Williamsport Sun-Gazette, March 3, 2006
By R.A. WALKER

The city’s 200th birthday was observed with a noon ceremony Wednesday that ended with those present toasting the event by downing sparkling grape juice from plastic champagne glasses.

‘‘You only have one shot at this, and you want to do it right,’’ Mayor Mary B. Wolf said of the city’s bicentennial celebration.

Noted Williamsport historians Richard and Miriam Mix attend the city's official birthday party as Mr. and Mrs. William Hepburn.

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Vincent Matteo, president of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, called the day a milestone but said neither he nor the mayor would be able to make the tricentennial celebration. The highlight of the ceremony was local historian Richard L. Mix as Judge William Hepburn reading ‘‘the act of incorporation’’ that designated the then town of Williamsport as a borough on March 1, 1806. Hepburn was a state senator and judge of the county who bought four of the first lots offered for sale by Michael Ross, owner of the land that became Williamsport.

‘‘Michael Ross, the founder of the city, is ill and asked me to stand in for him,’’ said Mix-Hepburn.

The members of the bicentennial committee were on hand for the event, which marked the official start of the celebration. The committee has been at work in recent months planning events for the year-long celebration. Among the first will be two events celebrating the city’s lumber era.

A “Grand Soiree” and “Boom Rat Ball” will be held April 8 at the Scottish Rite Building, 348 Market Street. The soiree will copy the lavish style of galas given by the city’s fabled lumber barons, while the ball will celebrate the common lumbermen whose hard work made the lumber barons’ millions.