Logo unveiled for Monongahela’s 250th anniversary celebration

By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
Preparations for the City of Monongahela’s 250th anniversary are in full swing.
Members of the Monongahela 250 nonprofit organization hosted an informational meeting and anniversary logo unveiling Wednesday at the Monongahela Chamber of Commerce’s new headquarters.
President Laura Magone, vice president Susan Bowers, secretary Martha Muniz and treasurer Carol Frye, all of whom are also members of the Monongahela Area Historical Society, picked up where a previous planning committee left off.
“We’ve been on a little journey to get a plan in place for this celebration and it feels like deja vu,” Magone said. “Another team tried really hard but didn’t quite make it to the finish line, so we’re kind of at the starting gate and hoping we make it there.”
Magone detailed preliminary plans for the city’s four-day, sestercentennial celebration, which will take place from Aug. 8-11 throughout downtown.
“Kennywood day is always the first Wednesday in August and we know some people still come home for that weekend, so we wanted to follow that up with Thursday through Sunday,” Magone said.
While the historical society was originally going to spearhead the celebration, Magone said members did not want to risk being shouldered with a potential funding deficit.
As a temporary solution, the women, with assistance from attorney Frank Magone, received nonprofit status for the new Monongahela 250 organization, with plans to dissolve it completely by December.
“We will do all the facilitating, coordinating and publicizing,” Magone said. “We’ll have insurance to protect the corporation. Our main job is just to bring together other nonprofits in town who would like to host an event.”
In addition to Frank Magone’s services, the group will also receive free financial help from Mon Valley Accounting.
A checking account containing approximately $7,000 was previously set up by the historical society. It is being audited and closed to open a new account for the nonprofit, Magone added.
“I know a lot of you are wearing merchandise you bought and you’re wondering where the money is,” Magone said. “The money is safe and in an account.”
Frye said additional fundraisers are in the works and merchandise is still available for purchase by contacting the historical society. City council previously budgeted $3,000 for use toward the event.
“We have to work together and the city is partnering with us,” Magone said. “We’re not trying to burden individual organizations. Those of you who were here for the bicentennial remember it was such an exciting time, so we don’t want this occasion to just pass.”
Many local organizations have already signed on to help, including the historical society, Monongahela Cemetery, Monongahela Area Revitalization Corporation, the Main Street Program, Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce, Monongahela Valley Hospital of Carroll Township, Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, Monongahela Ministerial Association and more.
Potential plans for the celebration include multiple concerts at Chess Park and the Aquatorium; artist showcases including street musicians, sand sculptures and more; a street fair; food trucks; city tours; church dinners and tours; a 5K run/walk; time capsule unveiling; parade; Gathering of the Centuries ceremony; living presentations of Native American culture; reenactments; period costumes and more.
Magone said the organization is also looking for a couple who will volunteer to get married in a “pop-up wedding,” so that they may mark the occasion with an oversized cookie table.
“We’d like every business and everyone in between to have something going on,” Magone said. “We want to have things that appeal to every generation. We’re doing everything we can to bring people into our business district.”
The highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the 250th anniversary logo, which features a whiskey barrel and other nods to the city’s storied history. Gabriella Manges, 2, and Mia Cardis, 11, helped unveil the logo, which was met with high praise.
“We worked long and hard with a graphic designer and really wanted to include part of the oldest history of this town, which was the Whiskey Rebellion,” Magone said. “We really hope you like it; it’s been months in the making.”
The celebration will conclude with the reburying of the time capsule, complete with new contents.
For more information, call the Monongahela Area Historical Society at 724-292-8247.