USA > Indiana > The Indiana centennial, 1916; a record of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Indiana's admission to statehood > Part 17
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MONTGOMERY
A big man with a big vision led the Centennial hosts of Montgomery County to an observance which, in its high pur- pose, its wide extent and its grasp upon the whole citizen- ship, was not excelled by any county in the State and equalled by very few. L. N. Hines, superintendent of the Crawfords- ville schools, was the man of the hour. His strength lay, first, in his thorough appreciation of the significance and pos- sibilities of the year; second, in his ability to lay plans for the realization of the latter; and third, in his great capacity for organization.
Mr. Hines did not have the eleventh-hour idea of prepara- tion-of letting things rest blissfully quiet for fear of "drag- ging it out too long," and then rushing a celebration through in a few weeks. He had a complete county organization ef-
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fected and ready for work early in the spring, but began working toward it in November when he succeeded in getting together nearly one hundred people from over the county to consider plans for a real county observance. Mr. Hines was one of the leaders in the December conference of county chair- men at Indianapolis, and the following week secured State Pageant Master W. C. Langdon to deliver an address on pag- eantry before his county-wide committee.
There are several features in connection with the Cen- tennial movement in Montgomery that stand out prominently. One was the degree to which the whole county became deeply interested and co-operative. The movement reached to the four corners of Montgomery and seemed to be as dominant there as at its center. Resulting from this was the very successful county pageant, the first of the kind to be put on in the State. Another feature was the splendid cooperation of the schools and their unusually ambitious and appropriate programs of observance. Another, the hearty co-operation of college and county in a common patriotic purpose. And be- hind all was the splendid support given the local organization and the State Commission by the Montgomery County news- papers, such as the Review and Journal of Crawfordsville, the Waynetown Dispatch, the Ladoga Leader, and New Richmond Record. Taking the county as a whole, no better work was done by the press anywhere.
Through the observance day in the schools on March 3, the whole county was stirred with Centennial enthusiasm. So much so that Montgomery may be said to have had two peri- ods of celebration-that in March and the one in June.
To begin with, the observance made by the Crawfordsville schools was most thoroughgoing, artistic and impressive, in- cluding the kindergarten grades and the high school. As an indication of the general interest displayed, on the afternoon of the preceding day, the schoolboys put on a parade through the downtown streets, dressed as Indians, scouts and soldiers, and accompanied by a drum corps.
In some of the city schools, the rooms gave individual programs, consisting, some of patriotic playlets, some of reci- tations and exercises, others of the reading of pioneer stories, the playing of old-fashioned games, the dancing of the Minuet
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by the kindergarteners and the Virginia Reel by the older children, and in one school, a talk on early Crawfordsville history was given and the account of its own history read. Walls were adorned with portraits of Indiana's eminent edu- cators, authors and statesmen, while pioneer relics were dis- played in the halls. High school girls gave what proved to be a most popular representation of "Commencement Days in Miss Starr's Female Seminary," Crawfordsville's early educational institution. So much interest was thus aroused in this pioneer school that one of the city schools has been given the name "Canby," by which the old Seminary was known. As an aftermath of the Crawfordsville school cele- bration, a combination of the best features was arranged in the way of a public entertainment which was given two pre- sentations a few days later in Music Hall, attracting large audiences.
The Centennial enthusiasm thus indicated was reflected throughout the schools of the county. As examples, New Richmond gave a program covering state, county and town- ship history and including a reminiscent talk by the town- ship's oldest man, James C. Vaughan, all supplemented by a relic exhibit. In the forenoon at Ladoga, the grades repro- duced scenes of early Indiana life. In the afternoon the high school students gave an excellent program, including papers on the founding and naming of Ladoga, with later chapters in its history and the reading of some typical Commencement essays, given at the Ladoga Normal about 1860. Some of the titles were: "Paddle Your Own Canoe," "Glory of the Past" and "The March of the Mind." Waynetown gave six scenes of old-time amusements and a historical pantomime of Indi- ana and Montgomery County. Longview gave a little Indi- ana play and enjoyed intimate historical talks by citizens. Patrons and pupils at Waveland enjoyed a Community din- ner, followed by an appropriate program. Programs similar to those here noted were presented at New Ross, New Market, Mace and other points.
