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Celebrations for Bowdle, Conde, Hecla and Langford's 125th anniversaries had thousands of people gathering across the area this weekend.
Residents from the towns came to participate in quasquicentennial events, while others, such as the Schroeder sisters, traveled thousands of miles to come to Hecla, their hometown, to celebrate.
Pat (Schroeder) Bryce of Belton, Texas, and Delores "Dee" (Schroeder) Frohling of Anaheim, Calif., were accompanied by Dee's husband, Gene Frohling, also a native of Hecla.
"It's great seeing everybody. I haven't been to one of these in 10 years," Pat Bryce said.
The sisters were some of the first to kick off Hecla's celebration early Friday afternoon. All smiles, they strolled through their hometown, reminiscing about the 1950s, when they were students attending Hecla High School, and how the town had changed since then.
"It's sad to see so many things gone," Dee Frohling said, mentioning the school, cafe and movie theater. "But the people here are still the greatest. We appreciate the effort of everyone that put the 125th together."
Hecla's 125th anniversary planning committee of about six members has been busy for two years, meeting every month to plan the celebration, said Judy Skoglund, a committee member. The committee anticipated at least 500 people would attend events in Hecla, she said.
Bowdle started off its festivities Friday with rainy weather, said Angie Bishop, a first-grade teacher at Bowdle Elementary School.
The official kickoff for the weekend had residents gathered in the town square, umbrellas in hand.
"The rain couldn't dampen the spirits of the people ready to celebrate 125 years," Bishop said.
Saturday morning, celebrants witnessed a parade of at least 160 entries, said Cheryl Dewald. Catherine Blumhardt and Dewald were chairwomen for the events.
The town of 500 quadrupled as about 2,000 people gathered for the quasquicentennial celebration, she said.
About 700 alumni of Bowdle High School were registered for the all-school reunion.
Events for the 125th celebration were under the direction of 10 committees and and required the help of about 50 people, Dewald said. Planning started about a year ago, she said.
Langford, with a population of about 300, also had at least 2,000 people gathered to celebrate its 125th anniversary, said Ryan Likness, the general chairman for the event.
Residents watched Saturday as a parade of 150 entries drove through the streets of Langford. About 800 Langford High School alumni had registered for the all-school reunion, Likness said.
A committee of about nine members started planning events in 2009, he said.
Conde's 125th celebration plans centered on events that would be fun for all ages, said Ann Hearning, head chairwoman for quasquicentennial events.
The town anticipated 1,000 visitors, and about 700 people attended the dance on Friday night, she said.
Residents from the towns came to participate in quasquicentennial events, while others, such as the Schroeder sisters, traveled thousands of miles to come to Hecla, their hometown, to celebrate.
Pat (Schroeder) Bryce of Belton, Texas, and Delores "Dee" (Schroeder) Frohling of Anaheim, Calif., were accompanied by Dee's husband, Gene Frohling, also a native of Hecla.
"It's great seeing everybody. I haven't been to one of these in 10 years," Pat Bryce said.
The sisters were some of the first to kick off Hecla's celebration early Friday afternoon. All smiles, they strolled through their hometown, reminiscing about the 1950s, when they were students attending Hecla High School, and how the town had changed since then.
"It's sad to see so many things gone," Dee Frohling said, mentioning the school, cafe and movie theater. "But the people here are still the greatest. We appreciate the effort of everyone that put the 125th together."
Hecla's 125th anniversary planning committee of about six members has been busy for two years, meeting every month to plan the celebration, said Judy Skoglund, a committee member. The committee anticipated at least 500 people would attend events in Hecla, she said.
Bowdle started off its festivities Friday with rainy weather, said Angie Bishop, a first-grade teacher at Bowdle Elementary School.
The official kickoff for the weekend had residents gathered in the town square, umbrellas in hand.
"The rain couldn't dampen the spirits of the people ready to celebrate 125 years," Bishop said.
Saturday morning, celebrants witnessed a parade of at least 160 entries, said Cheryl Dewald. Catherine Blumhardt and Dewald were chairwomen for the events.
The town of 500 quadrupled as about 2,000 people gathered for the quasquicentennial celebration, she said.
About 700 alumni of Bowdle High School were registered for the all-school reunion.
Events for the 125th celebration were under the direction of 10 committees and and required the help of about 50 people, Dewald said. Planning started about a year ago, she said.
Langford, with a population of about 300, also had at least 2,000 people gathered to celebrate its 125th anniversary, said Ryan Likness, the general chairman for the event.
Residents watched Saturday as a parade of 150 entries drove through the streets of Langford. About 800 Langford High School alumni had registered for the all-school reunion, Likness said.
A committee of about nine members started planning events in 2009, he said.
Conde's 125th celebration plans centered on events that would be fun for all ages, said Ann Hearning, head chairwoman for quasquicentennial events.
The town anticipated 1,000 visitors, and about 700 people attended the dance on Friday night, she said.
