Wiscasset celebrates Independence Day

Sat, 07/04/2015 - 2:30pm

A cannon that shot out candy to parade-goers and cannons that went boom at the Wiscasset Yacht Club helped Wiscasset celebrate the Fourth of July on Saturday.

The candy cannon float garnered the Swanton Cove Association of Westport Island a lot of fans and a second-place ribbon in the parade’s auto category.

Alna firefighters took the department's new pumper-tanker fire truck down the streets of Wiscasset.

For the Frith family of Pittson, the parade’s high points varied by generation. All family members interviewed said they liked the horses; Nevaeh Frith, 9, who noted that her name is heaven spelled backward, brought up the cheerleaders; grandmother Cindy Frith said she liked seeing the veterans in the parade.

Susan Blagden, a longtime Wiscasset town meeting moderator and longtime chairman of the town’s appeals board, was grand marshal. “It’s a great honor,” she said.

Winning entrants were Deanna Gordon, first place, and the second group of horses, second place, for the animal category; Antique Engines, Swanton Cove Association, and Wiscasset Speedway, first, second and third, respectively in the auto category; Big Al’s, Wiscasset Chamber of Commerce and Boothbay Railway Village, first, second and third among business entries; Alna Snowmobile Club, First Congregational Church and Wiscasset Yacht Club, first, second and third under nonprofits; and Wiscasset Youth Cheerleaders, Tao Karate, and Wiscasset All-Sports Boosters, taking first, second and third among school and youth entries.

On the waterfront later, onlookers put their fingers in their ears as Yacht Club member Sid Gammon of Edgecomb lit off his replica 1857 Napoleon Naval cannon and replica mortar field artillery cannon. Applause followed the booms and smoke.

Inside the clubhouse, the club was serving up strawberry shortcake from Bellefleur Bakery of Newcastle. “It’s fantastic,” Wiscasset’s Jan Bailey said of the treat she was enjoying on the clubhouse deck with the Sheepscot River as a backdrop under a filtered midday sun.

Also Saturday, Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline emceed activities honoring the nation’s birthday and veterans in attendance. American Legion Post 54 Commander William Cossette Jr. presented post member John Kennedy of Woolwich with a service appreciation award from the town, honoring Kennedy’s 20 years of military service.

Vehicles packed the parking lot of the newly renamed Wiscasset Elementary School on Saturday night as a fireworks show capped off festivities.