USA > Indiana > The Indiana centennial, 1916; a record of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Indiana's admission to statehood > Part 18
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from township to township with the Centennial message and arousing to action.
In the forenoon of the 12th, occurred a pageant parade in which over 1,100 school children from all over the county took part. There were floats representing the development of our schools from the earliest log cabin days to the present. Each township had its own patriotic song. The address was given by Miss Adelaide Baylor of the State Department of Instruc- tion.
In the afternoon, and again in the evening, the Parke County Pageant was given. In every way it was a commu- nity effort. Mrs. Juliet V. Strauss, "The Country Contribu- tor," was the pageant writer, but others had a part in the work. Prof. D. D. Haines of Crawfordsville, director of the Montgomery County Pageant, was in charge of its perfection and presentation, assisted by Miss Georgia Potter of Chicago, who directed the interpretative dancing. The success of the pageant was in proportion to the loyal efforts which made it possible to bring the whole county together to relive its com- mon history.
PAGEANT OUTLINE
Opening Dance-The Water Fairies. Mask of the Fairies and the Gnomes.
EPISODE I The Indian
Scene 1. In the Primeval Forest.
Scene 2. The Coming of the French. (1705.)
Scene 3. Harrison's Army and the Departure of the Red Man. (1811.) Interlude I-The Star of Empire
EPISODE II The Pioneer
Scene 1. The First Settlement. (1818.)
Scene 2. The Marriage of Christmas Dazney and Mary Ann Isaacs; Isaac McCoy, the First Preacher. (1819.)
Scene 3. The Election at Richard Henry's Cabin. (1821.)
Scene 4. The Founding of Shiloh Church. (1822.)
Scene 5. The Naming of Rockville. (1824.)
Scene 6. The "Loud School." The "Singin' School." Interlude II-The Country Dance
EPISODE III Parke County in Its Youth
Scene 1. The Departure of General Howard. (1844.)
Scene 2. Bloomingdale Academy. (1846.)
Scene 3. Canal Days. (1849.)
Scene 4. The Underground Railroad. (1859.)
Interlude III-The Dance of the States-War
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EPISODE IV Fraternal Strife
Scene 1. The Rockville Union Guards.
Scene 2. The Soldiers' Aid Society.
Scene 3. Peace Declared.
Interlude IV-The North and the South-Peace
EPISODE V Maturity
Scene 1. The County Fair.
Scene 2. The Present.
Interlude V-Dance of the Trees
Finale-The Spirit of Civic Pride and the Spirits of the Townships, Honor the Past. "America."
Sunday the 13th, was home-coming, church and fraternal day, with sermon in the morning and addresses and Hoosier greetings in the afternoon. In the evening, the historical film "Indiana" was presented.
As a part of the Parke County Centennial movement, I. R. Strouse did an excellent piece of work in the production of a Centennial Memorial History, the result of painstaking re- search.
The Parke County observance did not cease with its own celebration. When the call went out for participation in County Day at Indianapolis, Mrs. Dooley again rallied her forces with splendid results. Miss Sylvia Burkhart was chosen by ballot to ride in the Cavalcade of the counties. In addition to this, Parke was represented by a beautiful float in which the Spirit of Progress drove the car of Civic Advance- ment, the latter accompanied by her attendant Spirits of the Townships.
All this and more can be said of the splendid achievement of Parke county in the Centennial Year.
PERRY
Rich in historic associations and picturesque in setting, Perry County might have been expected to give enthusiastic recognition to the state's anniversary. More than this, she had as Centennial Chairman in Thomas James de la Hunt, an historian, a litterateur and a poet, who had at the same time the energy and pertinacity of a life insurance agent. Such a combination was unbeatable, and as a result Perry had
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not one but three celebrations, and not one but two pageants, both of which were written and directed by the genius of Vir- ginia Place.
As early as August, 1915, Chairman de la Hunt had com- pleted a thorough county organization and begun a systematic program of Centennial education, in which he had the sup- port of County School Superintendent Lee Mullen and the Women's clubs. March 17 was set apart by Mr. Mullen as Centennial observance day in the schools, he having arranged an excellent and appropriate program which was carried out with varied modifications throughout the county. The pupils of Miss Mary C. Burke in Union Township High School, under her direction, collected from old citizens and other sources much valuable historical data which she arranged for presentation in the school library. On April 7, this high school presented the story of Indiana in song, story and drama, from the Mound Builders to the present. On Wash- ington's birthday the Benedictine Sisters of St. Michael's parochial school at Cannelton made an effective Centennial school exhibit, which was repeated at the close of the session.
