USA > Indiana > The Indiana centennial, 1916; a record of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Indiana's admission to statehood > Part 5
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ALLEN
Standing next to the head of the list of Indiana counties, alphabetically, Allen county decided it to be its mission to launch the Centennial movement in so striking and compel- ling a manner that the impetus thereby given would carry it triumphantly through the year. We speak in terms of the County, but the Allen celebration, though regional in the scope of territory it drew from, as well as in the extent of ter- ritory covered by its great pageant, was really a Fort Wayne celebration. A County Chairman had been appointed in J. Ross McCulloch, but when the city began laying plans for a great effort, he yielded the leadership to Edward C. Miller, who had been chosen to head the enterprise.
Be it recorded to the credit of Fort Wayne that of all the larger cities in the State none surpassed her in the earnest- ness and whole-souled enthusiasm with which she entered upon and carried through the Centennial observance. It was a spontaneous movement of the citizenship. For weeks it dominated the public thought and effort. It expressed the soul of a city.
Early in the course of preparation, Chairman Miller an- nounced a policy which was in keeping with the spirit of the year. "Remember one thing," he admonished, "The Centen- nial celebration is no carnival." The fact that Fort Wayne did not altogether live up to the high standard set, in that it admitted carnival attractions in connection with an in- dustrial exposition promoted by a professional concessionaire, did not lessen the effect of this Centennial keynote which was
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taken up by the State Commission and heralded throughout the State.
The convincing manner in which the city undertook the big project is indicated by the fact that a guarantee fund of nearly fifty thousand dollars was signed in a vigorous, short campaign. The central feature was the great pageant, "The Glorious Gateway of the West," for the presentation of which stupendous preparations were made. A natural ampi- theatre in Reservoir Park was taken advantage of and a seat- ing capacity of 14,000 provided therein, facing the island on which the pageant was given. The pageant was written largely by Wallace Rice and directed by Donald Robertson, both of Chicago. About one thousand people participated. The "Foreword" sets forth adequately the motif of the pageant.
In the year seventeen hundred and ninety-five, at the memorable Treaty of Greenville, Chief Little Turtle, wisest of the savages of all times, pleaded with General Wayne to permit the Indians to retain the ownership of the lands on which the city of Fort Wayne now stands. He called it "that glorious gateway through which have come all of the good words of our chiefs, from the North to the South, and from the East to the West."
Wayne, the pupil of Washington, under whose instructions he had established his fort at the head of the Maumee, and who shared with Washington the conviction that "the Miami village points to an impor- tant post for the Union," refused the earnest plea of the Red Man.
Today, through this "glorious gateway" of civilization pass with kindliness and gentleness to the regions beyond the knowledge of men, the "good words" of the truest type of modern citizenship-inspiration, truth, service. These are made manifest in the Pageant. They are its very foundation.
The play will pass away. Its spirit will remain to the end of time; for the work here done by willing hearts and hands, can never fade from the lives of those who see and those who do. And coming gen- erations of men will feel the power of an unseen influence of the Cen- tennial year of nineteen hundred and sixteen.
The arrangement of the pageant was very effective. Prominent through all was Thunderhead, a prophet of the Miamis, impersonated by Donald Robertson himself. Each scene was preceded by its own prologue, spoken by Thunder- head. The literary excellence of these scene prologues and the impressive and effective manner in which they carry the story of the pageant warrant their reproduction.
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SCENE I
Sacred the place. For untold ages, long Lost in the nameless years, my people came With ancient rites where these three rivers run Under the shining sky. Now here ye come, As we of old, in thousands, to recount The pains and perils of the past. Peace smiles Upon this holy ground tonight, and all Your ways are bright with hope. Yet I know well The dreadful day when painted Iroquois, Armed as with lightning, drove my tribesmen far, Slaying and scalping as they came in wrath To stain our frontier red. They thought us women- We, the Miamis! But our war-chief saw The invaders pass, and summoning every brave To their return, we sprang upon them there As leaps the panther hidden near the path, Leaving not one alive. Then came the French: The traders, bringing wares the like of which We had not dreamed, to tell of worlds beyond Our woods and streams; the Black Robe with the Cross- We heard of realms beyond the skies, and breathed The name of your high God. Now ye behold While for an hour Old Time rolls back his scroll, The morning of the place whereon ye build!
