Houston celebrates its history with Founders’ Day on Saturday

HOUSTON — Beginning its second half-century this year, Saturday’s Founders’ Day in Houston promises something for the entire family.

The day-long event, capped with a fireworks display at dusk, is always scheduled for the third Saturday in August and has deep roots. According to Houston Mayor Virgie Thompson, the city got its start in the early part of the last century as a stopping point on the Herning Trail—now the Willow Creek Sled Trail.

Houston made a name for itself by freighting supplies to the Willow Creek Mining District. First called Houston Siding, after Congressman Sam Houston of Tennessee, the town was first listed on an Alaska Railroad blueprint map in 1917. The name endured.

The town was officially declared and recognized as an Alaska third-class city on June 6, 1966, with a population of 69 residents. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough reclassified Houston as a second-class city on Aug. 7, 1984. By that time, Houston’s population sat at more than 725. It has continued to grow with a population of around 2,100 at present. At the same time the city was reclassified, borough officials proclaimed Aug. 12-18 as “Founders Week for the City of Houston.”

Since then, Founders’ Day has grown to be the city’s largest summer event. This year marks the city’s 51st birthday and it is kicking things off with a 6:30 p.m. parade beginning at Mile 57 of the Parks Highway. Other events include music by Element 57 from 7-10:30 p.m., free food and a barbeque from 6:30-9 p.m., a silent auction running from 6:30-9 p.m., magic shows, kids’ games, youth turkey shoot, poker tournament, medieval knight combat demonstration, youth egg toss, blueberry pie eating contest, face painting, free balloon creations, dance performances, and a 6:30 p.m. arrival of the LifeMed helicopter.

The fireworks display is scheduled to start at dark or 10:30 p.m. Thompson and Friends will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. For information, contact Alexis Johnson at 907-715-7582. A complete list of events, times and other pertinent information is available at http://www.houstonak.com.