Small town pride and patriotism at 63rd Annual Town Meeting

Jersey Shore, Pa. — The Annual Jersey Shore Town Meeting, a yearly tradition full of small-town pride, kicked off this past Monday.

On July 4, 1776, men known as the Fair Play Men who lived beyond the 1768 purchase line, met under a 300-year-old elm tree called the “Tiadaghton Elm.” Under this tree, the men drew up a resolution to declare themselves independent from Great Britain, which was done before news traveled from Philadelphia that the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Just 185 years later, the first Town Meeting Celebration was held in Jersey Shore. Back then, the celebration was organized by Jessie Bones and a group of women in the town. The celebration that the first year were in Bone’s and her husband, Dr. John Bones, yard. Their yellow house still stands on the corner of Main st and Locust st.

In 2024 the celebration has evolved greatly, now held at the recreational field across from the Jersey Shore Middle School.

This year’s celebration started Monday evening and the annual parade was held on Wednesday evening.

The annual parade showcased local businesses, such as Dittmar Fuels, as well as fire and police departments, and historical societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution. local dance and twirling groups, including Turbulence Studio and the Jersey Shore Marching Band, performed in the parade.

After the parade, spectators head over to the town meeting grounds to eat dinner from their vendors, like Gunzey sausages or Cactus Taters, and finally, participants got to end their night with a sweet treat, such as a milkshake from Sunset Ice Cream.

The parade also allowed spectators to see the contestants running for Queen Tiadaghton. This year there were two runner-ups; Lillian Gallagher (2nd) and Kaelynn Foley (1st), and the 2024 Queen Tiadaghton: IsaBella Ferland.

Outside of traditions, the Town Meeting has had plenty of time to gain nicknames.

Two local sisters, Rashida (14) and Rashonda (17) Peterson, refer to the Town Meeting as the “carnival” due to the games, rides, and their favorite, the food.

Will and Nicole Green, both in their early forties, refer to the town meeting by several different names.

“There’s the Town Meeting, the Jersey Shore Carnival,” the Greens said. “The newer name we’ve started calling it is the ‘dirt circus’ since our daughters started saying it.”

Nicole’s mom, Sharon Truax, says she calls it ‘the Fourth of July’ celebration.

“I’ll call it the Fourth of July celebration since we are hosting it the week of Independence Day, but there is also the Do’ns,” Truax said.

The Jersey Shore Town Meeting, or the “Do’ns,” continues through Saturday night. The celebration will end with fireworks on July 6 at 9:45 p.m.