KEARNY, NJ – The Town of Kearny will officially kick off its year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration, “150 Years of Community,” on Thursday, April 27th at 6 pm with an event on the Town Hall steps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the municipality’s incorporation.
The municipality of Kearny, named after Major General Philip Kearny, was founded shortly after the American Civil War in 1867. The Town’s namesake lived a portion of his life in a mansion known as Kearny Castle or “Bellegrove” in what is now the Town of Kearny. General Kearny was the head of the New Jersey Regiment during the Civil War and died in the Battle of Chantilly.
The commemoration of the municipality’s incorporation will begin at 6 p.m. on the Town Hall steps with a historical reenactment of the announcement of the original Charter of 1867 by a traditional Town Crier. Members of the local Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops will lead attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. The present Mayor and Council Members will also re-enact the town’s first official actions from 1867.
Festivities will then move to the adjacent Town Hall Park for a celebration concert by the 20-piece Starlight Orchestra. The musical group will be joined by narrator Robert Strauch who will provide the audience with historical context of Kearny’s past as a compliment to the evening’s musical selections. The event is free and open to the public. Those attending are encouraged to bring blankets and/or folding chairs to enjoy the concert in the park.
The Kearny Sesquicentennial Celebration will continue into the coming months with a series of commemorative events planned to mark the important milestone. For more details and updated schedules, visit www.Kearny150.org, call 201.955.7979 or “Like” Kearny 150th on Facebook.
