The St. Marys Centennial is now a part of History. The week of August l9th to 26th, 1923, was by all odds the most wonderful in the history of the old town. The 100th Anniversary of the City was celebrated in a manner that brought the highest degree of credit to civic enterprise in St. Marys. The celebration was planned along big lines and was carried out in the same big manner. For weeks previous to, and then during the week of the Centennial, all classes of citizens put aside their ordinary pursuits and stood shoulder to shoulder in putting across the biggest thing of this kind ever held in Northwestern Ohio. The harmonious action and unity of purpose shown through all the period of preparation was a most inspiring example of civic co-operation.

The crowds during the week were enormous. It had been expected of course that at times there would be several thousand people in town, but no one expected the tremendous turnout that occurred on different days of the celebration. During the Civic Parade on Tuesday morning fully 15,000 people were packed from end to end of Spring Street and on the streets extending north and south from Spring. On the day of the Pageant, "The Light of St. Marys," more than 25,000 people were in town. From every vantage point on every side of beautiful Memorial Park, dense masses of people were grouped where they could look down into the Park and see the striking scenes in the History of St. Marys. Thousands unable to see the Pageant that day scattered to different parts of town and waited to see the Pageant as repeated the next day. Of "Home Comers," 969 registered at the Community House. This number of course included only those who at some time had claimed St. Marys as home.

The week's program was carried out as planned, with only a few changes and additions. In this brief resume, only the high points of that Program can be touched on. On Sunday evening, August l9th, a great throng gathered at the Amphitheake Tent for the union Church services. Here stirring addresses were delivered by Mr. A. Herzing of St. Paul's Church and Mr. John Sullivan of the M. E. Church. The wonderful music by the Centennial Chorus, the Centennial Octet and the Centennial Orchestra at this service, the two splendid addresses, the great mass of people present, and the very evident feeling of harmony and good will were all harbingers of the great week to come.

On Monday morning, August 20th, came the official opening at the Reviewing Stand in front of the Grand Opera House. Mr. John R. Coffin, General Chairman of the Centennial Committee, under whose far-sighted planning, efficient execution, and magnetic leadership, the Centennial plans were so successfully consumated, presided at this meeting. On the platform were seated the venerable Fathers and Mothers of the Community, so far as they were able to be present. The combined ages of these pioneers exceeded 2000 years. After a short and appropriate talk by Mayor Swift, he presented to Mr. Coffin the Key to the City for the week. Mr. Coffin responded with a glowing tribute to Mother St. Marys and her children. At the conclusion of his talk, Mr. Coffin asked for short talks from the pioneers. A number responded, among