Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,
2022 marks the Sesquicentennial–the 150th Anniversary–of Somerville’s establishment as a City. This is a pretty significant milestone in my opinion. In 1972, the Centennial was observed with great fanfare which included a huge parade. Somerville was a less affluent city then, but it was rich in civic pride, having recently been named an All American City.
It’s great that we celebrate so many things nowadays; Fluff-fest, Art Beat, etc., but incremental birthdays like this don;t happen too often and are worthy of note. At least in my opinion.
I was saddened to see that there was very little if anything coming from our municipal government about this. In 3 days, 2022 will be behind us. Too bad we couldn’t celebrate the 150th of our great city in a manner befitting its rich heritage and diverse culture.
As for me: I just can’t hide my Somerville Pride!
Editor’s Comment:
I think the reader has a valid point and is referring to this year of 1872 which does make it the 150th year anniversary of being incorporated as a city: Somerville was first settled in 1630 as a part of Charlestown, and was established as a town in 1842, when it was separated from the urbanizing Charlestown because it was still largely rural. Somerville was officially incorporated as a city in 1872 due to its growing population and increasing industrialization.