On April 14, 15 and 16, Brown township conducted a cele- bration at Waveland, the big event of which was an indoor pageant or historical drama, given on the first two days. The following is a brief synopsis :
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EPISODE I 1816-1827
Scene 1. An Indian Camp-Tableau-The Coming of the first White Man.
Scene 2. The old Wayside Tavern-Fairview-Mr. Moore, proprietor, and some of his neighbors.
Scene 3. Same-Arrival of William Henry Harrison en route to Lafay- ette-Young pioneers, trappers, aristocrats, etc., having a good time.
Scene 4. A Quilting Bee-Pioneer Women spend a social afternoon and combine work and pleasure.
Scene 5. A Corn Shucking-While their wives quilt the men help with the husking at the barn. When both tasks are finished the women join the men in an old-time party.
EPISODE II 1827-1855
Scene 1. Organization of the first Church-A Methodist class was or- ganized at the home of Mrs. Jane McCormick in 1827.
Scene 2. An Old Time School, 1835.
Scene 3. A Home Scene.
Scene 4. Organizing a Temperance Society, 1840.
EPISODE III 1855-1875
Scene 1. The Underground Railroad-A home scene in which a slave is helped to freedom.
Scene 2. An Enlisting Scene-Citizens at John Milligan's store-An Enlisting Officer arrives and many enlist.
Scene 3. Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.
Scene 4. Singing School.
Scene 5. Finale.
On April 15 the old settlers and home-coming idea was emphasized and on Sunday, Centennial services were held in the churches of the township.
In addition to what was done on March 3, Waynetown fur- ther observed the Centennial in connection with the closing days of its school. April 25 was announced as a special day of celebration, known as "Old Folks Day," with an address by the venerable ex-Congressman Mike White, of Crawfords- ville. On the closing day, April 28, another Centennial pro- gram was put on by the Waynetown school.
With some interesting preliminary features on Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, including one of the very first show- ings of the historical moving picture, "Indiana," the first big day of the Montgomery County Centennial Celebration was Sunday, June 11. In the morning, fitting services were held in the churches of city and county, while in the afternoon, a union meeting was held on the' Wabash College Campus, ad-
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dressed by Rev. Morton C. Pearson, secretary of the Indian- apolis Church Federation, upon the subject, "The Religious Life of the Commonwealth."
On Monday forenoon, addresses were given on the college campus by Miss Charity Dye, of Indianapolis, on "The Great Undertow," and by Lew M. O'Bannon, of Corydon, on "The Meaning of the Indiana Centennial," both being members of the State Commission. In the afternoon occurred an indus- trial and civic parade and in the evening an old-time melodies concert by the massed brass bands of the county.
The dedication of a memorial tablet, marking the site of the first Wabash College building, took place Tuesday morn- ing, followed by a reunion of all persons who taught school in Montgomery county more than thirty years ago. The after- noon was declared a holiday for the first performance of the county pageant, in Crawford's Woods.
Flag Day exercises were held on the morning of June 14, with an address by Hon. James E. Watson, and the dedica- tion of Milligan Park, in charge of Mayor W. C. Murphy and city officials, in the early afternoon. The second performance of the pageant was to have followed, but rain compelled a postponement until the following day. An exhibit of relics was made throughout the celebration, in charge of the wom- en's organizations, led by the D. A. R. In passing it should be remarked that in the course of the year, practically all the clubs of the county had Centennial programs and cele- brations.
Much could be said for the pageant, a big community en- terprise in which the whole county participated. Several had to do with its writing and arrangement, prominent among them, Prof. G. M. Miller of Wabash College. Prof. D. D. Haines, also of the College, had the difficult task of organiz- ing and directing it. Although at great expense in pro- ducing it, had the weather been propitious on Wednesday, allowing an extra performance on Thursday, the committee would doubtless have paid out. As it was, a deficit of some- thing more than eight hundred dollars resulted. This fact kept Montgomery from making the showing it otherwise would have made on County Day of the state celebration. Miss Katheryn Picket represented the county in the Caval- cade, however.
