Our town was initially called Freehold. A few years after its founding, the town was renamed Freeland and was incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876. Thirty years later, the citizens of Freeland

This is an amazing picture. Look at the contrasts between the rough electricity poles and the lampposts, between the elegantly draped buildings and the unpaved streets. There are lights arching over the street, not unlike the Christmas lights that have graced our streets in later times. It's wonderful to have this view, and then to see the next two photos showing the parade and all of the excited townspeople lining the streets to see it.

This photograph was apparently taken from an upstairs window. The view shows onlookers dressed in their best clothes for the occasion, and a number of horsedrawn carriages containing prominent citizens. This may be the most decorated that Freeland has ever been at any time before or since.

The excitement of the parades was captured by the photographer who caught this scene. The newspapers reported very large crowds in the streets day and night for the length of the celebration. There were two types of parades held - one a "civic and industrial parade" to celebrate the borough's industries and social networks, and another "fantastic parade" emphasizing creative costumes and floats. (Postcard supplied by John Zubach.)

Here is another parade view that provides a sense of scale, showing the width of the street, the size of the buildings, the parade participants in action, and the crowd watching the parade. At a time when there were no electronic diversions, an event such as this was exciting for people of all ages, backgrounds and economic classes. The number of people watching one of the parades was estimated in the local newspaper as exceeding 15,000.

Ceremonial arches were constructed at the corners of Centre and Carbon streets and Centre and South streets. This postcard gives a great view up Centre street from just below Carbon street, without the parade participants in the street and the admiring crowds on the sidewalks. You can see the extent to which all of the buildings on Centre street were decorated with bunting, flags, and other types of decorations. Note the trolley tracks running up the middle of the street.

In addition to the music, marching, speeches and other aspects of the celebration, a carnival was brought to town. This view of the ferris wheel that was set up at the Jubilee is not very clear or straight and I apologize for that, but it's all I have and I thought it interesting enough to include here despite its poor quality. The ride was set up on South street and by all accounts was a novelty for Freeland and very popular. There were also a merry-go-round and various vaudeville shows available as street attractions.

Bands providing music for the event included the Citizens Band, Slavonian Band, Greek Catholic Band and St. Ann's Band. Shown here are the Citizens Band and the St. Ann's Band, photographed together. All of the bands involved in the Jubilee put in many hours of playing music for the enjoyment of the citizenry, beginning early in the morning and going until late at night. (Postcard supplied by Christina Sachs Humphreys.)

In addition, there were some more impromptu efforts, such as the "Skiddoo Band" shown here, with drum, cymbals and clarinet.  (Postcard supplied by John Zubach.)

PEARL JUBILEE BOOKLET - In August 2006 I produced a small booklet to commemorate the 1906 Pearl Jubilee that was held on the occasion of Freeland's 30th anniversary. The booklet is a small, home-made production of 16 pages, photocopied at Kinko's with a cardstock cover. Much of the text is excerpted from The Freeland Tribune of August and September of 1906, to which I've added background information about how much Freeland had grown between the time of its founding as Freehold in 1873 and the Pearl Jubiliee in 1906. It's really interesting to read the newspaper coverage of the way that this large-scale celebration was put together and realized on what seems like an extremely short lead time, especially given the state of communications and commercial distribution mechanisms at the time. Also somewhat mind-boggling are the numbers of people that reportedly attended the celebration, which lasted over several days and nights and included many events, open houses, and types of entertainment.

The booklets are being sold for $3.00, with proceeds going to benefit the Freeland Chamber of Commerce and its work in the community. They are available at The Corner Market on the corner of Ridge and Main Streets in Freeland, and I think they may also be available at Videomania on Centre Street. I still have a few copies as well, in case someone is interested in getting a copy but isn't able to get to Freeland.

WILL OBSERVE ANNIVERSARY - Business Men Plan Carnival for Next Month

$1,000 PLEDGED FOR CARNIVAL - Soliciting Committees Meet With Great Success

CHANGED DATES OF CELEBRATION - Anniversary to Be Observed September 17, 18, 19

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES - Pearl Jubilee Workers Are Perfecting the Plans

CELEBRATION PLANS READY - Program of Exercises to Be Announced Tonight

MUSIC QUESTION HALTED PLANS - Increase in Pay for Bands Causes Serious Delay

PROGRAM OF THE PEARL JUBILEE - Synopsis of Events Scheduled for Freeland's Celebration (I'll post more about this sometime soon. - C.T.)

OFFICIAL OPENING OF PEARL JUBILEE - Exercises Held This Morning at the Court of Honor

FANTASTIC PARADE WILL END JUBILEE - Many Clubs Ready to March in Tonight's Procession

AFTERMATH OF THE JUBILEE - Celebration Closes With Everybody Happy

... and, several days later, atop a 1-1/2" paragraph, was this small headline:

Town Is Itself Again