TodayAnnual Canal Day returns to Perry County
Newport Revitalization and Preservation Society plans return of annual tradition.
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Article RatingNewport Community Day is out and Newport Canal Day is back in.
After much speculation about the title of the annual Perry County event — known as Newport Canal Day before the community day change was made to celebrate the near completion of Newport Center Square last year — Newport Revitalization and Preservation Society decided to go back to the name everyone recognizes.
After all, it has been unique to Newport since the first canal boat came down the Juniata Canal in 1829, approached the village of Reidersville and its crew yelled, “Look, a new port!”
The name stuck as the community was incorporated as a borough in 1840. Newport Canal Day commemorates this historic heritage.
This year’s celebration, set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine on the downtown square, will be filled with arts, crafts, antiques, lots of food, live music, clowns and community services throughout the day.
The local performing group, Special Friends, will return for two shows, one at 10:15 a.m. and the other at noon.
Second Street will be closed to traffic, and booths for approximately 50 vendors will be set up on both sides of Market Street. Penn Avenue will be closed for an antiques row.
The Louise Beard Memorial & Museum, 129 N. Second St., will be open from noon to 2 p.m. It houses a collection of Newport memorabilia, including advertising from early merchants, clothing worn to gala social events, furniture and antiques used by community forbearers.
The collection also includes glass, china, toys and many photographs of Newport.
“It’s a chance for the community to get together, have a good time and patronize local merchants and vendors,” said NRPS member Ann Smullen.
Special program planned
Canal Day will feature a special program to recognize the efforts of the late Susan Margetts Connell, who worked tirelessly to improve the aesthetics, form and function of Market Street and did a lot to bring the latest river walk project to fruition.
A plaque will be dedicated in her honor at 11:30 a.m.
The Newport High School marching band, football team and cheerleaders will then parade down Second Street to the square for a pep rally, beginning at 1:15 p.m.
The Riverwalk
Since about 1900, Newport has been cut off from the Juniata River. The canal system land was taken over by Norfolk Southern and the tracks were moved to the filled-in Pennsylvania Canal.
Now, thanks to a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a match grant from Orrstown Bank, other contributions from the community and money from fund-raising projects, NRPS is moving forward with plans for a river walk to provide a safe access to residents and reconnect Newport to its river heritage.
“We continue to raise funds as the initial project is a starting point/base for extending the project further up along the river’s edge,” said NRPS member Frank Campbell, who added an agreement has been worked out with the railroad since the project is on its right-of-way.
H.E. Black and Associates is working on final plans for the project.
Campbell said the project will provide a place for families, groups and classes to gather for fellowship, instruction and recreation. There will be areas for mooring boats and fishing and a small amphitheater and plaza for picnicking and small outdoor entertainment or educational events.
Plans will also accommodate access for the fire company to obtain water and launch river rescue equipment, said Campbell.
“Canal Day is a fitting title for a community day event in Newport,” he added.
Smullen said construction may begin on the project in the spring.
