Press Release: Carolyn Lafever, Historic Centerville, Inc.
Indiana Bicentennial Torch Event
Pictured: Ed Lafever and Jerry Mattheis work on the exhibit of Log House building tools for the Bicentennial Torch Run event in Centerville IN, Sept 25 2016
Mansion House Hosts A Free Torch Relay Event, Sept. 25,1-4.
Indiana’s Bicentennial Torch Relay through Wayne County will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 25, at the 1840 Mansion House and 1812 Log Courthouse, 214 E. Main, Centerville. IN.
Costumed Guides
The event will be from 1-4 p.m. with the Bicentennial Torch Relay expected to come by between 1:30 and 2:30. The buildings and lawn will have several exhibits related to Wayne County and Indiana’s early years. Costumed guides will give tours of the Mansion House. Other people will be dressed in period costumes portraying men and women of early Wayne County and Centerville, 1810-1822.
The 1812 Log Courthouse was originally built in Salisbury, Wayne County’s first county seat. This is the oldest standing county courthouse in the state and was active in 1816. This was the first of six courthouses built in Wayne County. The log building was meant to be temporary but served the county until 1818. It was rebuilt on the Mansion House property in 1997.
Historical Attractions & Exhibits
Other historical attractions and exhibits will be log house building tools, a fur trader, Elliason’s 200-year old farm, founders of Centerville, Wayne County’s representatives to the 1816 Constitution Convention in Corydon and tours of the 1840s Mansion House property. The Wayne County genealogy society will share about Wayne County’s first families. A book table will have books about Indiana and Wayne County as well as memberships to Historic Centerville.
The event is free. Light refreshments of Wick’s pie samples, cookies and punch will be served. This is an opportunity to learn more about how Wayne County helped in forming the 19th State of the Union – a historical event not to be missed. The event is sponsored by First Bank Richmond, Cinnamon Spice Bakery, Wick’s Pies and Armstrong Dry Cleaners.
For more information call 765-478-5251.
Submitted by Carolyn Lafever, Wayne County Historian
For coverage and pictures of this event, check back in with GoWayneCounty.com, supporting the Wayne County community since 2008.