Maumee plans 175th anniversary

Weeklong set of events leads into festival

Firefighters stand outside the fire station on East Dudley Street in an undated photo. Maumee’s actual anniversary was in the spring. It was founded as a settlement in 1817 but became a city in 1838.

Firefighters stand outside the fire station on East Dudley Street in an undated photo. Maumee’s actual anniversary was in the spring. It was founded as a settlement in 1817 but became a city in 1838.

A week of events recognizing Maumee’s 175th anniversary as a city has been slated as a prelude to what is usually the city’s biggest gathering of the summer, the annual Taste of Maumee and Summer Fair on Aug. 16-17.

The 175th anniversary celebration will begin the preceding Sunday, Aug. 11, with an ice cream social and old-fashioned baseball game on the grounds of the Wolcott House on River Road.

Other events are planned throughout the week, including a Battle of Fallen Timbers historical hike, a pool party, and a reception inside the Maumee Indoor Theatre that will include the premiere of a documentary about Maumee. Information on tickets for the latter will be made available soon.

More details on events related to the 175th anniversary will be posted on maumee175.org as they become available.

The planning committee is headed by Greg Smith, Maumee City Schools superintendent.

Mr. Smith said the actual 175th anniversary was in the spring. But he said officials set the celebration as a lead-in to the annual festival to accommodate expected out-of-town visitors. Many grew up in Maumee and continue to have friends and family members there, he said.

The Whitehouse Restaurant on Conant and Sophia streets. An ice cream social kicks off Maumee’s 175th anniversary party on Aug. 11.

“We’re trying to invite people to come back to help celebrate the 175th,” Jack Hiles, Wolcott House executive director, said. “If we didn’t tie it in with the street fair, we would have had to have two celebrations. By tying it together, it was a perfect fit.”

Maumee was founded as a settlement in 1817, one of the earliest in the old Northwest Territory. It became a city in 1838.

Since at least 1938, when it had its centennial, the city has had an anniversary celebration every 25 years, Mr. Smith said.

“We’re just trying to provide a week of fun activities. If people want to come back and celebrate their hometown, this will be a good opportunity. We’re building it all around that week,” he said.

Mayor Rich Carr said in a prepared statement that organizers have been working hard to make the 175th celebration a special one.

“I truly hope that all those who reside in Maumee and our school district will be part of this celebration,” the statement said.

Contact Tom Henry at: thenry@theblade.com or 419-724-6079.