A year's program on Indiana history was followed by the Women's Travel Club of Cannelton and papers on state his- tory and Centennial topics were featured from time to time by the Tobinsport Home Economics Club. The club women of these towns joined in inscribing and beautifying the Lafayette Memorial Spring.
In general preparation for the Perry County observance, a beautification campaign was adopted with a slogan of "Paint, Plant and Prepare."
Tell City led off with the first celebration, July 20, 21, and 22, the real Centennial features consisting of symbolical tableaux and a choral concert, planned by Mrs. Wm. Krog- man, local chairman and member of the County Committee, a museum of relics, addresses by Albert Bettinger of Cincin- nati and Philip Zoercher of Indianapolis, both former citi- zens, and of an extensive historical and industrial parade. Among historic scenes and events portrayed by floats were: Indiana State Seal, William Tell, Coming of the Swiss Coloni- zation Society and Settlers, First Log Cabin, Stork Bringing First Baby, Husking and Quilting Bees, Uncle Sam Buying Land from Indians, Circuit Rider, First School, First Wharf
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Boat, Old and New Ways of Cooking, Pioneer Costumes, The Old Market House, etc.
On August 10, the citizens of Troy presented "The Pageant of Troy," written and directed by County Chairman de la Hunt, with the Misses Grace Howe and Agatha Lindeman as local managers of the cast of 150 participants. In outline it was as follows:
EPISODE I
Early Indian life-A Hunting Feast and the Coming of the White Settlers.
EPISODE II
Locating the County Seat at Troy-Log Rolling on Fulton Hill- Old-time Dancing.
EPISODE III
The Pioneer School-The Quilting Party-Abraham Lincoln-The School Boy and Ferryman, and Parents.
EPISODE IV
The Volunteers Enlisting in the War. (1861.)
FINALE
Indiana, represented by Miss Gertrude Hill, on horse led by thirteen original counties, reviews the whole caste while the "Hymn to Indiana" is being sung.
One persistent element marred each of the three Perry County celebrations. Perry citizenship seemed to cry out for "free attractions," with the result that the street carnival idea seriously compromised the Centennial purpose. While the artist soul of Thomas James de la Hunt was rapt in the lure of pageantry on the heights of Parnassus, those whose his- toric imaginations were still unreleased remained in the val- ley to enjoy with open-mouthed wonder the antics of "The Bimbos," the flying leap of the high diving dog and pony, and the aesthetic gambols of the educated goats.
The ringing of the church bells at dawn of Centennial Sunday inaugurated the Perry County celebration at Can- nelton, September 3 to 9.
Monday was Welcome Day, with open air receptions and concert in City Park; Tuesday, School Participation Day, with flag drill and Admission Tableau at Court House; Wednesday, Lafayette Day, on which occurred the formal dedication of Lafayette Spring, near which on May 9, 1825, General La- fayette suffered shipwreck on the Ohio; Thursday, Perry
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County Day, on which the pageant was presented, on the one hundred and second anniversary of the county's organization. People from every township participated. Friday was In- diana Day, when the historic film "Indiana" was shown. The celebration closed Saturday with a farewell concert.
Both literally and figuratively, it was a beautiful climax to the Perry County Centennial efforts, when on the high bluffs above Cannelton, with a matchless view of the Ohio river and Kentucky hills, the pageant of Perry County was given. From the first scene to the last it was wholly a county pageant. With his comprehensive history of Perry just completed, Mr. de la Hunt brought to his work a complete fund of in- formation and the fresh sympathy and enthusiasm which his studies had developed. Every episode applied to local his- tory, not a single one being usable elsewhere. The vast audi- ence on the shady hillsides saw the first settlers arrive; heard the recital of news from the War of 1812, in which were Perry County men; saw the landing of the Lincoln family at Troy; General Lafayette's enforced visit following the wreck of the Mechanic at Rock Island in 1825; old-fashioned "Training Day" amusements; laying the cornerstone of the Cannelton cotton mill; and founding of Tell City by the Swiss Colonization Society, to the accompaniment of some old-time Swiss yodlers; the Confederate invasion of Perry County by Captain Hines of Morgan's command; a county picnic and frolic, celebrating the close of the war and the return of the soldiers-all ending with a beautiful symbolical finale in which Commodore Perry presents Indiana, clad in white and mounted on horseback, with the Stars and Stripes.
