Scott City celebrates century of existence at party

The cultural calendar in Scott City isn't usually so crowded.

An exhibition of memorabilia from the city's past opened last week at the Schock Community Arts Center. Next week it's the Centennial Ball, a dance celebrating the 100th year of the city's founding.

Attendees at the ball are invited to dress in the clothing and dance to the music of their favorite decade and to test their knowledge of Scott City by entering a trivia contest.

The ball will be held Oct. 18 at the Schock Community Arts Center at 116 E. Hickory St. in Scott City. It is sponsored by the Scott City Historic Preservation Commission. Chuck Goodale, a member of the preservation commission and a sports announcerfor Scott City school games, will be the master of ceremonies.

The ball will offer a chicken dinner, live music and door prizes from local merchants. Saxy Jazz, a quartet headed by Pat Schwent of Jackson, will play music from all 10 decades of the city's existence.

Carolyn Pendergrass, president of the Scott City Historic Preservation Commission, said the cost of admission is low -- $6 -- because about 15 individuals and businesses are helping underwrite the event.

Centennial events will begin at 7 a.m. Oct. 18 with an arts and crafts market sponsored by the Scott City Chamber of Commerce. The market also will be held at the arts center. The Parks and Recreation Department's annual Halloween Parade will follow at 10 a.m. near the Assembly of God Church on Dearborn and continue south on Second Street. Costumes and the coloring competition will be judged in front of the arts center.

Next year, the preservation commission hopes to organize a reunion of "boxcar children," those who grew up in the boxcars once used as housing by some families in the city. Among them was Manny Jackson, who now owns the Harlem Globetrotters.

The centennial is being celebrated in both 2003 and 2004 because the towns that eventually became Scott City -- Ancell, Edna and Illmo -- were platted in 1903 and 1904.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182