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Wayne County, Indiana Bicentennial 1810 - 2010

Wayne County, Indiana Bicentennial Logo

Wayne County was formed by the Indiana Territory Legislature in November, 1810, organized February, 1811. Wayne County's Centennial celebration was in 1910 at the Richmond Fall Festival.

Wayne County, Indiana 2010 Bicentennial Events

Courthouse Day - September 25, 2010
Take a tour of the Wayne County Courthouse and enjoy free ice cream at the Wayne County Courthouse on Saturday, September 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. FREE!
Vintage Clothing Fashion Show and Tea - September 26, 2010

Practical to elegant...200 years of how people dressed in the Midwest. Enjoy a Vintage Clothing and Fashion Show and Tea at Reid Hospital's Lingle Auditorium, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond, Indiana at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th.

Admission: $10/adults, $7/children 12 & under. Tickets must be purchased by September 13th and are available at the Wayne County Historical Museum, Richmond, Across the Street Antiques, Hagerstown and additional locations in Greens Fork, Cambridge City and Fountain City. For additional information, email celafever@gmail.com or call 765.489.5429.
Richmond Community Orchestra and County Choir* - October 3, 2010
This free event will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 3 in the Centerville High School Auditorium, 507 Willow Grove Road, Centerville, Indiana.

*County residents are invited to sing in the choir. Rehearsals are as follows:
September 9, 7:00 p.m.: Hagerstown United Methodist Church, 199 South Perry St.
September 12, 3:30 p.m.: Central Christian Church, 4511 West National Road, Richmond
September 19, 3:30 p.m.: Central Christian Church, 4511 West National Road, Richmond
October 2, 10-11:30 a.m.: Centerville High School Auditorium, 507 Willow Grove Road, Centerville

For more information and to register to sing, email4jmckinney@comcast.net or celafever@gmail.com or call (765) 489-5429 or 765.935.1745. Singers should attend at least two rehersals, including the one on October 2nd at Centerville High School.

Wayne County Bicentennial Quilt
Bicentennial QuiltArea women, led by Barbara Roll, are creating a special bicentennial quilt that will be a lasting reminder of Wayne County's bicentennial celebration. The quilt will be premiered at a reception at the Wayne County Historical Museum in June and exhibited in several locations around the county.

Sunday, June 13 from 2-4 p.m.
Reception and Open House at the Wayne County Historical Museum

1150 North A Street, Richmond, Indiana

First view of the beautiful quilt created for our Bicentennial and the release of the new Bicentennial book,Wayne County, IN. The Battle for the Courthouse by Carolyn Lafever.
June 19 - 26: Celebrate the Bicentennial at the Wayne County 4-H Fair

Saturday, June 19

  • Civil War and Military Encampment
  • Living History Reenactments
  • 1770-1860 Fashion Show
  • Civil War Ball
  • All Things Wayne County Bookstore
  • Children's Activities

Sunday, June 20

  • Worship Service @ 10:00 a.m.
  • Reenactment
  • Demonstrations
  • Civil War Skirmish
  • 1770-1860 Fashion Show
  • Ice Cream Social
  • All Things Wayne County Bookstore
  • Children's Activities

Bicentennial Events from 3 - 8 p.m. each day.
Activities in the Raper Center, Warm Glow Tent and Living History Tent

  • First Families and Genealogy
  • Living History and Children's Activities
  • Local Authors signing books in the bookstore

Monday, June 21

  • Meet Your Neighbors - in the Raper Center
    Celebrating Abington, Boston and Center Townships.
  • 5:30 p.m. "Caring for Family Treasurers" Speaker: Antique Week Editor, Connie Swaim
  • 6:00 p.m. Antique Appraisals by Antique Dealers. Bring your antiques, $5 each (up to 3) for an appraisal. Check in for appraisals begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Warm Glow Tent.
  • 7:00 p.m. Music of the 50's and Sock Hop on the Outdoor Stage

Tuesday, June 22

  • Meet Your Neighbors - in the Raper Center
    Celebrating Clay, Dalton and Franklin Townships.