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The theme and organization of the pageant is well ex- plained in its Introduction :
Four things have combined to characterize and to individualize the life of Montgomery County-first, its remarkable progress in agricul- ture; second, its excellent provision for the education of its own chil- dren and its dominating influence on the educational agencies of the whole State; third, its unsurpassed contribution to the success of our arms in the Indian, the Mexican and the Civil Wars; and fourth, its equally remarkable contributions to the national literature which grew up in the West after the War. These four themes-Agriculture, Educa- tion, Patriotism, and Literature-dominate the whole pageant. In every scene of every episode some one or other of these four great themes holds sway.
The five great Episodes in the pageant stand for the five great stages in the development of the community. Episode I presents the Indians in their primeval forest home and foretells at the end their in- evitable dispossession by the white men. Episode II brings the pioneers, who set about their heroic tasks of clearing the forests and establishing the conditions for civilization. Episode III shows characteristic public activities of the community in its development from the era of settle- ment to the Civil War. Episode IV is devoted wholly to the great crisis of the Rebellion. Episode V pictures the development of the community since the War, showing not only our great achievements in a material way, but also our unique accomplishments in the fine art of literature.
Introducing and concluding the different episodes is a series of pantomimes and symbolic dances, which serve to interpret the spirit of some stage in the development of the community or the force of one of the four great themes on which the pageant is founded. Introducing the whole pageant is the symbolic Masque of "Montamin," a dramatic embodiment of an Indian legend of creation.
OUTLINE OF THE PAGEANT
Opening Dance and Masque. The Birth of the Indian Race. Dance-The Indian Spirits. Invocation to the Gods of the Indians for fertility of the fields. Masque-Montamin, the Maize.
EPISODE I-The Indian.
Scene 1-Indians in the Primeval Forest. Scene 2-The Little Lost One. Scene 3-The Decree of the White Man. Interlude I-The Spirit of Civilization.
EPISODE II-The Pioneer.
Scene 1-The Surveyors. Scene 2-The Coming of William Offield. Scene 3-The Settlers and the Speculators. Scene 4-The Naming of Crawfordsville. Scene 5-The Land Sale. Scene 6-The Founding of
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Wabash College. Scene 7-The Quilting Bee, the Shooting Match, the Loud School and the Black Hawk War.
Interlude II-The Country Dance.
EPISODE III-The Youth of the County.
Scene 1-The Mexican War. Scene 2-The Seminaries and Caleb Mills. Scene 3-The Underground Railroad.
Interlude III-Dance of the States-War.
EPISODE IV-The Civil War.
Scene 1-Enlistment and Wabash College Class of 1862. Scene 2- News from the Front.
Interlude IV-The North and the South-Peace.
EPISODE V-Later Days.
Scene 1-Lew Wallace and "Ben-Hur." Scene 2-Maurice Thomp- son and "Alice of Old Vincennes." Scene 3-The Return of Offield. Interlude V-Dance of the Wheat and the Corn.
FINALE-Prophecy of the Future. Columbia, Indiana, Attendants, Spirits of Agriculture, Patriotism, Education and Literature. Children and Indiana. "America."
The names of the Executive Committee, and those of the Chairmen of the township committees, are here given as the names of the leaders in the ideal Centennial observance made by Montgomery County.
Executive Committee, L. N. Hines, Mayor W. C. Murphy, Jas. D. Wilson, Mark Shackelford, Dumont Kennedy, E. M. Brown, Dumont Peck, Mrs. James Waugh.
Chairmen of township committees: Brown, Walter Suth- erlin; Clark, Mark Shackelford; Coal Creek, James D. Wil- son; Franklin, Mrs. Siloam Craig; Madison, Prof. B. G. Keicher; Ripley, Troy Davis; Scott, Thomas J. Byrd; Sugar Creek, J. E. Dunbar; Union, Floyd Welch; Walnut, Charles L. Lauthers ; Wayne, John W. Shuler.
MORGAN
The Centennial hopes of Morgan County were hung to the Martinsville Commercial Club, which failed to deliver. The Club's president accepted the county chairmanship but virtu- ally shouldered the responsibility on to the paid secretary. The latter couldn't see the need of careful preparation and as late as April 16, 1916, deprecated laying plans "so far in ad- vance" but assured the Commission that "Morgan county and Martinsville will do themselves proud-and don't you forget
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it." It wasn't the Commission that forgot. But that was the last ever heard of a Morgan County celebration. The said Commercial Club elected a new president who knew not the Centennial, and Morgan County was not!
