Where were you in 1966?
Sometimes it’s hard to remember where we were 5 years ago, but 40 years ago…..! If you need help, here are a few events that might jog your memory:
“Alphie” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” were popular movies that year, but it was “The Sound of Music” that won the Academy Award for best picture ; the record of the year was Herb Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey”, and Truman Capote wrote “In Cold Blood.” The first Star Trek episode - “The Man Trap”- aired on September 8th; Walt Disney died that year; the U.S.Food and Drug Administration declared ‘the Pill’ as being safe for human use, and Montreal defeated Detroit 4-2 to win the Stanley Cup. And right here at home, Salisbury, New Brunswick, became incorporated as a village.That year also marked the 20th anniversary of the first local government for Salisbury, with preliminary meetings held to lay plans to incorporate as a local improvement district for the purpose of installing street lights and sewers.
When the Village of Salisbury became incorporated in ‘66, T.T.(Truman) Wilson was acting mayor and Nelson Alward and Boyd Price were its councillors, all three having been the improvement district commisioners. At the first village meeting after incorporation, it was decided to hold council meetings the 4th Monday of every month. The budget that year was $2,000. for street lights and $3,425. for sewage. Salaries for mayor and council were also established: $300. for the mayor and $225. for each of the two councillors. The clerk’s remuneration was set at $100. a year. The following spring, Salisbury held its first election; however, there was no vote since the three members of council were unopposed.
This year Salisbury is celebrating its forty years of incorporation by having Salisbury Celebrates 40 Years as its theme for Salisbury Community Days, August 17 - 20. The parade this year on Saturday, August 19th at 12 noon - rain or shine - will reflect that theme. The Community Days committee is encouraging musical entries. So get your guitfiddle and come out and play that 60’s music, or any other music that will entertain the folks that line the streets for the annual Salisbury Community Days parade.
And if you want to put someone in the mock jail for awhile (sponsored by Salisbury St. John Ambulance and Salisbury Fire and Rescue), get into a pie eating contest, Sport Stacking (this is a new craze that you don’t want to miss whether you participate or not), go to a giant yard sale, a casino night, see a ball tournament, a magic show, or a hypnotist, you can do all this during Salisbury Community Days. And there’s lots of stuff for the kids, too.
Did you know that Salisbury Community Days actually began many years ago as a community picnic, then for several years it was not a regular event. But it was revived once again in 1974, and from that it grew into the event it is today. So come out and be a part of it, as a participant or an observer.
There’s good food in Salisbury, including the popular Salisbury Lion’s Club pancake breakfast on Saturday, parade day. And keeping in tradition with its beginnings, there will be a barbeque and picnic, along with gospel music at Highland Park on Sunday, August 20th at noon.
Over the years, Salisbury Community Days did not come into being or grow all by itself. Many people have put in many volunteer hours to make sure that it has continued and become bigger and better each year. It has become a part of our community, our identity, and it’s just one more thing that makes Salisbury a great place to grow and raise a family.
See ya at the parade - or the park - or the pancake breakfast - or in ‘jail’.
Margaret (Maggie) Harriman is an educator and free-lance writer and lives in Salisbury West. To see more articles on Salisbury and area, visit her blog at http//salisburynb.blogspot.com
