In 1926, Ronceverte’s The West Virginia News published posters (one shown) promoting Philadelphia’s Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition (“Sesqui”) to celebrate 150 years of American independence. Due to poor planning, political corruptness, and bad weather (rain and scorching heat) It was, by all measures, a bust. Organizers expected 40-50 million visitors. Instead, Sesqui attracted 6.5 million.
Two noteworthy events, however, took place in Sesqui stadium (later named John F. Kennedy Stadium) that was built for the Expo. Heavy-weight boxing champion Jack Dempsey was overthrown by Gene Turney in a ten-round bout that drew 140,000 spectators. The other event was a Solemn Pontifical Mass that was presided over by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty. Sixty-thousand Catholic men marched to the stadium for the mass that drew 300,000 Catholics.
One-million half-dollar commemorative coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint. For the first time, the likeliness of a sitting president appeared on a coin that featured profiles of George Washington and President Calvin Coolidge. Meant to sell for $1 each, 859,405 were unsold and returned to the mint to be melted. Today, one of those coins, uncirculated, is worth more than $1,000.
Sources: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Smithsonian Magazine, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.
