Currently on display at the Rochester Historical Museum on County Road as part of our Maps, Signs and Celebrations exhibit are pictures, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and artifacts that tell the stories of how Rochester celebrated two important anniversaries. In 1976, they joined together to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States and then from 1979-1986, the Tricentennial anniversary of Rochester.
Like the earlier celebrations of the 200th and the 250th anniversaries of Rochester’s founding, costumes played a big role. In the earlier celebrations, many of the costumes were authentic, colonial clothing stored in ancestor’s attics. By the 1970’s, a lot of that clothing was no longer available or like the historical clothing at our museum was too small for adult wear due to better modern-day nutrition, though there is evidence of a few unfortunate alterations made of historical dresses.
Not to be deterred, local seamstresses got to work creating period appropriate clothing for all ages. For some events, such as the Women’s Club Bicentennial Ball, costumes were optional, but there is a picture of Katherine Church and Mrs. Thomas Gayorski Jr. and her daughter, Michelle, in colonial dresses and mop caps promoting the dinner and dance.
Another picture at an outdoor event shows Ronnie Hedges, age 2 and Jenny Taylor, 18 months enjoying the event in their colonial costumes. There are also pictures of similarly attired parade participants. The picture with this article is of Greenwood Hartley’s Bicentennial costume which is currently on display at the museum.
Costumes (hopefully, they saved the ones from 1976) continued to play a prominent part in the 1979 and 1986 Tricentennial events. On July 7, 8, and 9 of 1979, an encampment of reenactors of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Artillery & Light Co. was set up on the green in the center of town. On that Sunday, a special “in-costume” service was held at the First Rochester Congregational Church. A picture on display shows Rev. William Fillerbrown and a family of greeters waiting in the doorway of the church to welcome the visiting red-coated artillery who represented the colonial army in 1679. The costumed greeters were the Gayorski family, Deborah, Michelle, Diane, Lisa, Thomas Jr. and Dorothy.
Just an FYI- we all may need to rev up our sewing machines as it is just two years until the United States turns 250 years old in 2026, and I’m sure Rochester will again rise to the challenge of celebrating in proper style.
By Connie Eshbach