WILTON – 200th birthdays call for big parties and mean lots of presents, as Wilton is finding out while celebrating its bicentennial this weekend.

It looked like Christmas morning Friday afternoon, as dozens of people crammed into the town office to welcome visiting dignitaries from four other Wiltons across the country and one in England.

Among the presents were a tied bunch of golden ears of corn from Wilton, Iowa, a custom made “LUV ND” license plate from the mayor of Wilton, N.D., and a framed painting of the church ruins that sits as the centerpiece of Wilton, England.

But for local residents, the most valuable gifts were the words of kindness about a small western Maine town and the prospects of renewed sisterhood.

“As thankful as we are for the fruits of the last 200 years,” said Peter Nielsen, Wilton’s town manager, “this is not the end of the line.” The best gift, he said, that has come out of those 200 years is “that the feeling of community remains strong here. After 200 years, Wilton celebrates our connection to the past and our date with the future.”

The sentiment of community seemed to pop up as often as loons do at dusk in Wilson Lake. State senator for the area and self-proclaimed “country boy who grew up next store in Farmington,” Chandler Woodcock said Wilton and its adjacent towns are “truly a unique place. Once you see the big world out there, you learn that Farmington and Wilton are great places to be.”

Over its 200 years, Wilton has proved to live up to its motto of being a good place to live, work and play, Woodcock said.

“It really is a wonderful community,” gushed Alice Ayers, a selectwoman from Wilton, Conn. “Your people are warm and welcoming.” What’s unique, she noted, was that the small town of around 4,000 has managed to maintain its rural character and rustic charm, meanwhile keeping up with growth and technology.

Ayers, like the other guests, was quick to point out the similarities between the sister towns who share the name Wilton.

“We share so many common values,” noted Anthony Brown-Hovelt, a district town counselor from Wilton, England, who cited freedom, love for democracy and a strong sense of community as the most evident similarities. “What we are really celebrating here is a common heritage and similar values.”

Ambassadors from Wilton, Iowa, Thelma and George Nopoulos, as well as former mayor of Wilton Manor, Fla., King Wilkenson, all mentioned community in their addresses.

But it was Wilton (N.D.) Mayor Kyle Toschosks and his family who said they felt Wilton, Maine’s hospitality the most. Toschosk’s daughter, Lisa, who turns 9 years old on Saturday, was surprised when Bicentennial organizer Shannon Smith called her to the podium and lead the 60 or so people in the room in “Happy Birthday” as a lit birthday cake was carried out and wrapped presents were handed to Lisa, and even her brother Ben so he wouldn’t feel left out.

“It’s been a joy being here so far,” said Kyle. “I see you’ve got a lot of trees here.”

The A-list guests and their families will all be featured in Saturday’s three-hour long parade which steps off at 9 a.m. sharp, rain or shine. Jam-packed with special events, Saturday will close with a bang-up fireworks display over Wilson Lake at 9 p.m.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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