Funded by the Worcester Republican City Committee
America's Semiquincentennial
Produced by the Worcester Republican City Committee and many helpers, we are celebrating America's Semiquincentennial with 250 people, things, and events from Worcester and across Massachusetts.
As we work toward 250 entries, if you have any suggestions, please let the WRCC know. Thank you -
Contact the WRCC
Worcester Republican City Committee website.
Movies & Television
Zara Cully
Jeffery Burton
Jeffery Burton
1892 - 1978
Best known for playing Mother Jefferson, her first childhood home was on Shrewsbury Street across from Columbus Park
Jeffery Burton
Jeffery Burton
Jeffery Burton
1924-1988
Born in Worcester, he is best known for playing Dodge in the original Planet of the Apes in 1968, as well as Coffy in 1973
Rita Johnson
Jeffery Burton
Rita Johnson
1913-1965
Born in Worcester she appeared in nearly 40 movies with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood history.
Joe DiReda
Eddie Mekka
Rita Johnson
1928 - 2007
Born in Worcester, he appeared in both movies and television, including but not limited to The Andromeda Strain 1971, Mike Hammer 1958, and television shows MASH, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Batman, Cagney & Lacey and General Hospital
Eddie Mekka
Eddie Mekka
Eddie Mekka
1952 - 2021
Born in Worcester, Mekka is best known for playing Carmine in the hit tv series Laverne & Shirley
Lewis Stone
Eddie Mekka
Eddie Mekka
1879 - 1953
Born in Worcester, Stone appeared in many movies, including Grand Hotel in 1932 - the movie that featured Greta Garbo's iconic line "I want to be alone."
Business/Industry/Inventions
Polar Beverages
Valentine's Day Card
Edward Davis Dow
Since 1882
Edward Davis Dow
Valentine's Day Card
Edward Davis Dow
Born in Worcester, he is the Dow in Dow Jones Industrial Average
Valentine's Day Card
Valentine's Day Card
Valentine's Day Card
Created by Esther Howland
Robert Goddard
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
Valentine's Day Card
Father of rocketry
David Clark Co
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
DC headsets have been an aviation standard for over 50 years
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
Harvey Ball Smiley Face
Created in 1963
Historical & Political
George Alfred Busby
George Alfred Busby
George Alfred Busby
1857 - 1934
From Worcesterthen.com: “The first black man to serve in Worcester’s city government was George Alfred Busby. He served in 1903 and 1904.” In 1902, Busby was nominated by the Republican Party for a seat on the Council from Ward 1
Jennie Cora Clough
George Alfred Busby
George Alfred Busby
1857 - 1928
Husband of George Alfred Busby, she became Worcester's first black school teacher.
George Bancroft
George Alfred Busby
Declaration of Independence
1800 - 1891
Born in Worcester and known as the Father of American History, Bancroft is best known for establishing the US Naval Academy in 1845.
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
The first reading of the Declaration of Independence was in Massachusetts was in Worcester on July 14th, 1776
First National Convention
Declaration of Independence
First National Convention
1850
Many prominent American suffragettes were aligned with the Republican Party, which was the first major party to advocate for women's suffrage and included it in their platforms during the late 19th century. While key leaders like Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton often identified as Republicans, the movement was non-partisan.
https://www.nfrw.org/women-suffrage
As stated by WIKI, "between January 1918 and June 1919, the House and Senate voted on the federal amendment five times. Each vote was extremely close and southern Democrats continued to oppose giving women the vote", and after "democrats abandoned a filibuster, 37 Republican Senators were joined by 19 Democrats to pass the amendment . . . ultimately, 76% of Republican Senators voted in favor while 60% of Democrat Senators voted against."
First Woman Mayor
Declaration of Independence
First National Convention
Sarah Robertson
1934 - 2023
Robertson was Worcester's first women mayor, serving from 1982 - 1984