Americus is officially 150 years old and residents came out Saturday to celebrate the birthday of their town.
Free cake, ice cream and entertainment were provided to guests at the party in the Americus School gym. The Rev. Bud Tuxhorn of the Americus United Methodist Church started out the afternoon by performing two songs. This was followed by a performance by the sixth, seventh and eighth-graders at Americus Middle School choir, who sang “Happy Birthday” to Americus and “Home on the Range.”
Several people performed a skit, “How Emporia Stole the County Seat” as told by DeWitt Clinton Grinell and written by his son Clarence A. Grinell. As the story goes, Americus had the first county seat and Emporia came in and stole it. The skit was performed by fifth- and sixth-generation descendants of William Grimsley Sr., an original member of the Americus Town Co.
Saturday’s event was a chance for long-time residents to celebrate the birthday of their town and new residents to get to know other people. Carol Acosta, who moved near Americus from West Virginia several months ago, was in the audience Saturday.
“The countryside brought me here,” Acosta said. “I am very interested in agriculture late in life.”
Acosta said she enjoys Americus.
“I love it,” she said. “It’s near, but far enough away. I can feel alone, but not lonely.”
Belle Grimsley, long-time resident of Americus, also said she loves the town.
“There’s always something exciting and different,” Grimsley said. “There are a lot of sports activities, and Emporia is not far away. The proximity to another town is nice.”
After the birthday party program, several descendants of William Grimsley Sr. sat around and talked, shared stories and looked at photographs. Mildred Grimsley Daharsh, a descendant of William Grimsley Sr., now lives north of Emporia, but showed up Saturday to celebrate the birthday of the town that gave her roots.
“It’s home,” she said. “I both lived here and went to school here. We come back for church. We have roots here I guess you could say.”
Americus will celebrate its sesquicentennial every month. The next celebration will be from noon to 1 p.m. April 7 at the USD 251 meeting room on Main Street in Americus. This celebration will carry a 1950s theme. Tuna casserole will be provided and guests are asked to bring a ’50s side dish and their own table service.