From 1909: Middletown voters to decide question of celebration funds

From The Hartford Courant, Saturday, May 1st, 1909

Middletown Voters to Meet Tonight
A special city meeting will be held tonight in the town hall at 8 o’clock, to consider the question of making an appropriation for the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the city June 9 and 10. The finance committee announced several weeks ago that they had secured $1,500 but since that time practically no work in raising funds has been done. There has been considerably discussion of the matter for the past few weeks many people favoring the celebration while others strenuously oppose. It is thought that there will be a large attendance at tonight’s meeting. There has been some criticism, however, because the meeting was called on Saturday night. Many merchants will be unable to attend owing to their business. Even if the voters tonight do refuse to make an appropriation for the celebration, the matter will not be dropped it is thought but some sort of a celebration will be held. The size of the celebration will depend, however, directly on tonight’s meeting.

Note: The 125th anniversary in 1909 would have commemorated the incorporation of Middletown as a city in 1784. Middletown was incorporated as a town in 1651. The consolidation of city and town (what we have now) occurred in 1923.