SCENE II
Thus came the French. Soon over this dear place Sound echoes of vast European wars, Now dim and half forgotten. Pampered kings, Greedy for empire, dye their grasping hands Deep in their peoples' blood. The stones they cast In history's pool of hours send wave on wave Almost to overwhelm the elder world, Their little ripples breaking at the foot Of mighty trees in this far-western clime. William and Lewis, Anne and George, the French And Indians all enbattled stand, while we, The Miamis, hot on Braddock fall and slay. In far Quebec Montcalm and Wolfe go side By side to death and glory. At the close The golden lilies of the Bourbon droop, And where they proudly floated proudlier still The banner of Great Britain is unfurled! But peace abides not, for King Pontiac Rouses our bravest, and these forests flame With hate. We fight to keep our own, and fight In vain. Forever English law and speech, Language and law of freemen, as ye tell, Are laid upon our land, for centuries ours!
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SCENE III
Now Freedom draws the stars of Heaven to earth And sets them in your Flag. Long, long the tale: The fight at consecrated Lexington, Where toilsome folk, like you, in their best blood Write Revolution on the page of Time; The flashing meteor of Stony Point; The succoring arm of gallant France; at last Yorktown, with Lafayette and Washington. Faint sound the war-drums here, though doughty Clark And his Long Knives spread terror roundabout, And bold Le Balme goes hence unto his death. A great soul passed when Pontiac was slain, But now old Kekionga breeds a man.
Let Harmar speak, and let St. Clair proclaim The Little Turtle's stroke! Soon Wayne comes forth, Your Anthony, and where the Fallen Timbers lie We, the Miamis, fight, and lose, and make Our peace, while here your town has christening With his heroic name beneath his Flag, To be for evermore American!
SCENE IV
Swiftly the stream of Time flows on his course Swollen with big events. Within the year The Little Turtle makes his solemn peace, And from my people, the Miamis, pass Their age-long sovereignty and might for ever. The banner of the Briton falls. Your West Is saved, and Indiana comes to be, On far horizons faintly glimmering. Hereto in amity the Tribes resort Not once, but twice, to sign away their lands. Your daughter, Illinois, has fortunate birth. Tecumseh, gallant chief, fights hard to hold The country of our forefathers of yore. But Harrison strikes down his Prophet's power, Tippecanoe its passing bell; our braves With England make their unavailing stand, The Little Turtle being dead and gone. Success comes easily when first we fight : Fort Dearborn falls in blood, Detroit yields- Deceitful omens, luring us to death, As here once more War's horrent fire is bright.
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THE INDIANA CENTENNIAL
SCENE V
No longer to this pleasant place is brought Battle and sudden death. Ye call it peace- A sorry peace for us, as sadly wends 'The long procession of my people down Toward the setting sun, the while your State Sets her proud star upon your Flag. We go; And these primeval forests hear the ax Of many a pioneer, who hacks and hews To bring to grief great trees that once were ours. Theirs were no easy tasks; and ye who sit Under these spangled skies tonight and breathe The air of comfort and content should not Forget their high endeavor. Every foot Of this town by tears and sweat was made To smile and yield its harvest unto you, That ye may rear tall houses long to stand Where our frail tepees were-and are no more. As mothers here not long since brought their babes To birth, alone, your civilization came Through lonely travail unto glowing life. For me and mine is midnight, starless, dark; For you the noonday splendor of the sun.
SCENE VI
Distant the roll of war's tremendous drums, Yet gladly your tall men go hence to death. From Mexico an empire vast is won; When nearer sounds the clangorous call to arms: The Union of your council-fire proves not So strong men will not test its bond; it holds; To come to Union firmer still. Glorious The story, noble your participation. Meanwhile Peace her smiling victory gains: Broad waterways with commerce lace the land, And the old portage passes here at last. Canals give place to lengthening iron bands Whereon laborious iron monsters shriek- Iron, a miracle once-and slender wires Along the sky link shore to farthest shore, Annihilating time, and great machines, A thousand handed, toil that men may rest. My place knows me no more, and so, farewell. A hundred years and I may come again. Your Indiana, lovlier in the bloom
Of fivescore summers than your growing girls And wiser than your wise old women, stands Secure. God guard her and you all. Farewell!