Wednesday, June 23

  • Meet Your Neighbors - in the Raper Center
    Celebrating Green, Harrison, and Jackson Townships.
  • Senior Lunch and activities

Thursday, June 24

  • Meet Your Neighbors - in the Raper Center
    Celebrating Jefferson, New Garden and Perry Townships.

Friday, June 25

  • Meet Your Neighbors - in the Raper Center
    Celebrating Washington, Wayne and Webster Townships.
  • Multicultural Day in the Warm Glow Tent
Other Events
Multiple organizations will be planning additional events throughout the year, including the Wayne County Cultural Alliance, Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, Wayne County Historical Museum, Morrisson-Reeves Library and others. Watch WayNet.org's Community Calendar for upcoming events.
Wayne County History Stories
Look for Bicentennial history stories in local media outlets, including the Palladium-Item, Western Wayne News and The Hagerstown Gazette. Writers include: Steve Martin, Phyllis Mattheis, Max Knight, Mary Ann Butters, Bob Hansen, Janis Buhl and Carolyn Lafever.
Kick Off
A kick-off for the Bicentennial celebration was held on January 22, 2010 at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner. Birthday cakes were on each table, along with a new Wayne County map and a video of scenes from the county informed guests during the event.
Wayne County Bicentennial Committee:
  • Carolyn Lafever, Wayne County Historian, Chairperson
  • Denny Burns, Wayne County Commissioner, Hagerstown
  • Chris Beeson, Wayne County Council, Hagerstown
  • Diana Pappin, Richmond City Council, Richmond
  • Janet Wampler, Wayne County Fair Board, Milton
  • Sandy House, Wayne County Fair Board, Hagerstown
  • Ron Morris, Ball State University, Centerville
  • Marilyn Nobbe, Morrisson-Reeves Library
  • Teresa Downs, Teacher, Williamsburg
  • Ralph Downs, Civic War/Military Renactor, Williamsburg
  • Suzanne Derengowski, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Mary Walker, Wayne County Tourism Bureau
Volunteer
If you are interested in planning or volunteering to assist with any of the Bicentennial events, please contact Carolyn Lafever at 765.489.5429.

Donate

As tax dollars are not being used for the celebration, a fund has been created at the Wayne County Foundation to support the efforts of the Wayne County Bicentennial Committee. Contributions can be sent to theWayne County Bicentennial Fund, c/o Wayne County Foundation, 33 South 7th Street, Richmond, IN 47374.

Bicentennial Sponsor Logos

Friends of the Wayne County 200 Year
Perfect Circle Credit Union
Edward Jones/Tony Talbert
Parallax Systems
RP&L
Woman's History Club, Hagerstown
Edward & Carolyn Lafever
Gillam & Zetzl
Knoll, Kolger, Sowers, & Metzger
H & P Tool

Sponsors Giving In-Kind Gifts and Services
Color Box
Indiana National Guard, Richmond
Old National Bank
Rosa's Office Plus
Stegall Berheide Orr
Warm Glow
Wayne County Historical Museum
Wayne County Tourism Bureau
Advanced Septic & Sewer
Express Impressions
Morrisson-Reeves Library
Palladium-Item
RMD Patti
Wallace Heating & Air Conditioning
Wayne County Fair Board
Wayne County Surveyor's Office

Graphic Artists
Carvin Rinehart
Justin Ashbaugh
Jill Moore

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Background

Wayne County Est. in 1810

Contact

Carolyn Lafever
Wayne County Historian & Bicentennial Chairperson
765.489.5429

Contributions

Donate Now!
Please select the "Wayne County Bicentennial Fund"

WayNet is Sponsored by:
Reid Health
We R Richmond - Richmond Community Schools
Morrisson-Reeves Library
City of Richmond, Indiana
Belden

Did You Know?

John Finley, Richmond, Indiana mayor from 1852 until his death in 1866, wrote the poem "The Hoosier's Nest", which is often cited as the first written reference to the word "Hoosier".