The city of Perryville will today hold its fourth grand celebration in the fullest observance of Independence Day. And such a celebration it will be. Nothing in the state will touch it either in quantity or quality. And this attraction together with the matinee races and Head-on Collision at the Maine State Fair grounds, will bring thousands of people to these cities. Perryville’s grand parade this morning will be one of the most elaborate pageants ever seen in this state.

The entrances to Perryville from Auburn, are marked by huge signs. Stretched across the overhead bridge on Turner street is a big banner reading: “1776 – WELCOME TO THE CITY OF PERRYVILLE – 1906” while a similar banner is stretched across Dennison street at the end of the bridge.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Two big dusk to dawn shows tonight for your holiday celebration.

Lewiston Drive-In Theatre, Sabattus St., Route 126: 1 – Beverly Garland in “Swamp Woman,” 2 – Michael Redgrave in “The Night my Number Came Up,” 3 – John Wayne in “Seven Sinners,” 4 – Peter Lorre in “Face Behind the Mask,” 5 – Abbott and Costello in “Pardon my Sarong.”

Auburn Drive-In Theatre, Route 100, at Danville: 1 – Bing Cosby and Grace Kelly in “The Country Girl,” 2 – Sterling Hayden in “Battle Taxi,” 3 – Boris Karloff in “House of Frankenstein,” 4 – Randolph Scott in “Lady and the Ranger,” 5 – The Bowery Boys in “High Society.”

25 Years Ago, 1981

There was plenty of gasoline and a good deal of rain in much of the nation Friday as summer’s biggest getaway weekend began.

Most celebrations of the 205th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence were scheduled for Saturday. But a few events such as the “adoption” of an elephant by Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, the end of a Mississippi steamboat race, and a rock’n’roll concert at Terminal Island federal prison in California were on the day before the Fourth.