Some interest in the anniversary was manifested in Mooresville and had the Commission begun efforts there in- stead of looking to the county seat, the county would probably have been represented in the patriotic observance of the year. We are willing to give Mooresville and the county at large the benefit of the doubt.
NEWTON
Newton County's observance took place at Kentland on September 14, and consisted of the marching and singing of school children in the forenoon, of an address by Ex-Gover- nor Chase Osborn of Michigan in the afternoon, and of a dis- play of fire works in the evening. A fine display of pioneer relics was made in the show windows of the business houses of the town. Carroll C. Kent, a son of the founder of Kent- land, acted as chairman, with George Ade serving him as first lieutenant.
NOBLE
Practically nothing is reported from this county, and so far as known little recognition of the year was made. The Commission was unable to get a Centennial movement launched in Noble.
On December 8, the schools of Kendallville gave a miscel- laneous patriotic and historical program in recognition of Indiana's admission into the Union. The schools of Albion gave a patriotic Indiana program on the eleventh.
OHIO
The smallest county in the State hid its Centennial talent in a napkin. In 1914 Ohio County celebrated its own Cen- tennial anniversary, but made no effort to observe that of the Commonwealth. Although the chairman, S. M. Seward, is the editor and publisher of a newspaper at Rising Sun, almost no publicity was given the Centennial year and its widespread activities. In short, the significance of 1916 was all but un- noticed in Ohio County. A patriotic program is reported as having been given on December 11 by rooms 7 and 8 of the public school of Rising Sun.
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ORANGE
After having announced a county celebration for the first week of September, to which ex-residents of Orange County were looking forward with interest, the county committee, headed by Jesse M. Trinkle, announced the first of August that no such celebration would be held. Instead, a fair and carnival was put on, to which historical flavor was given by the presentation of the history film "Indiana." Credit must at least be given the committee for not dubbing the carnival with the name of Centennial Celebration.
Some programs of a Centennial nature were given in the schools, in which Indiana history was stressed. Orange County was represented by Miss Alice Atkinson in the Cen- tennial Cavalcade at Indianapolis on County Day, when a good representation of its citizens were in attendance. On the whole, however, no adequate work was done in the county and accordingly little impression was made upon its citizen- ship.
OWEN
In one very definite way at least, Owen County became identified with the Centennial movement. In the purchase of McCormick's Creek Canyon, a scenic asset of Owen, the first unit in the new state park system was secured, and toward this end the citizens of the county cooperated loyally, providing one-third of the purchase cost.
There was not the systematic work done in Owen County that was found in many others, but it made a very good show- ing, under the leadership of C. L. Ooley, Superintendent of the Spencer city schools. The women's clubs and fraternal organizations gave some attention to Indiana history and pre- sented Centennial programs. A county historical society was organized and a room secured in the court house as a society home.
On October 5th and 6th, a pageant was given at Spencer, written and directed by Carl Anderson, publisher of the Owen County Leader. Three hundred people took part and por- trayed in a graphic way the history of the county and State. The pageant was most simple in outline, whereby it could scarcely be distinguished from many others given in the State. As a matter of fact, it had a distinct individuality and a
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flavor all its own. Its arrangement was artistic and its sub- ject-matter displayed a sympathetic understanding of the his- tory portrayed.
Episode I dealt with Indian life, and the coming of the whites, and, while presented in pantomime, gave a vivid and discerning portrayal. The rest of the pageant was a spoken one, action being supported with dialogue. It was well writ- ten, and interpreted ably the events set forth. Episode II had to do with the establishment of the county and the build- ing of the county-seat at Spencer. Episode III was "Rally Round the Flag" and presented vividly the days of '61-'65 in a typical county-seat Hoosier neighborhood. Episode IV, Past and Present, was a clever adaptation of Rip Van Winkle for the purpose of showing the development of Spencer.
The pageant was supplemented by a display of historic relics.
PARKE
It is a difficult question as to what can be said for some counties. As regards Parke County, the difficulty comes in finding anything that cannot be said in commendation. The Director of the State Commission is loath to assign first hon- ors unreservedly to any one county, but is free to say that Parke is fully abreast of the half dozen leaders. As is so often the case, the reason, at least one of the chief reasons, is a woman-a patriotic, high-minded, conscientious and selt- sacrificing woman. When Mrs. Rufus Dooley accepted the County Chairmanship, the success of the Parke County Cen- tennial was abundantly assured.
