In 1852, the quiet little town of Venango, woke up to the fact that its 100th
birthday was at hand so, after the Fourth of July, Mayor Frank Crowe called the
citizens together to make plans.  The date was set for one day, August 23rd 1952.
Committees were appointed for pageantry, parade, advertising, finance, and all
that was needed.  Since the time was short, everyone went to work with a will, and
I mean work.  But what cooperation, enthusiasm, and fun for all participating!

The men had to pay a forfeit of $1.00 if they appeared clean shaven and the ladies
paid $.50 if they wore makeup and curlers in their hair.  There were Keystone Cops
to enforce the law, three judges held Kangaroo Court to try the culprits and even
 had stocks built in which to punish offenders.

In a little over four weeks, two pageants were planned and directed, choruses,
quartets, trios, to put the finishing touches on a splendid parade was arranged;
bicycles were repaired and decorated, old buggies and other vehicles put together
and painted; Lester Davis hauled the Titusville fire engine, the "Colonel Drake"
steamer built in 1865, to Venango on his truck.

The parade consisted of 50 units, and not one automobile in it.  About 5,000 persons
assembled to view this unique spectacle, which wound around the tree-shaded streets.
Buffalo Bill Cody, Indians on ponies and donkeys, bands, a fancy carriage for Mayor
Crowe and his wife; village smithy flaot, old-time buggies, carrying senior residents;
oxen-drawn wood-wheeled cart; old-fashioned junk wagon; oxen pulling a stone boat; a
beer wagon stacked high with cases; a somber glass-enclosed hearse, followed by a
black coach which pall bearers used to ride in; the Keystone Saddle Club; fire trucks;
girl scouts and church floats; a unit of decorated bicycles mounted by the children of
Venango; and many residents dressed in the garb of yesteryear.

Antiques were displayed in store windows and many people, who stopped by to look,
wanted to buy.

Old time pictures, postcards, and photographs were displayed in the Library windows,
which afford a lokk into the past.

Following the parade there was an afternoon of speeches, music, exhibition square
dance by the Keystone Saddle Club, a bathing beauty parade from 1852 right down to
the bikini, and recognition of and reminiscing of old-timers and former residents.

In the evening, pageantry was produced, depicting old-time church, school, store,
and fire, complete with the bucket brigade and a fine pageant by children of the
area.  Following this wa sthe cutting of the Anniversary Cake, donated by Mr. &
Mrs. Lester Davis.

A street dance completed the celebration and a tired but happy group of residents
settled down to everyday living, once again.  There were three mishaps in all this
participation and doing; an anvil was lost, an antique buggy was damaged, and a
horse dropped dead.  But the day was perfect, weather-wise, sunny and cool.