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The week of June 4 to 11 was fixed as the week of celebra- tion. Everything was ready. The city was beautifully dec- orated and could hardly have been more inviting in appearance. Northeastern Indiana was on the keen edge of expectancy. And then it began raining, and not only began, but continued to rain, day after day, until everything was thoroughly dampened except the indomitable spirit of Fort Wayne. Regrettable as was the weather, it was not allowed to prove altogether disastrous. The program of the week was seriously disarranged but a very considerable part of it was presented. The pageant performances could not be given according to the schedule, but they were given. Ex- President Taft was not permitted to address a vast open air concourse of people, but he addressed an audience in the court house, and doubtless a more attentive one.
Before the floods came, a union Centennial song service of the religious denominations of the city was given in Reservoir Park on Sunday afternoon, June 4. The women of the city arranged an exhibit illustrating the life of the past centuries particularly from a woman's point of view, in what was known as the Woman's Building. The local chapter of the D. A. R. dedicated a marker to the memory of the men who died on Fort Wayne soil in the battle known as "Harmar's Defeat." In addition the Normal School, under the direction of Miss Flora Wilber, Principal, placed temporary markers at twenty historic spots. These were the features of the week ' that were primarily Centennial in nature.
In spite of serious handicaps, the celebration was a suc- cess. That Fort Wayne so deemed it is indicated in the words of Chairman Miller in writing of the permanent results of the observance. He says it resulted in "the creation of a more marked community spirit which has shown itself in greater success attending subsequent public undertakings." Con- tributing largely to this end was the Fort Wayne press which entered sympathetically and heartily into the real spirit of the cause.
The Rotary Club of Fort Wayne made itself responsible for seeing that Allen County was represented in the Centen- nial Cavalcade at Indianapolis on October 6. The honor was Miss Catherine Vesey's.
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BARTHOLOMEW
When in anticipation of the general observance of Indi- ana's one hundredth natal year, there was much talk of pageantry as an effective method of "releasing the historic consciousness," George Pence, the sage of Bartholomew his- tory, declared oracularly that the County had no history that would lend itself to pageant forms. It was therefore a nice little bit of historic justice that saw the above-mentioned sage astride a steed in the pageant of Bartholomew county on Labor Day, impersonating the old General himself.
For this happy denouement, two women and a man were largely responsible. In the first week of March, Miss Charity Dye, the dynamic of the Indiana Historical Commission, made one of her historical-patriotic missionary trips to Columbus, where she addressed audiences of school children and an audi- ence of "school adults"-adults who were there to learn what it was all about anyway. Miss Dye boldly questioned the dictum of the aforementioned sage, and proceeded to tell Bartholomew people a little of their own history that could be impressively portrayed in pageant form.
Active in arranging the meeting was Miss Vida Newsom, former president of the State Federation of Clubs, the mov- ing spirit of the Bartholomew observance. Whatever vision she may have had must there have been given focus and she began the writing of the Bartholomew county Pageant. Be- hind her and the movement was T. F. Fitzgibbon, Superin- tendent of the Columbus schools, who had already accepted the County Chairmanship.
The pageant was given on September 4th, before a large audience, A. W. Mason of the Columbus schools being pageant master. The following excerpts taken from the "Foreword," indicate its scope and method of treatment of the subject-mat- ter:
The Bartholomew County Pageant seeks to give a brief representa- tion of the development of Bartholomew County from the time of the Indian and fur trader and the early pioneer to the present day. The parts are taken by the citizens of Columbus and Bartholomew County except in a few instances, where persons residing elsewhere appear in the role of their ancestors. A number of players are descendants of the originals of the characters. For instance the scenes depicting the First Settlers, the County Commissioners and the Underground Railroad are assigned almost entirely to descendants.
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COUNTY CELEBRATIONS
In the preparation of the pageant, the writer has concerned herself with the history and realism of the past, rather than with symbolism. Little place has been given to tradition, and slight liberty taken with chronology. Every name used in the pageant is a real name.
In using the real names of people in the portrayal of events, it is not the desire to enhance certain ancestors as compared with others who have played an important part in the county's history, but it has seemed that these persons are the logical ones to enact the particular outstanding historical events selected for presentation in the pageant.
OUTLINE OF PAGEANT
EPISODE I
Trumpeter-Symbolic Scene.
Early Life Associated with the Driftwood Valley.
Scene 1. The Indians. Camp Fire-War Dance-Squaw Dance and Industries.
