Two Weeks and Counting...Collingdale's 125th Anniversary Celebration

Hi, I just thought I'd put up the Facebook link for the anniversary celebration...Collingdale Borough's 125th Anniversary. This year's theme in honor of the 125th anniversary celebration is "Collingdale Through the Years." It's a bit cheesy but I think it will stick. Hegeman String Band will be playing in the parade and at the Collingdale Community Center in the evening before the fireworks.

Delaware County's longest running mayor will be leading the parade in a horse and carriage. This definitely fits with the theme. Collingdale Borough will have two floats, one with the big birthday cake and one with the King and Queen of Collingdale. It does promise to be a bigger parade than other years with the string band, floats and antique cars.

I have to admit that I am looking forward to this. I'm praying for good weather and a great turnout for the borough. Just a reminder: Please come visit us down at Collingdale Park at the historical display and share your memories of Collingdale with the historical society. Food, games and other activities will be available down at the park. Activities start with a flag raising at 10 am and end with a community softball game at 2 pm.

Fireworks will be at the Collingdale Community Center at 9 pm....Rain Date is July 9th.

Update on Collingdale's 125th Anniversary Celebration

I noticed that I haven't posted anything for a little while. I definitely want to keep everyone following this blog updated on events for the 125th anniversary. We have less than three weeks before the big 4th of July celebration. Tension is high to get everything right, but the response has been good.

The hope still is that we have all the organizations participating in the parade. I know the excuses. "I have plans to go down the shore. My family is coming or I have to be with them." I'm here to tell you that it is important, if you want to support Collingdale, to make plans to be there. Otherwise your organization will be forgotten...:-(. I have tried to get support and have received some support...yet I can't help but think that there are others that are just waiting in the wings. If I haven't asked you to participate in the parade and make sure your organization is represented, I'm asking now.

Registration is next Wednesday, June 22nd at the Collingdale Community Center. For more information, visit the Collingdale 125th Anniversary, Collingdale Historical Society or the Collingdale Connection Facebook group pages.

So, I'm hoping for a great turnout for the 4th of July...No excuses....

Four More Weeks Until the Grand 4th of July Celebration for Collingdale's 125th Anniversary

Boy....Time is sure going fast! There is still so much to do! Yet I can count on everyone to participate. It is very uplifting to see the many banners around town. I love looking at them and feel kind of proud of the participation.

I'm still crossing fingers over the parade as things start to heat up. I love that so many have already volunteered to help. There is still time.....registrations will be taken up to June 22nd for the parade. I'm attempting with a little help (of course) to incorporate all the organizations, businesses and churches...much like I had with the book. Yes, it is still available...and Yes, I still have a few left.

I pray that we do have good weather this year...unlike the years before when it rained...:-(. There is a rain date of July 9th...but it won't be the same.

Six Weeks To the Grand Celebration

It's hard to believe that there is only six weeks left until the July 4th celebration. It seem like only yesterday they had the initial meeting. The celebration will be grand....that's the hope. The flags, t-shirts and hats are selling fast and furious.

Our concern about raising enough funds to meet expenses has eased a little. The parade will definitely be longer than it has been in past years. My biggest issue is getting people to dress up and ride in the parade.

I just don't think we have the funds to do it....at least the society doesn't. I'm grateful that most of the planning is being done by borough council. We do have some lively discussions at the meetings about the 4th....I am hoping to get some of that excitement going for Collingdale History Day on October 15th.

Admittedly I am nervous about how everything will go that day. I'll need a lot of help to pull it off. I just not sure I can do it myself....and I really don't want to. I'd love to have at least a dozen volunteers who love Collingdale come out to support us for both the 4th of July and for Collingdale History Day in October. Please spread the word.

Collingdale's 125th Anniversary does have a Facebook page....:-)....We also have a Facebook group page....Collingdale Historical Society. May 23rd is our 1st planning meeting for Collingdale History Day....7 pm....tentative Pho 4 Seasons.

An Update on the 125th Anniversary Celebration

Collingdale's 125th Anniversary celebration is going full speed ahead. The committee has been very busy planning fundraisers for the celebration...that will kick off on July 4th. Fireworks, games, music and a parade are planned for this celebration.

Collingdale History Day/OcTrolleyFest 2016 will be on Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 2 pm at St. Joseph's Church parking lot. Baking and Costume contests are in the works for this day. The B & O Historical Society will be there to showcase the railroad's contribution to Collingdale's existence. We're also planning to have some other transportation themed groups.

Collingdale Gala....a night to celebrate Collingdale will be held on November 19th. Keep looking at this blog and the Facebook page for more details.

Collingdale t-shirts, hats and other memorabilia are now available for purchase.

Celebrating Collingdale's 125th Anniversary

This year Collingdale borough is planning a huge celebration on July 4th. Funds and volunteers will be needed to help. The initial "kick-off" meeting was good. There was the reminder that we don't have much time. There was the reminder that we needed all the organizations in Collingdale to back it up.

Plans are in the works to allow all those who love Collingdale to contribute to the celebration. The Collingdale Historical Society is committed to keeping the history alive for future generations. At the present time, Facebook is the primary resource for getting information out. On the Collingdale History Project page....little tidbits of local information can be found. On the Collingdale Historical Society group page, discussions of local and national topics that affect Collingdale can be found.


I will start posting updates on this year's events on this blog. Thank you for all of those who continue to view this blog.

Profile-Francis "Fran" McCoy-Editor of ColHums Newsletter

Role played in borough: Fran was a true Collingdale High School Alumni and worked tirelessly on the ColHums newsletter for over twenty years. He was one of the founding fathers of the Collingdale High School Alumni Association started in 1982. As with most of the school districts in the area, Collingdale High School was slated to close and merge with Darby Township and Sharon Hill High School in the fall of 1981. There was, however. a brief year long transition when the schools kept their names but students were sent to various schools depending on what scholastic area they planned to study. Technically the students still graduated from those schools, received diplomas, had yearbooks made and attended proms. However the reality was that they were really going to "Academy Park East" as one of the schools was called at the time. It wasn't until 1984 the new Academy Park students graduated together at one location. Fran and the other founding fathers mourned the loss of Collingdale High School and its rich history.

Accomplishments: Fran was instrumental in starting the Collingdale High School Alumni Association and did hours of research on war veterans like himself to place on a proposed All Wars Memorial which was dedicated November 8, 1997. His insights into the lives of athletes and other notable former classmates of Collingdale High School made entertaining and informative reading. He worked tirelessly to promote events such as the "Colls On The Cove" event and the Grand Reunions. He kept on top of memorials and dug up histories of both teachers and students of Collingdale High School to ensure that their history wasn't forgotten.
The Future of the Collingdale High School Alumni Association: The association is still a very active group which meets every third Tuesday at the Collingdale Community Center. The CHSAA honors Fran and the other founding fathers by continuing the work they started and moving forward with new programs and services. Catherine Basil Ramos and Pamela Basil Wright continue the work Fran did as editor of the ColHums ensuring that the Collingdale spirit remains alive and well.