PIKE
It was the woman in the case that saved the day for Pike County. A county chairman had been appointed who re- signed at the critical time. The public was indifferent and apathetic, the school authorities lukewarm. But, as is often true, the community was blessed with one positive, coura- geous, patriotic soul, in this instance a woman, who bore the honor of her county in her heart. Ladies and gentlemen, the Centennial heroine of Pike County, Mrs. Alice P. Stoops.
There were many things which Mrs. Stoops knew it was useless for her to attempt. Her ambition centered upon one
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thing and that ambition she realized. Her county is rich in historical associations which she wanted to see portrayed through pageantry. She therefore began the study of pageants, visited those at Evansville and Bloomington, learning at first hand. She next got the financial backing of the Pike County Racing Association, in connection with whose annual meet the performance was to be given. Thus assured, she wrote the pageant, which was shown at Petersburg.
It was a two-night pageant, the first night bringing the action to 1816. Episode one dealt with the Mound Builders and episode two with the Indians. Episode three introduced the French soldiers under Sieur de Vincennes and the found- ing of the town which bears his name, with scenes two and three picturing the taking of the fort by Generals Hamilton and George Rogers Clark, in turn. In two scenes, the next episode related the beginning of Indiana and the land treaty, with Tecumseh's protest. The first evening's performance closed with the battle of Tippecanoe.
The second evening opened with "Indiana a State," ac- companied by the stately minuet. Episode two was devoted to the pioneers in seven scenes, relating to the selection of the seat of justice, an auction sale of town lots, mail carrier, circuit rider, pioneer school and old-time singing school. An episode was given to the Underground Railroad. The three scenes of episode four were devoted respectively to the husk- ing bee, Virginia Reel and the news of the firing upon Sum- ter, with the departure of the soldiers. Episode five was a soldiers' drill, the pageant closing with "Indiana 1916" and finale.
The pageant was presented August 3 and 4 and directed by Professor Grover Sims of Oakland City College. Four hundred and fifty people participated before an audience of about six thousand.
Practically no other Centennial activities were attempted. Properly stated, the pageant was Mrs. Alice P (ike) Stoops' contribution to the Indiana Centennial!
PORTER
That Porter County acquitted itself so well is due largely to the public spirit of its patriotic women. When it became evident that the men would not rise to the occasion, members
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of the Valparaiso Women's Club came forward, and led by Mrs. A. A. Williams, who threw heart and soul into the cause, made a great contribution to the civic spirit of their commu- nity.
Second only to Mrs. Williams in service, was Mrs. L. F. Bennett, who for months prior to the Porter County celebra- tion, prepared the way in a series of contributions to the Val- paraiso press upon many phases of state and local history as a background for the Centennial observance. Aside from her own contributions, she secured similar ones from others. A good foundation was thus laid for the observance.
Miss Lucy M. Elliott, assistant Director of the Commis- sion, visited Valparaiso February 21 and 22, speaking before the Women's Club and also before the city Commercial Club.
Doubtless more people partook of Indiana Products Day dinners on February 22 in Valparaiso than in any other city in the State. Mrs. Williams reported the number to have been 2,309, dinners being served in fifteen places, all partak- ing of the same Hoosier menu.
The county celebration took place in September, begin- ning on Sunday the 24th with fitting religious services. In the afternoon a union service was held, at which at least 8,000 people were said by the county chairman to have been present. The principal address was delivered by Judge Harry Olsen of Chicago. On this day the splendid exhibit of relics was opened and remained so during the week. It was visited by throngs of interested observers.
The regular celebration took place on Wednesday, Thurs- day and Friday. Wednesday, September 27, was designated as Centennial Memorial Day. In the afternoon an ambitious program was given, centering in the dedication of markers- one on the old Sac trail and the other on the site of the first schoolhouse in Valparaiso, for which the Porter County His- torical Society and the local D. A. R. chapter were responsible. Margaret Cameron Beer gave an address on "Our State," followed by an address on "Our Country," by Patrick H. O'Donnell of Chicago. In the evening a very successful Old Melodies Concert and entertainment was given under the di- rection of Mrs. H. M. Beer.
