Sanford City Council recently recognized the Sanford Sesquicentennial Committee for its year of events and activities in celebration of Sanford’s 150th year, which ran from February 11, 2024, through April 1, 2025.
The committee was chaired by Bob Joyce with members Wendy Bryan with the Sanford Tourism Development Authority/Visit Sanford, Kelli Laudate with Downtown Sanford, Inc., and Kelly Miller with the City of Sanford. Hunter Randolph with the Lee County Library played a key role in providing and confirming historic dates and photos.
Sanford was incorporated on February 11, 1874, with the incorporation taking effect on April 1 of that year. “As Sanford continues to grow and thrive, we must celebrate the long line of important decisions that have brought us to where we are – starting with our incorporation,” Bryan noted.
With the goal bringing the community together to recognize, appreciate, and add to Sanford’s story, the Committee organized a 150th Birthday Bash in April 2024 to highlight Sanford’s agricultural and historical roots. A “Tomorrowland” was added to StreetFest in October 2024 to share the transformative projects on the horizon. Each week, the Committee shared historic vignettes and photos on social media and hid a special commemorative coin.
“We wanted all residents, businesses, organizations, and visitors to have the chance to participate in Sanford’s 150th birthday celebration while also showcasing our creative and innovative spirit,” Miller explained. “The community’s support and enthusiasm for our sesquicentennial events showed how much our city means to everyone.”
To end the sesquicentennial year, the Committee held a “Sesqui Coin Quest” this past March. The event was a one-day hunt for 24 vouchers that could be redeemed for a commemorative coin. “We chose 24 to coincide with the year 2024,” Laudate noted. “We want people to remember the significance of this year and what it means for our city.”
“Our sesquicentennial year was a true reflection of our common experiences and goals,” said Mayor Rebecca Salmon. “Our 150th activities helped to remind us that the thriving community we love was created through hard work, common purpose, and a reliance on each other – during times of hardship as well as during times of triumph.”
“I am so grateful to the Committee and to our community for showing such a deep love for our city and for using every opportunity to honor Sanford’s 150 years of determination, resilience, and achievement,” she added.
Mayor Salmon ended the sesquicentennial recognition with a special proclamation outlining the year’s activities. Read the proclamation here.