Celebrating 100 years of community: Gaylord prepares to mark its centennial year

Paul Welitzkin, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read
Erika Peters stands next to the graphic design marking the 100th anniversary of Gaylord attaining city status this year. She is coordinating all city events that will mark the occasion for the city. It all starts on May 28 at the Pavilion during the Strolling into Summer event.
Erika Peters stands next to the graphic design marking the 100th anniversary of Gaylord attaining city status this year. She is coordinating all city events that will mark the occasion for the city. It all starts on May 28 at the Pavilion during the Strolling into Summer event.

GAYLORD — On March 13, 1922, Gaylord achieved city status by a vote of 114-93.

One hundred years later, the city is preparing to celebrate a milestone anniversary with fanfare and a focus on community.

Helping to coordinate the 100th anniversary of attaining city status is Erika Peters, Gaylord's human resources officer.

The centennial celebration provides a way to acknowledge the central role that the city has played in bringing educational, economic, and cultural enrichment to all area residents.

"Our tagline for the centennial is 'Celebrating 100 years of community,'" Peters said. "We will start our celebration on May 28 during the Strolling into Summer event in the downtown with Mayor Todd Sharrard presiding over the opening ceremony. There will also be a booth near the Pavilion where people will be able to purchase centennial commemorative coins that represent Gaylord and our sister city of Pontresina (Switzerland)."

Peters said a time capsule will be established and the city will accept letters, pictures and other commemorative items about the size of a deck of cards for submission.

"We will begin accepting submissions for the time capsule during the May 28 event and will continue to accept them until July 29," added Peters.

She said the time capsule will be on display in city hall and plans call for it to be opened in 2072.

Peters said the city is working closely with nonprofit organizations on the centennial celebration.

"The Gaylord Area Council for the Arts and the Otsego County United Way are celebrating 50-year anniversaries. You will see some of their celebration activities intertwined with ours," said Peters.

The city will also operate a booth during this year's Alpenfest from July 12-16. One of the major events for the centennial celebration will occur on Aug. 13 as a parade will lead into an open house at city hall on Main Street that day.

"Mayor Sharrard will oversee the sealing of the time capsule," said Peters. "We will also have an art exhibit and refreshments."

Peters said the idea behind the centennial is to celebrate all that Gaylord and the surrounding area have become.

"The city has come such a long way and it involves everyone who has helped to create the community that we are," she said.

Anyone who would like to get involved with the centennial celebrations should check the city's website for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Celebrating 100 years of community: Gaylord prepares to mark its centennial year