Day 121 Chatham 300 Anniversary Founder’s Day weekend
Help Chatham celebrate its 300 anniversary byy going back to the past from Friday June 8th thru Monday June 11th. The weekend focuses on re-enacting events and daily life from the past, and each day will focus on a different century. Friday’s events will celebrate the 1700s (colonial times), Saturday’s the 1800s (focusing on the towns maritime and fishing heritage) Sunday’s the 1900s (tourism and the Jazz Age), and Monday’s the present 21st century. 
Friday, June 8 – A focus on 17th & 18th century in Chatham History
9:00 – 10:30AM: Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, Tribal Chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) will issue welcoming remarks at the dedication of the Wampanoag plaque. If last minute scheduling conflicts should occur for her, a Tribal Council member will be present in her stead. In addition, Woody Vanderhoop, lead singer of the Black Brook Singers will be performing. Mass distribution of the Chatham Monomoyick Trail brochure will begin on this date and commemorative T-shirts with one of the longest shelf-lives of any collectible shirt will be available for purchase.
10:00 – 2:00 PM: Godfrey Windmill Open House, Tours of the restored Mill, Weather Permitting, the Mill will be operating and grinding corn into corn meal. Chase Park.
10:30 – 4:30 PM: Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Interpretive Exhibit: History of the role of Monomoy in Life Saving Service Where: Eldredge Public Library (downstairs, Community Room)
10:30 – 12:30 PM: Caleb Nickerson House Open House – Demonstrations of life in 18th Century Chatham Where: Caleb Nickerson House, Chathamport
12:30PM – 2:30PM: Talk and walk by Todd Kelley – History of the Monomoyick Homeland. Where: Meet at the Caleb Nickerson House for the introduction talk about the Monomoyick Homeland and the settlement by William Nickerson then carpool to the D. Isabel Smith Monomoy River Conservation Area off Bay Road in East Harwich to finish the program with a walk along the wooded trail that overlooks Muddy Creek. Be prepared with good shoes for a 3/4 mile round trip walk through the woods. There are benches to sit on at the overlook where we will conclude the program.
6:00 PM: Founders Clambake – Chatham Bars Inn
Saturday, June 9 – A focus on 19th century in Chatham History
9:00 – 3:00 PM: Railroad Museum Open House Exhibits and interpretive presentations including: History of the Railroad & Telecommunications in Chatham, and a Vintage Car Show
10:30 – 4:30 PM: Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Interpretive exhibit: History of the Refuge: Geology and Natural History Where: Eldredge Public Library (downstairs, Community Room)
1:00 – 3:30 PM: U. S. Coast Guard Station Chatham Lighthouse Tours at the Station/Lighthouse
1:00 – 3:30 PM: Tours of 42′ Near Shore Lifeboats at The Chatham Town Docks (by the Fish Pier)
1:00 – 3:30 PM History of Lifesaving and equipment display/interpretations at the Chatham Community Center
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Atwood House Museum – Open House – NEW: Summer of Centuries Exhibit Interpretive tours of all exhibits including Chatham to China – Celebrating Chatham’s in the Age of Sail
Sunday, June 10 – A focus on 20th century in Chatham history
10:00 – 4:00 PM: Atwood House Museum – Living History 20th Century: Rediscover the exceptional era of the Second World War as you witness powerful reenactments, costumed interpreters, authentic gear and artifacts
11:00 AM – 1:00 AM: Great Gatsby Day at the Chatham Bars Inn. For a full list of activities see events listed below.
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Chatham Marconi Maritime Center, “Where the History and Science of Wireless Communications Come Alive”. New Titanic film and exhibit on the role of a Chatham Marconi operator played in the rescue of survivors. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic sinking.
3:00PM & 5:00PM: Chatham Chorale Chamber Singers and the Chatham Music Club Concert conducted by Joe Marchio at the Methodist Church
7:00 – 11:00 PM: Great Gatsby Ball – Celebrating the Roaring 1920′s at Chatham Bars Inn
Monday, June 11 – Founders Day Order of Events
9:00 Festivities commence – Town Crier sends message to the Town of Chatham
9:15 Towns people gather near Community Center for procession through main Street
9:30 Procession commences at the Community Center behind Colonial Fife and Drum Corp Band, Chatham Founding families and William Nickerson down main street.
10:00 Town’s people gather in Kate Gould Park.
10:00 – 12:00 – Founders Day Formal Program
Master of Ceremonies – Richard Sullivan
Singing of the National Anthem – Lisa Sullivan Jason
Short Testimonial Speeches
– Chair Chatham Board of Selectman Florence Seldin
– US Senator Kerry Representative Bill Keating
– State Representative Sarah Peake
– State Senator Dan Wolf
11:30 Keynote address by Nathaniel Philbrick
12:00 Ceremonies Close with remarks by William Nickerson and town photograph (in Beards)
12:10 Towns Church Bells ring for 3 minutes
12:15 – 1:30 Lunch for the Visiting Speakers at Chatham Bars Inn
1:30- 2:30PM: USPS Release and press event of the Commemorative Chatham 300 Founders Day Letter head and stamp cancellation sponsored by the USPS
Where: Community Center
3:00 – 4:30 Time Capsule Event
Where: Chatham High School Gymnasium
– Master of Ceremonies – Jack Hynes
– Special Music by the Chatham Music Club – The 300th Voices conducted by Ruth McKendree Treen
– Award of the “Boston Post” Cane to Chatham’s oldest resident
– Opening of the 1962 – Time Capsule with Chatham High School Graduates of 1962.
– Preparing of the 2012 time capsule – Rick Smith with Current Chatham students
– Capsule escorted by Chatham Police to Town Hall for installation.
6:00 Cape Cod Baseball League Exhibition Game with Chatham Anglers vs U.S. Military All-Stars
Where: Veterans Field,
Chatham Barbecue at the Red Nun to Follow.
AND… To close this wonderful weekend – *****FIREWORKS AFTER DARK ***** !!!!!!
