In ’48, city prepped for anniversary; law and fire leaders feted

PHOTOGRAPHER: File Photo

Schenectady Police Chief Joseph A. Peters, county Sheriff William Dunn and city Fire Chief James J. Higgins (in center, left to right), show off civic awards received from the Fraternal Order of Eagles during the spring of 1948. In on the awards ceremo...

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Schenectady boosters wanted to make sure people knew all about the weeklong Sesquicentennial United Nations Festival in mid-September 1948.

So they began selling tickets to the party in the middle of July.

Four ticket booths opened during the early summer to meet expected demand. Stephen De George of the Italian-American Federation and Anthony Rinaldi, festival chairman, helped sell tickets at the booth at State Street and Broadway.

Clara Datilile and Josephine Pangle were also prepared for transactions. The young women had vested interests in big sales — both were candidates for Sesquicentennial queen. In order to vote, people had to have a festival ticket.

Others made the news in ’48. County Sheriff William Dunn, city Police Chief Joseph A. Peters and Fire Chief James J. Higgins made a rare public appearance together to accept civic awards from the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

The Rev. Bertram D. Atwood of First Reformed Church helped sound technicians from Schenectady’s WPTR radio record the deep sound of the church’s big bell. Radio personnel wanted a dramatic opening for the station’s new “Voice of the Bell” religious program, which began Saturday, Aug. 7, 1948.

Still others just wanted to work. Street sweepers were on the job, clearing debris from Schenectady’s passages.