Scene 2. William Connor-Fur Trader, 1816.
a. Barters with the Indians.
b. Acts as interpreter.
Scene 3. Cession of the Delaware Lands, 1818.
a. Land Treaty at St. Mary's.
b. Smoking Pipe of Peace.
Scene 4. Arrival of Joseph Cox, first settler, 1819. Typical Pioneer Family, The Pioneer Mother.
Scene 5. Legislators en route to select a site for State Capital, 1820. Gen. Tipton, Gov. Jennings, Gen. Joseph Bartholomew and others.
EPISODE II
Bartholomew County Organization, 1821.
Scene 1. First Board of County Commissioners, 1821.
William Ruddick, Jesse Ruddick, Solomon Stout.
a. Report of Commissioners appointed by State Legislature to locate County Seat, received, etc.
b. Name of town changed from Tiptona to Columbus. Scene 2. Sale of Lots-June 15, 1821.
a. William Chapman and other settlers and neighborhood peo- ple gather for sale.
b. County Agent States Terms of Sale and Sells Lots.
EPISODE III.
Pioneer Life-Religious, Educational, Social, Industrial.
Scene 1. The Circuit Rider, 1821.
Scene 2. The School Master:
Singing of Geography Lessons, Speeches, Etc. Passing of Water-bucket and Gourd.
Scene 3. The Singing School.
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Scene 4. The Coming of the Mail.
Scene 5. Corn Husking and Frolic-(Clay Township). Wool Picking.
Scene 6. The State Road, 1823.
Scene 7. The Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, 1843-44.
Scene 8. Old Time Political Rally.
EPISODE IV The Civil War Period, 1861.
Scene 1. The "Underground Railroad," 1840-1861. (The Quakers of Sand Creek Township).
Scene 2. News of Fort Sumter-(Street Scene).
Scene 3. Civil War Soldiers.
a. Sound of Bugle, Fife and Drum.
b. Departure of Soldiers-Good-byes.
EPISODE V
Finale-Centennial.
Scene 1. The Modern Schools. Songs, Folk Dances, Etc.
Scene 2. Flag Salute-Reviewed by Old Soldiers.
Scene 3. Grand Ensemble of Players-Reviewed by Indiana. Hymn to Indiana.
The
All unite with the band and sing "America."
The other feature of the Bartholomew observance was a week's exhibit of historical relics, enthusiastically collected from over the county.
The county was represented at Indianapolis on October 6th by Miss Jane McEwan, who rode in the Cavalcade. Chas. F. Remy, of Indianapolis, formerly of Bartholomew County, rode in the parade as General Bartholomew. Mayor H. K. Volland carried the county's banner, followed by a half dozen autos of Bartholomew citizens.
Admission Day was very generally observed by the schools on December 11th throughout the county.
BENTON
As a county, Benton had no part in the observance of the Indiana Centennial. It had two or three county chairmen at different times and in reality no chairman at all. Chas. H. Dodson, County School Superintendent, was looked upon as a natural leader in the movement but so far as reported he did not even organize the work in the schools.
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COUNTY CELEBRATIONS
The only observance reported was that made by the Fowler schools on May 26th, under the direction of Superintendent Chas W. Steele. It was a daytime, outdoor performance, viewed by an audience of about one thousand people. The first number was an allegorical representation of the admis- sion of Indiana into the Union, followed by a scene from Hia- watha. The third exercise was a series of beautiful drills representing the introduction of Young Indiana by Father Time. Friday afternoon in a pioneer school was a reminis- cent feature, appropriately followed by such pioneer past- times as the quilting and husking bees and the minuet. The pioneer school motif was further carried out in the presenta- tion of a part of "The Hoosier Schoolmaster." A Riley pageant was given, in which well known Riley characters were impersonated by school children in costume. The exercises closed with a Centennial finale comprising the ensemble of all the participants grouped around Indiana.
BLACKFORD
The Blackford County Centennial effort and observance were confined almost wholly to a parade which occurred on Centennial day of the Hartford City Fall Festival. A sus- tained, well organized movement, on a real educational basis, was wanting. Apart from the one day's showing there was little recognition of the year throughout the county-not even excepting the schools.