With her, the chairmanship was a sacred trust and a deep responsibility. With this feeling, combined with a contagious loyalty for her county, she set about her task. Step by step, supported by a band of loyal helpers which gathered about her, she organized the county, laid her plans, and saw them steadily mature to fruition. The office of the State Commis- sion soon learned that an appeal to her for cooperation would meet a hearty response. From the time of her appointment in September 1915, until the sun set on December 31, 1916, Mrs. Dooley was on the job and always master of the situa- tion. It is for such service as she rendered that the Indiana Centennial will long be remembered.
As a Centennial New Year's greeting, the following was
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issued from the office of the Indiana Historical Commission and sent to the state press :
As the conclusion of her excellent toast at the County Centennial Chairman dinner at Indianapolis, December 3d, Mrs. Rufus Dooley of Parke County read with fine effect the verses below. They are adapted from a poem, "Work-A Song of Triumph," by Angela Morgan and pub- lished in the Outlook of December 2d of last year. We offer them to the loyal, busy citizens of Indiana as a greeting and a challenge on the eve of our Centennial year. We offer them as the clarion call, the hope, the promise of the new century of statehood, to be ushered in January 1, 1916.
WORK.
Work!
Thank God for the might of it, The ardor, the urge, the delight of it;
Work that springs from the heart's desire Setting the soul and brain on fire.
Oh, what is so good as the heat of it? And what is so glad as the beat of it,
And what is so kind as the stern command
Challenging brain and heart and hand?
Work!
Thank God for the swing of it,
For the clamoring, hammering ring of it; Oh, what is so great as the flame of it, And what is so grand as the aim of it? Thundering on through dearth and doubt, Calling the plan of the Maker out.
Work, the Titan, work the friend Has shaped our State toward a noble end By spurning doubt and flouting ills, Doing whatever the spirit wills.
Giving to each a glorious part In fulfilling the dream of the Master heart.
Thank God for a time when none may shirk. Thank God for the splendor of CENTENNIAL work!
The Parke County organization was thorough and effect- ive. There was first the small committee advisory to the chairman, and then the County Committee composed of the township chairmen, the latter being head of their local or- ganizations. The various departments of work were assigned to county leaders, as press correspondent, writer of the County Centennial Memorial History, pageant writer, chair- men of committees on relics, mementoes and old manuscripts, home coming, music and school children's activities.
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The Centennial campaign very properly began in the schools, whose officials cooperated most heartily. All the common school graduates, by order of the Board of Education, were required to prepare essays on some phase of Indiana history, generally local. The County Committee, in coopera- tion with the County Superintendent of Schools, prepared a suggestive outline for study of townships and neighborhood history to be used in the composition work. To stimulate interest, each township chairman was asked to select judges to decide on the merits of the productions. The results achieved were highly satisfactory-so much so that the com- mittee was able to announce first, second and third honors in each township.
The trustees set apart special days for Centennial observ- ance in the schools, when, in addition to the appropriate pro- grams rendered by the pupils, the elderly people of the neigh- borhood were invited to take part, telling of pioneer life and conditions. These special days were thus made truly educa- tional.
In two townships, those of Liberty and Raccoon, the scope of observance was enlarged to include all, with patriotic Cen- tennial programs in forenoon and afternoon, with a commu- nity dinner between. Fine exhibits of pioneer relics were made.
When, early in the year, Indiana Products Day was announced and urged upon the attention of the County Chair- men of the State, Mrs. Dooley took up the project with char- acteristic zeal and determination, the result being that the day was more generally observed in Parke than in any other county, namely, in five towns, Rockville, Bloomingdale, Monte- zuma, Rosedale and Tangier.
Early in the planning, in looking toward the County Cele- bration, a happy arrangement was made with the patriotic and progressive Board of Directors of the Rockville Chau- tauqua, whereby the celebration became an integral part of the annual assembly, but in no sense a mere appendage. This largely relieved the County Committee of financial worries and gave it a solid and sure foundation.
The days set were August 12 and 13, and the goal aimed at, a real county celebration. To realize the latter, Mrs. Dooley and others were indefatigable in their efforts, going
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