Saxonburg has a history of holding parades and throwing celebrations to celebrate its heritage, including a centennial celebration in 1932. Above, in this photograph from 1887, musical ensembles and horse-drawn carriages parade down Main Street in the borough. The sign at the center says “God Bless Saxonburg.”

Throwing celebrations to mark landmark anniversaries is not a new phenomenon in the history of Saxonburg.

The borough, almost three years into the Great Depression, still pulled out all the stops to celebrate its centennial, or 100th anniversary, in 1932.

A weeklong celebration was held in the first week of August which, similarly to the events planned for this year, celebrated the town's German heritage, the accomplishments of its founder John Roebling and the achievements of its residents.

During the celebration, Main Street in the borough was lined with exhibits for the people to peruse, according to newspaper articles from 1932.

A flower exhibit showcased the best blossoms and vegetables from local gardens.

A history exhibit included an old newspaper dated Dec. 28, 1799, that included a death notice for President George Washington.

The history exhibit also had spinning wheels, candy molds and photographs from when Saxonburg was first settled.

Displayed in the window of Mrs. William Heginbotham's house was a piece of wire cable that was among the first to be made by Roebling. Also displayed were a German beer mug dated to 1740 and another newspaper, dated April 29, 1865, which reported the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The chairman of the celebration was Dr. John D. Muder, who was both the borough's postmaster and its mortician.

Though many of John Roebling's descendants would leave the area to settle elsewhere, at least one of his relatives was on hand for the centennial.

A photograph on the front page of the Aug. 1, 1932, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph showed Robert Clowry Roebling, great-great-grandson of John Roebling, being honored.

Also honored during the centennial was Amelia A. Knoch, who was 95 years old in 1932. Knoch was the first person born to the German settlers who founded Saxonburg, according to the Sun-Telegraph.

The centennial attracted many visitors to the town, reported Marian Foster Smith, a contributor to the Butler Eagle who wrote several articles about the celebration.

“They come for an hour or so and find so much of interest, that they stay over until the next day. Oh, it's a wonderful centennial!” Smith exclaimed in an article published Aug. 4, 1932.

Smith, a prominent member of the town, lived in a house on Main Street which still stands today and is home to the borough's current mayor, said Fred Caesar president of the Friends of Saxonburg Museum said.

A portrait of Smith as a child was donated to the museum and is hanging on the wall there.

Back in 1932, Saxonburg only had about 400 residents, compared with 1,500 today, which made it all the more impressive when hordes of people descended on the borough for one of its largest events — a parade down Main Street on Wednesday night.

The parade had an estimated attendance of 15,000, according to another article by Smith in the Butler Eagle, which called it the largest attendance in the history of the borough and the largest parade since one in Butler in 1917.

Boy Scout troops from Winfield and Butler were credited for helping direct traffic during the parade.

Much like modern parades, it featured bands, decorated trucks and emergency vehicles. The parade of 1,200 marchers was led by town councilman Joseph Earley and officers and officials from the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department and the police department.

Marching in the parade were 28 organizations and more than 30 different bands.

After the parade Mayor Joseph Heineman announced the winners of several awards. The Tarentum fire company won “best appearing” and the Natrona fire company had 108 men in line, which was the most.

Thursday night, there was a baseball game between Jimmie Vanderlien's “Old Leaguers of Butler” and the Saxonburg firemen's team.

There were several concerts and a children's pageant Thursday.

The centennial didn't pass by without a little criminal activity too.

According to the Aug. 8, 1932, Butler Eagle, constables arrested bootlegger Earl “Whiskers” Livingston of Lernerville for possessing, transporting and selling alcoholic beverages during the celebration, which was held during Prohibition.

Several newspaper photographs from the centennial showed people holding, but not drinking from, German beer steins.