAL years it looked as if the Bicentennial celebration would be some kind of a flop. Many ridiculed the early federal planners as they groped and struggled—and failed to come up with One Great Big Show, like the great Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.

As of right now, however, one can be delighted not only with the way the Bi-centennial is starting to come off, but also because there Is not One Great Big Show, People everywhere are putting on their own 200th Anniversary celebrations. Local, state and federal arms of government are sponsoring separate projects and helping to coordinate them with private Bicentennial events. By now, everyone has sensed this. What is not so obvious is the enormous extent of it.

The celebration isn't as visible as One Great Big Show, but it is already far bigger than any Exposition could be, while it also lacks most of the evils, follies, parasites, distractions, disturbances, cheap hoopla and huckstering of One Great Big Show. ..."- American Legion Magazine, September 1975

See the Commemorative Program from the American Freedom Train Here	See the rest of the article from the Legion Magazine here	The Wagon Train
How The Bicentennial "Created"  Legionnaires Disease	The 1976 American  Freedom Train	The Bicentennial Bell

Bicentennial Costumes

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ADDITIONAL 

Bicentennial Notes 

BY TOWN

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Milton Pa

The Bicentennial In Milton Pa

The Milton Bicentennial committee agreed to hold a festival July 26-31.  It was to be held at the center street playground and have a "carnival atmosphere".

Other events included:

 - Bicentennial Banquet at the Masonic Temple

- Sights and Sonds Of America concert by the agape Singers at the High school

-A Bicentennial Band Concert at the Senior High school

A grove of trees, to be known as the Presidential Grove, was to be planted, with one tree for every President, and every tree properly marked.  The trees were to be planted along a walkway along Limestone Run.

A bicentennial plate was designed, with the boroughs sesquicentennial seal (Straub's mill at the mouth of Limestone Run) the date 1817, 1776-1976 depicting the 200th anniversary of the US, and the phrase "In God We Trust"

The committee had a headquarters at Bound Avenue and Broadway.

Legion received medal for contribution towards bell in Freedom Train

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Sunbury, Pa

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The American Bicentennial In Sunbury Pa, 1976

Tom Diehl was the chairman of the Sunbury Area Spirit of '76 Bicentennial Committee

There was a Bicentennial Store located at 15A N. 3r street.

Four different balls were held on July 3rd, at the Edison Inn, The Sunbury Social Club, American Legion Post 201, and the Elks Club.  They were scheduled from 9pm to 1am, and approximately 650 people attended.  

On July 4th there were sky diving exhibitions, and fireworks, at Shikellamy stadium.  The fireworks were delayed due to difficulties in grounding the display - they went off at 10:30pm and lasted for an hour and a half.

Other Bicentennial Activities in Sunbury Included:

Talent Show

Bicentennial Carnival on Market Street

Spirit of 76 Boat Regatta

Dutch Fair Days At Market House

Square Dance on Market Street

The Parade was held

It formed at the Rescue Hose Co, Packer Street and Edison avenue, and traveled two miles - South To Reagan, East on Regan to Second, South on Second to Market, east on Market to 10th.

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Watsontown Pa

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White Deer, Pa

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Lumberjack Competition at White Deer Park

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Williamsport, PA

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The American Freedom Train stopped in Williamsport in 1976

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Pennsylvania's Official Bicentennial Plate was designed by an artist from Hegins Pa - George Malick.

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READ MORE

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Tired Of The Word Bicentennial

Letter to The Editor, Daily Item