Buckeye State bicentennial bashes

05-18-2003

When Congress voted to accept its constitution in 1803, Ohio became the 17th state in the Union. This year, the Buckeye State is celebrating its bicentennial. Dozens of local observations will be held this summer, but five "signature" events are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Here's a quick, chronological look at what's planned.

Path to Statehood: Bicentennial Wagon Train -- On June 21, a procession of at least 13 mule-drawn wagons will leave Martins Ferry on the Ohio River near Wheeling and head west along old Route 40, retracing the path taken by the state's original settlers. Proceeding at about 12 miles per day, the Bicentennial Wagon Train will arrive in the town of New Paris on the Indiana border on July 14. Up to 130 people can come along for the ride for a day, a week or more. The cost is $25 per day, which covers three meals and accommodations. Registration closes on June 6. Information: 1-614-543-0299 or www.worthington.org.

Columbus celebration -- Exciting plans are under way for a celebration in Ohio's capital, the Red, White & Bicentennial Boom on July 3. Initial plans call for the largest fireworks in the Midwest, a street festival, parade along the Downtown Riverfront at 7 p.m. and live music. The Bicentennial festivities continue throughout the Independence Day weekend. 1-614-421-2666 or www.redwhiteandboom.org.

Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration -- July 3-20. The Dayton area is also celebrating the pivotal roles played by its native sons Wilbur and Orville Wright in the development of airplanes. A series of special events will take place during this three weeks, including a hot air balloon rally (July 4-6), international blimp meet (July 11-13) and air show (July 17-20). 1-937-222-0065 or www.inventingflight.com.

Celebration of Lake Erie Heritage: Ohio Bicentennial Tall Ships -- July 9-20. Seventeen historic vessels ranging in length from 72 feet to 244 feet will be the largest gathering of Tall Ships on Lake Erie since the 1800s. The regatta will visit Cleveland from July 9 to 13 and Toledo from July 16 to 20. Both events will feature live entertainment, big bands, strolling musicians and street performers, cannon battles and military re-enactments. In Toledo, those itching to get on deck can sign up for day sails down the Maumee River.

Cleveland info: 1-888-427-2673 or www.clevelandharborfest.com.

Toledo info: 1-419-243-8251 or www.tallshipstoledo.com.

Tall Stacks on the Ohio River -- Oct. 15-19. This is an annual event in Cincinnati, but this year will feature a bicentennial theme. Up to 20 riverboats from 15 cities and 11 states will gather for five days of cruises and races, on-shore exhibits, activities and musical entertainment, with nightly fireworks. 1-866-497-8255 or www.tallstacks.com.

For whom the bells toll -- In addition to these signature events, the Ohio Bicentennial Commission has been casting commemorative bicentennial bells on site in each of the Buckeye State's 88 counties on weekends throughout the year.

The ambitious project is being carried out by the Cincinnati-based Verdin Co., the world's largest bell company. Since 1842, the company has provided bells and ringing equipment to more than 30,000 churches. Perhaps best known for creating and casting the 33-ton, 12-foot-tall World Peace Bell for the millennium celebration, other notable Verdin commissions include London's Big Ben and the bells at San Juan Capistrano mission.

The bicentennial bells are being handmade in the centuries-old European tradition, when casting was done locally to minimize the high cost and difficulty of transportation. To complete the project, Verdin has put together a traveling foundry that produces each bell in a two-day public event, often coinciding with a local festival or activity.

Molded in the American style of the Liberty Bell, each bell will be personalized with a county name, forging date, the Great Seal of Ohio and the bicentennial logo. For each cast, 500 pounds of bronze ingots are melted in a furnace. While the furnace is heating, a mold is prepared. The mold, customized for each county, is held in place by a mixture of more than 200 pounds of sand and resin in a steel box, called a flask. When the metal reaches 2,200 degrees, bell casters transfer the molten metal into a ladle and then pour it into the mold. The bell is left to cool overnight.

The next day, the hardened, sand-resin mold is cracked with a ceremonial sledge hammer. Then the bell is sandblasted and polished to a high shine. Some sections are treated with stain and polished again. Then the bell is ready to be dedicated and rung for the first time.

In upcoming weekends, bells will be cast in the following counties:

May 24-25: Cuyahoga County, Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland.

May 31-June 1: Summit County, City Faire, Akron.

June 6-7: Miami County, Strawberry Festival, Troy.

June 14-15: Defiance County, Bell Festival, Defiance.

June 21-22: Jefferson County, Bicentennial Festival, Steubenville.

June 24-25: Trumbull County, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Cafaro Field, Niles.

June 30 to July 1: Marion County, County Fair, Marion.

Twenty-eight more castings will take place at other locations through Oct 25.

Bicentennial logos -- In a related project, Ohio artist Scott Hagan has painted the Ohio bicentennial logo on one barn in each of the state's 88 counties as well as the Football Hall of Fame in Canton. More than 500 new historical markers have been placed along Ohio roads and highways.

For a complete list of locations for barns, bell castings and other Ohio Bicentennial events and attractions, visit www.ohio200.com.

Fort Meigs restoration -- The Ohio Historical Society has completed a $6.2 million restoration of Fort Meigs, a 10-acre, log-wall enclosure overlooking the Maumee River in Perrysburg, several miles southwest of Toledo.

Built originally in 1813 under the direction of Gen. William Henry Harrison as a staging area for a proposed invasion of Canada during the War of 1812, the fort was the site of two sieges by British, Canadian and Indian forces that spring. The breaking of those sieges helped turned the tide of the war and pave the way for Oliver Hazard Perry's celebrated Lake Erie victory over the British Navy.

Although the original fort moldered into ruin, it was rebuilt and opened to the public in 1975 and is the largest log fort reconstruction in the nation. In addition to significant site improvements, the 2003 restoration adds a museum and education center. A series of special observations is planned for this year, beginning with a grand encampment and re-creations of the historic battles at 2 p.m. May 24 and 25. Fort Meigs is open Wednesday through Sunday through Labor Day. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for students 6 and older. Information: 1-800-283-8916 or www.fortmeigs.org.

[Back to Articles Main]