Thursday was given over to the Centennial parade, to which much effort was given.
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Friday was Pageant Day and was under the direct super- vision of Mrs. Williams, with Mrs. A. R. Putnam and Mrs. Bennett as assistants. There was music, including a commu- nity sing, in the forenoon, followed by a basket dinner and Old Settlers reunion.
The pageant, written by Mrs. Williams, was given in the afternoon and was put on by citizens of Valparaiso, some 400 people participating. In brief the outline was as follows:
EPISODE I The Indians -- 1679.
EPISODE II
The Explorers-1679.
EPISODE III
Invasion by the Whites-1763-1834.
Portrayal of local historic incidents having to do with events on Old Sac Trail and the early settle- ment of the county.
EPISODE IV The Civil War-1861.
Including Underground Railroad incident.
EPISODE V Retrospective and Prospective. Centennial Recessional or Processional.
The whole celebration was on a high plane of lofty patri- otism and civic pride, reflecting the true purpose and ideals of the Centennial observance.
POSEY
Thanks to the public spirit and energy of such business men as Hon. L. T. Osborn, its county chairman, Posey County made an enviable Centennial record and added new patriotic laurels to the "Pocket" district.
It was very fitting that the county which had really seen the birth of pageantry in Indiana should present its contribu- tion to Centennial pageantry. Two years before, wide atten- tion had been attracted by the New Harmony Pageant, which was written by Miss Charity Dye of the Historical Commis- sion and directed by Mrs. Mary H. Flanner of Indianapolis. When looking for a directing hand to mould into artistic and dramatic form their wealth of material, the Posey County committee naturally turned to Mrs. Flanner, whose aid they were so fortunate as to secure. Appropriately, also, the sub- ject-matter of the pageant was largely prepared by Mrs. Nora C. Fretageot of New Harmony, the scene of such rich histor- ical associations.
The Posey County celebration was held September 12 and
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13 at Mt. Vernon. On the evening of the 13th, the pageant was presented on the bank of the Ohio river, the historic water highway of the Old Northwest. The pageant was more than a faithful portrayal of the history it dramatized -it was compellingly beautiful in its symbolism. It was introduced by a beautiful dance of the water nymphs, typify- ing the Ohio, followed by a representation of the forest prime- val in the dances of the dryads and fireflies.
The first episode, entitled, "One Hundred Years Ago," in- troduced the typical life of the Indians, the appearance of the fur traders and missionaries and the coming of Tom Jones, the first white settler in the county, and the pioneers.
The second episode, rightly entitled "Civilization," had to do primarily with the Rappites and the New Harmony ex- periment, which attracted to the new country the famous Boat Load of Knowledge. That part of the episode which so pic- turesquely portrayed the life and culture of this new Athens of the West, was put on by New Harmony citizens. This episode also pictured the choosing of Mt. Vernon as the capital of Posey County, explaining how it took its name from the national shrine on the Potomac.
"Political Unrest" was the motif of Episode 3, dealing with the Civil War period. A very interesting feature was the reproduction of an old-time political campaign rally, based upon the election of Alvin P. Hovey, favorite son of Posey, as governor of the State.
Episode 4, "Progress Unfolded," was symbolical, typify- ing the many-sided development of the State and suggesting Posey's contribution thereto.
The thrilling presentation was viewed by probably 15,000 people from that section of the State and from the adjoining States of Illinois and Kentucky. It was undoubtedly one of the largest pageant audiences in the State during the year.
But, while the leading feature, the pageant was not the sole feature of the Posey County celebration.
On the preceding day, September 12, an historical and in- dustrial parade was given which was one of the best ever seen in that section of the State. In a combination parade of this kind too often the word "historical" proved a plank rather than a platform. Not so in this instance. Much time and conscientious effort were evidently expended in effectively
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reproducing old scenes and events, which were justified in the results attained.
On both days of the celebrational and home coming, ad- dresses were delivered.
PULASKI
Up to July, no thoroughgoing efforts had been put forth to interest Pulaski County in the Centennial. At that time the chairman, John G. Capouch, went with his militia com- pany to the Mexican border and nothing more was heard of a County Centennial observance. Almost no attention was given the movement by the Pulaski newspapers.
Medaryville observed September 14 as Centennial Day, in special honor of its townsman, Wm. B. Nicoles, whose one hundredth birthday it marked.
