City will hold 4-day sesquicentennial celebration July 1-4
By Per Peterson
Few people, if any, who call Currie home care as deeply about the town’s history as Romane Dold. And the Currie historian, who fondly remembers Currie’s 100th and 125th anniversaries, is looking forward to his third milestone celebration with great anticipation — Currie’s 150th anniversary celebration.
“I certainly won’t see the 175th — I hope they have one,” Dold said with a laugh. “It just means a lot to me. Currie is having the same problems as many rural towns, but to have a committee like we have that really seems to want to put on a good celebration … that just means a lot to me. It’s great that Currie is still active in that way and wants to remember its history.”
Dold has published two books on Currie — an original titled “Now and Then,” and an update called “Now and Then … Again.” He truly appreciates the fact that people like those involved with the committee to which he referred — the Currie Town & Country Boosters — continue to put on annual Fourth of July celebrations, including this year’s which will be bigger and better than ever.
“Many times we look at the younger generation as maybe not caring so much about history, and historically, that’s true,” he said. “When I was their age, I didn’t care that much about history, either. As you get older, the past means more to you.”
Dold, who will turn 82 this fall, will be in charge of one of the more special events during Currie’s big weekend, which goes from July 1-4. He will be giving a History of Currie Guided Tour through Currie’s main street, an event in which he will share his vast knowledge of the city’s history with all who want to learn more about the city’s past.
“I guess I’m sort of humbled,” he said. “Louise Gervais was really instrumental in keeping things going here; she’s gone now, but many of the things that she did are still with us. End-O-Line is a perfect example, because without her, it just wouldn’t have happened. Somebody has to take up that mantle, I guess. I hope there’s someone coming behind me that’s got the fortitude to keep going with history.”
Dold said it’s important that small towns like Currie not only recognize their history, but embrace it as well. He said without that history, celebrations like the one coming up would be almost meaningless.
“If nobody knew anything about what happened in Currie 50 or 100 years ago, let alone 150, who would even care to get together and celebrate?” Dold said. “But a lot of the people who moved away still have that connection to where they grew up. They may not come back every year, but they will this summer.”
The Currie Town & Country Booster Club was formed in June 1974 with 28 members and has since grown to almost 300 people. Its mission is to support and promote Currie, and much of that revolves around the Fourth of July weekend. The weekend celebration back in the early days began with a band and dance.
See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.