BELFAST — Nearly 100 people gathered at Belfast City Hall to attend the City of Belfast’s 250th anniversary celebration, which marks the City of Belfast’s founding as a town June 21, 1773.

The event took place June 21 at Belfast’s City Hall, exactly 250 years to the day, according to Mayor Eric Sanders, who spoke at the event and introduced the speakers. 

Before introducing the other speakers, Sanders acknowledged the Penobscot people, who have lived on this land for greater than 11,000 years. The acknowledgement also featured on the program handed out to attendees. 

Banners celebrating the anniversary will be featured on several downtown buildings, including City Hall, and Sanders told the crowd that many events this summer will be based around the event.

A number of the speeches and letters from relevant government figures talked about Belfast’s colorful history, while others discussed its colorful present. 

Megan Pinette, president of the Belfast Historical Society & Museum, was the first to speak following Sander’s opening remarks. Letters from Governor Janet Mills, U.S. Senator Angus King, U.S. Congressman Jared Golden, and Maine House of Representatives Jan Dodge, all of which were read by four representatives that were sent by the respective offices of each. 

In his letter to the City of Belfast, Senator King wrote to a future Belfast, the Belfast of 2123, which is the year that the soon-to-be-buried time capsule will be opened.

“To the Belfast of 2123, it is my hope that you will preserve the City’s coastal beauty, maintained Maine’s way of life, mitigated the risks of climate change, and held close the bonds of community. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your governor and U.S. senator,” King wrote. 

Senator Chip Curry made the journey to the celebration, and was able to speak to attendees directly. 

City of Belfast Poet Laureate Maya Stein was the next to speak. Stein told the crowd that since she is new to the area, she made a post on a popular social media page requesting residents of the area to share their observations. Stein then cobbled together the responses into a poem she read before the crowd. 

Jay Davis, one-time journalist and editor of a Belfast news organization, spoke about Belfast’s history.  

Following Davis’ remarks, Mayor Sanders returned to the stage to speak of his experiences as a Belfastian, and his time serving as a councilor, and current mayor. 

“Today as we mark the passage of time for this fine City I think about the people who have all come before us, who have lived, loved, endured, embraced, dreamed, and stood tall and proud, for us to be able to stand here today, and with deep pride, call it home, as they did before us,” Sanders said in part. 

The event ended with the unveiling of a plaque, featured prominently on the front of Belfast’s City Hall. 

A time capsule originally planned for the event will now take place at a later date.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com