SUNDERLAND — With horns honking, children cheering and brass bands blaring, Sunderland was alive with the sounds of happiness.
On Saturday, residents and visitors marked 300 years since the town’s incorporation with a parade, celebration and many stories shared.
Much has changed since 1718, including Leverett’s split from the town in the late 1700s. Shortly after that, Star-Spangled Banners replaced the Union Jacks flying above the town’s Colonial houses.
The Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, World War I and World War II all marked significant changes, but at least one thing stayed consistent: the town of Sunderland in Franklin County.
With pride, Sunderland residents celebrated that continuum with a grand parade. Boy Scouts, firefighters, police officers, farmers and fry cooks took to the streets, marching from Sunderland Elementary School down Old Amherst Road, North Main Street and ending on Silver Lane.
The paraders represented their community, threw candy, played music and drove handsome vintage coupes, dusty tractors and wagons.
People lined the streets by the hundreds to celebrate the momentous anniversary.
Niko Sinodinos, 65, a Greek immigrant who came to Massachusetts several decades ago, was in awe at the warm display of community.
“It was just great,” Sinodinos said.
“I liked that all the towns came out. They had Montague and Deerfield and all of the fire engines. It was wonderful.”
Indeed, the celebration and parade did not represent Sunderland only. The Brattleboro, Vt., American Legion Post 5 marched down the street rattling drums and playing trumpets and trombones. Local fire trucks and the South County Emergency Medical Services followed.
All celebrated Sunderland as they passed historical buildings like the 1789 home of Eleazar Warner, an American Revolution patriot.
Some have seen more of the town’s evolution than others.
Helen Rodak, 99, Jessie Kudukey, 100, and Jennie Demara, 99, have all lived in Sunderland their entire lives.
In the last week, they reflected on the Sunderland of their childhoods, the Sunderland of today, and the things that have gone unchanged in the last third of the town’s existence.
“The people, the people have always been just wonderful, friendly,” said Rodak, who added she never wanted to live anywhere else.
“It really is the people,” agreed Demara.
Kudukey agreed that the people of Sunderland have retained their rural New England charm, but at the same time she recognized the physical changes of the town.
“I remember walking to school,” Kudukey said. “A lot of this wasn’t here.”
The three ladies had all gone to school together, and remember marching to Amherst for their classes — with no cars and no bus.
“It was different,” Rodak said. “We had cows and animals. My mother had a couple of pigs and ducks. It was much different.”
Rodak also remembered the religiousness of the town while she was growing up.
“We always had to go to church,” Rodak said. “Every Sunday we went, and if we didn’t go, we couldn’t go out.”
Rodak remembers dancing at “Redman’s Hall every Saturday night. It was the fun thing to do.”
Some businesses have come and gone, the town has become less rural and cars and trucks now whiz down Route 116.
The three were clear that some things about Sunderland haven’t changed, even 300 years after its creation.
“It’s still a nice quiet town and you’re treated right,” Demara said. “And we still have the best water!”