The showing made on the day in question was evidently very good. The various townships took part and sixty-one floats were reported arranged by schools, and various fra- ternal and literary organizations. To the credit of those in charge, the parade was largely historical, manifesting an ap- preciation of the significance of the anniversary. All phases of the early life of Indiana were clearly depicted, and in a way to give the desirable local color and sidelights. In addition definite historical and patriotic events were portrayed, na- tional as well as state and county. Effective symbolic floats were also in evidence.
The day was planned by M. C. Townsend, Superintendent of the Hartford City Schools, who acted as County Chairman.
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BOONE
In comparing the Centennial showing made in Indiana, a very high rating must be given Boone as one of the model counties, befitting the home of Indiana's Centennial Governor. The encouraging results achieved were due, first, to the se- curing of an excellent Chairman in the person of Mr. Ben F. McKey, editor of the Lebanon Pioneer. To him the respon- sibility imposed was a sacred trust, in the fulfillment of which he gave himself most conscientiously and generously. Given a good chairman, who commanded loyal support, the Conten- nial plans for the county were early outlined on a high, patri- otic plane, and were carried out accordingly. Boone had a highly successful-county celebration, along with the major- ity of her sister counties, but, unlike many of the latter, she had much more. Through the systematic work in the schools, in clubs and in the townships, there was from the first of the year on a steady progress in Centennial observance which prepared the way for, and led easily and logically up to the county celebration held in the middle of September.
From the very first step in organization, an encouraging interest was manifested. In January, the Director of the Commission spoke to a very representative gathering of Lebanon citizens at the court house, and found them alive and eager. In the following month, the Secretary of the Com- mission spoke to a company including representatives from the townships. In April Miss Charity Dye addressed an audi- ence of about one hundred women who came in from over the county.
As a central organization, Mr. McKey appointed a local executive committee, composed of C. F. S. Neal, Phil Adler, H. G. Brown, superintendent of the Lebanon schools, W. E. Callane, Mrs. W. H. Williams, Miss Lydia Bell, school prin- cipal, J. L. Wade, A. E. Witt and County School Superin- tendent, E. M. Servies. Supplementary committees were later appointed, having to do especially with arrangements for the county celebration. From the time of organization in January, regular weekly meetings of the Executive Commit- tee were held, which indicates the determination and serious- ness of purpose with which the work was undertaken.
At the same time the Chairman began effecting a county organization, through the appointment of committees of
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three in the various townships. The result was that, includ- ing Central, eight of the twelve townships held celebrations : The Chairmen of these were: Marion, B. F. Wheeler; Wash- ington, Mrs. Harry Ryan ; Sugar Creek, Professor S. A. Long; Jefferson, C. O. Brown; Union, Rolla H. Gates; Eagle, Profes- sor T. H. Stonecipher ; Worth, J. T. Laughner.
The schools cooperated most heartily and effectively in the Centennial cause. Indeed, there was little differentiation be- tween them and the county organization, with the city and county school authorities active in the latter. February 22d was made Centennial day in the schools throughout the county, thus early bringing the subject before the whole citi- zenship. Some attention was also given Indiana history in connection with the regular work-in history classes and in general opening exercises. In most of the townships the facts of local history were presented. The graduating exer- cises of both the midyear and year end Eighth grade classes of Lebanon were of a purely Centennial nature, their arrange- ment reflecting much credit upon Miss Lydia Bell, principal, a member of the Executive Committee. Papers were pre- pared and read by the midycar class, presenting important phases of Indiana history. The May class enacted a more dramatic presentation, the first part being taken from Miss Dye's pageant of New Harmony; the second part, the an- nouncement of epochs in Indiana history by pages; and the third, an adaptation of McKnight's "Drama of Indiana." Ad- mission Day was very generally observed by the schools of the county.
The city schools of Lebanon, under the direction of Miss Bell, did a very worthy thing in placing, with appropriate dedicatory exercises, a bronze tablet marking the site of Lebanon's first school. The tablet bears the inscription, "Site of First School Building, 1834, Erected by School Children, 1916." The unveiling exercises were held May 12, honor guests of the occasion being several pioneer residents who had been pupils in the charter school of the city. A history of the Lebanon schools was prepared and read by Mrs. Julia N. Harvey, she having been connected with them as teacher for more than forty years.
As a part of the educational propaganda, the effective work of Mrs. Cora Bynum, head of the public library, was an
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important feature. Having a conception of the true function of the library in a community, she made it serve as an organ of education and publicity in furthering the Centennial idea.
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