Centennial and historical compositions were given in con- nection with the graduating exercises of the county schools, in which the book, "A Century of Indiana," was studied.
PUTNAM
So far as can be learned, the Centennial Year was practi- cally unrecognized in Putnam County and in its university county seat. B. F. Corwin of Greencastle accepted the county chairmanship and the answer as to the non-performance lies with him. The Commission regrets that it could not keep in sufficient touch with him to follow the course of events in Put- nam County.
The Putnam County newspapers report that Admission Day was observed by the schools over the county "in a gen- eral way."
RANDOLPH
Randolph County furnished one of the distinct disappoint- ments of the year. Rich in local history, with a man deeply interested, as County Chairman, in Mr. Philip Kabel, and with a national reputation in school efficiency, strange it seems that no county celebration was held and little attempted in the schools.
The Centennial Year started propitiously in a successful observance at Winchester of Indiana Products Day. In the spring and early summer Mr. Kabel made visits over the county to arouse interest in the Centennial. Organization
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was begun and celebration movements were started, but nothing materialized. In the words of the chairman, 1916 seemed, strangely enough, to be an "off year" in Randolph. Some responsibility for this situation rests with the news- papers of the county, which did little, either in directly sup- porting the Centennial idea or in even giving it due publicity.
Much was expected of the Randolph schools, but little was realized. No Centennial Day was observed. A special pro- gram was given, and, as for the past three years, the eighth grade pupils wrote on some question of local history. No systematic work in course is reported in Indiana history.
Observance of Admission Day was made in Winchester, by the D. A. R., which put on a pioneer relic exhibit, and by the Woman's Club, which gave a public Centennial evening in which historic scenes were represented. Programs were also given in the schools.
Randolph County seemed content in furnishing a governor for the next quadrennium as its Centennial contribution.
RIPLEY
Ripley County was not so demonstrative as some counties in its display of state loyalty, but none the less gave proof of a citizenship that is alive to patriotism. The Ripley observ- ance may be said to have been decentralized in a large meas- ure. There were several appropriate celebrations in the county rather than one big one at the county seat. Among these were observances at Cedar Creek, Milan, Osgood, Lin- colnville, Benham, Versailles and Batesville.
Some of these were held largely in connection with the schools while others were town and community celebrations. They were almost purely educational, historic and patriotic in nature, consisting of programs of history and local remi- niscence, reinforced often by collections of pioneer relics. Counting its eighth grade graduating exercises, Batesville publicly observed the year three times, closing with a good program on Admission Day when an address was delivered by Prof. Louis J. Rettger of the Indiana State Normal. There was doubtless some connection between this good showing and the public spirited way in which the Batesville papers supported the Centennial.
What might be termed the county celebration was held at
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Versailles on October 7th in connection with a Fall Festival, when a parade occurred, partly historical. The townships were represented by lady riders, led by Miss Cecil Day who had, on the day previous, represented the county in the Cen- tennial Cavalcade at Indianapolis.
Chas. R. Hertenstein, County School Superintendent, took no little interest in the anniversary, and encouraged his teach- ers to adapt their work to its observance in a beneficial way. W. D. Robinson, editor of the Versailles Republican, was County Chairman. Thanks to his interest and to that of the Ripley exiles at the capital city, led by J. N. Ward, the county was strikingly represented on County Day of the State cele- bration. Representative of the timber resources of the county, a great poplar log forty-eight feet long and contain- ing three thousand feet of lumber was loaded on two wagons and hauled to Indianapolis. It proved something of a triumphal procession, since the news of Ripley County's big log was telephoned on ahead from village to town, with the result that no "deserted villages" were discovered en route. The big stick attracted much attention in the County Day parade.
Not the least of Ripley County's Centennial contributions was made through one of her daughters, Miss Leah Jackson, whose admirable work on "The Play Party in Indiana," was accepted by the Indiana Historical Commission and published as one of its series of historical collections.
RUSH
The Rush County observance occurred October 9 to 13, during the period of the state celebration. It was first planned to take place earlier, but circumstances made a later date seem necessary.
The observance, centering in Rushville, consisted of ad- dresses, parades, music by school choruses and an exhibition of relics. The Daily Republican of Rushville issued a Centen- nial edition in which appeared historical articles of interest. The celebration was financed by a popular subscription amounting to $1,200 and was under the direction of a com- mittee representing the different parts of the county, of which John A. Titsforth was chairman.
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