Ohio History Journal

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

PUBLICATIONS.

BUCYRUS CENTENNIAL

The centennial of the city of Bucyrus, Ohio, was

most appropriately celebrated in a program of exercises

extending from October 2 to 5, 1921. There were ad-

dresses by Honorable Harry L. Davis, Governor of

Ohio, Honorable Hugh L. Nichols, former Chief Justice

of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Honorable Benson W.

Hough, Judge of the Supreme Court, Mrs. Frank H.

Alfred, great-granddaughter of Samuel Norton, one of

the founders of Bucyrus, Nevin O. Winter, the well-

known writer of Toledo, Ohio, Honorable Smith W.

Bennett and other prominent citizens. The exercises

throughout were interspersed with music selected espe-

cially for the occasion and this feature of the program

culminated in a grand musical entertainment by the

Bucyrus centennial chorus on Thursday evening,

October 5. This was repeated on the following evening.

An interesting feature of the musical program was the

rendition of Colonel Kilbourne's Bucyrus Song by the

centennial chorus. The words of this song are found

on a subsequent page of the QUARTERLY.

The entire program of the centennial may be said

to have reached its height of interest and enthusiasm in

the remarkable pageant which was presented on Tues-

Vol. XXXI-1.        (1)

Bucyrus Centennial             3

day afternoon. There were fifty-seven separate sections

in the procession, representing various phases of pioneer

life and prominent incidents in the eventful early history

of Bucyrus and Crawford County. The first section

represented the "Spirit of '76" and was contributed by

the American Legion, which figured prominently

through the entire celebration. There were many rep-

resentations of Indians - Indians on the move, Indian

squaws at work, Indian dances, Indians on ponies,

Indian chiefs in council, etc. Colonel Crawford, of

course, occupied a prominent place. There were sections

representing his family, his cavalrymen, his capture by

the Indians and his tragic burning at the stake. Johnny

Appleseed was appropriately remembered. Early farm-

ing implements were in evidence. The founders of the

city, Samuel Norton and Colonel James Kilbourne, were

honored in a number of floats. Different organizations

of Bucyrus and the townships of Crawford County con-

tributed sections of this wonderful pageant and the

present generation had a rare opportunity to witness the

past history of this region move by in pleasing variety

and progressive succession.

A center of special interest throughout the celebra-

tion was the Public Library of Bucyrus, where a really

wonderful display of relics and souvenirs representing

the entire history of Crawford County was on exhibi-

tion. These were systematically arranged with appro-

priate labels. A continuous stream of people passed

through the building and enjoyed the opportunity to

visit this exhibit. The celebration did much not only

to revive interest in the past but to arouse local pride in

present achievement. A historical society has been

organized as a result of this centennial celebration and