175th Anniversary - The Melrose Messenger

City's 175th Birthday Party Brought Out Melrosians of All Ages

By Ellen Putnam

On Saturday, Melrose celebrated 175 years as a town (we separated from Malden in 1850) and 125 years as a city. Residents gathered at Memorial Hall for speaking and cake, then took a picture on the steps before parading to the Ell Pond gazebo for picnicking.

At Memorial Hall, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, State Senator Jason Lewis, and State Representative Kate Lipper Garabedian all spoke briefly before participants sang "Happy Birthday" to Melrose and enjoyed cake from Sweet Spot served by volunteers in red aprons. (Mayor Jen Grigoraitis helped out, too.) Elected officials mingled with residents in swan attire - a nod to Ell Pond's beloved swan couple, Mel and Rose - and children played together.

Then, in an event organized by Melrose Creative Alliance member Yael Mazor, families paraded to the Ell Pond gazebo, where the party continued. The parade's grand marshals were some of the original members of the Victorian Melrose Society, which installed the gazebo over 40 years ago. Other Melrosians went to the Beebe Estate for a Victorian garden party, or visited local businesses for some swan- and Melrose-themed fun.

Mazor shared her hope that Make Way for Cygnets will become a Melrose tradition, along with Summer Stroll, the Victorian Fair, and Home for the Holidays. We certainly hope it will!