Standard prepares to celebrate 100th anniversary

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Village of Standard is preparing to celebrate the centennial anniversary of its incorporation as a municipality. 

Standard’s Deputy Mayor, Carol Allard said though planning for the event is behind schedule, residents are already beginning to get excited.

“Basically, our next meeting is going to be an organizational meeting to set up committees to take care of all the different activities that day,” he said, prior to the discussion held on Feb. 15.

The meeting was open to the public, and according to Allard, invited residents to come out and help plan for what the event will look like.

“This meeting is to organize what we’re going to do and who’s going to take charge of what they’re going to be doing that weekend,” explained Allard.

“The celebration is Aug. 13, the (village) was incorporated back in February, 1922 … We should have started (planning) about a year and a half ago, but because of COVID-19, we’ve been delayed.”

Allard cited that the delays in planning are due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, which had until only recently forced meeting delays and cancelations.

He added initial ideas had regarded examining what Standard looked like 100 years ago, referencing any records that persist. 

“Basically, we have to make plans now to be able to book venues in town here, book all kinds of arrangements that have to be done, booking bands and booking artists out here. We’re kind of late,” said Allard.

“That’s what’s going to be discussed is, what did we look like 100 years ago. There are books here the people can go through … to do this operation, we need to educate people.”

He is expecting a sizable turnout for the event, as residents have already begun reaching out for more information. His current estimates peg around 1,000 people coming out to the event, but Allard added it is likely that figure is likely to only grow.

“We’ve already seen big numbers of people calling in for it … we were predicting 1,000 but there will probably be more.”

Standard’s centennial celebration is scheduled to take place this summer in the village, on Aug. 13.