Centennial Set for May 19

May 19 marks the day Claremore and the rest of Rogers County will honor its history. With a significant heritage in Oklahoma, this part of the state will celebrate in its own way by holding the Claremore Centennial. Leading the event are Tanya Andrews, Executive Director of the Claremore Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cindy Bissett, Executive Director of Claremore Main Street and Dell Davis, President of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce. The team of leaders is assisted by a committee of volunteers, including representatives from several other local organizations. “We’re seeing this as a birthday celebration of sorts,” Bissett says. “Our goal is to celebrate the past and welcome the future.”

Andrews believes her city has much to commemorate. “This will be a day promoting what Claremore and our county is all about.”

Throughout the past year, especially in the downtown area, there have been several activities deserving promotion. Several renovations on Main Street made possible by the Streetscape Project will receive attention during the day’s activities. “Claremore is a community in progress,” Bissett comments. “Citizens witnessing the downtown transformation along Main Street are proud of the finished product.”

Many additional plans are underway to uniquely mark the day. Following the community theme, organizers are arranging to take a photograph of the entire community. Davis hopes the logistics can be worked out. “We’re making arrangements for everyone to be in the photograph,” Davis said. “It will be something citizens can look back on to remember the Claremore Centennial.”

The celebration will also include a creative downtown wall mural. Local high school students will create the image of a building that will feature an outline of icons and images significant to Claremore. Davis encourages the community to take part in the mural. “We’re giving the community an opportunity to ‘paint Claremore’ by adding their personal touches to the mural with supplies the committee provides,” he said.

Two artists with ties to the state and to Rogers County will contribute at the Centennial event. Richard Hight, whose wife is from Claremore, has been invited to participate in the celebration. Hight’s unique art is set to music. Also invited to share her artistic talent is Carolyn Matthews, an artist who uses Oklahoma soils as the base for her image creations.

Other activities being planned for the celebration include a Centennial banner project, an outdoor movie night, an honor extended to Rogers County residents who are 100 years of age or older, as well as the distribution of Centennial lilacs in honor of Claremore’s Lynn Riggs. Kids will be entertained by several inflatable playgrounds. Food and beverages will be available as well.

Other than the Claremore Centennial, several other events will take place throughout 2007 to commemorate Oklahoma’s 100 years of statehood. Other official Oklahoma Centennial events include:

The 61st Annual Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo, May 24-26

Inola Hay Day, June 16

Will Rogers’ Wiley Post Fly-In, Aug. 12

Chelsea’s Bushyhead Labor Day Pasture Roping and Barrel Race, Sep. 2-3

The 28th Annual Bluegrass and Chili Festival, Sep. 6-8

J.M. Davis “Good Old Days”, Oct. 7

Will Rogers Days, Nov. 2-4

Contact the Claremore Convention and Visitors Bureau at (877) 341-8688 for more information about Oklahoma Centennial events or visit the website at: www.visitclaremore.org.

May 19 is the day to celebrate one of our state’s historically rich cities. Plan to honor Claremore’s heritage by taking a part in the Claremore Centennial.

For more inform­­ation, contact

Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau

(918) 341-8688

www.visitclaremore.org­­