The little town that ‘can sure pull off a parade’: Thorndike celebrates bicentennial
Thorndike residents say Happy 200th Birthday to their Waldo County town. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Preparing the barbecued chicken. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Even the goats came out to watch. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Made for an impressive sight as participants came down the hill. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
This horse was walking past... (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
...and halted right in front of me. I took its picture. The horse moved on. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The Bryants were very active in the Thorndike community. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Patty Pendergast, left, was an active Bicentenial committee member. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Two members of the Unity area Rotary. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
If only everyone smiled as brightly as this little girl when sitting in the driver’s seat. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Climbing up. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
I kept thinking that this event was called ‘Touch a Truck.’ Apparently, I was wrong. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
I believe the faces of pioneers were naturally painted with dust and grime. But smiley faces are nice too. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Some of the diners enjoying the chicken dinner. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Serving up a hearty meal. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Thorndike residents say Happy 200th Birthday to their Waldo County town. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Preparing the barbecued chicken. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Even the goats came out to watch. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Made for an impressive sight as participants came down the hill. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
This horse was walking past... (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
...and halted right in front of me. I took its picture. The horse moved on. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
The Bryants were very active in the Thorndike community. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Patty Pendergast, left, was an active Bicentenial committee member. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Two members of the Unity area Rotary. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
If only everyone smiled as brightly as this little girl when sitting in the driver’s seat. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Climbing up. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
I kept thinking that this event was called ‘Touch a Truck.’ Apparently, I was wrong. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
I believe the faces of pioneers were naturally painted with dust and grime. But smiley faces are nice too. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Some of the diners enjoying the chicken dinner. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
Serving up a hearty meal. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
THORNDIKE — Known by its residents as a town divided over some municipal issues, its people came together, Saturday, Sept. 14, to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime occasion: Thorndike’s Bicentennial.
In February 1819, landowners officially incorporated the area they’d been settled upon since 1772. Two hundred years later, residents of the town of 890 people (2010 census), lined the streets for a morning parade, followed by lunch options that included a chicken barbecue, Amish fries and pastries. The afternoon featured multiple bands.
“We’re a little town, but we can sure pull off a parade,” said Patty Pendergast, one of the committee members who’d helped bring the celebration to completion.
The bicentennial committee became active in the spring of this year, planning the activities and shifting around last-minute alterations in order to achieve a seamless flow of events.
On that committee was Bea Bryant, of Bryant Stoveworks.
Bryant’s husband, Joe, died a year ago, according to Pendergast. In his absence, and carrying on a family legacy for welcoming people to the area, Bea continued that notion via the celebration planning.
She lived long enough to witness the final bicentennial fundraiser, and died two days later, on Aug. 30.
“She was active with the committee up until the day she died,” said Pendergast.
Though residents remain at odds over municipal business, including the spending rights of the fire department, only fun broke the spell of a crisp, gray Saturday morning.
Dedicated to adding something positive and noteworthy into Thorndike’s history books, Jeff Trafton, chair of the committee and sheriff of Waldo County, and his wife, Wendy, put their hearts into the event, according to Pendergast.
“To see a contentious town come together, it’s exciting that we were able to pull all of this together the way we did,” she said.
Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com
Event Date
Address
United States
