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Indiana Bicentennial Celebration 2016
Blackford County
Q&A with County Coordinator JayLene Bear-Daugherty
What do you consider the key accomplishment(s) of your county’s bicentennial celebration?
- I would consider the key accomplishments: Award Ceremony, Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay, the lunch provided for 360 people, the speeches given by Kathy Bantz, Ben Hogin and Kevin Mahan. Each speech was unique to each area of the County.
What Legacy Project do you most like to tell people about, and why?
- While all Legacy are just as important as the other. The Women of Worth was the most outstanding as they created a book that told stories about the County and the residents.
Describe a highlight or most memorable moment related to your county's bicentennial celebration.
- I believe the most memorable was when Martha Hunter carried the Torch out of the Court House to take it on her journey to finish her part of the torch relay.
How/where are you preserving information and artifacts related to your county's celebration?
- We are preserving a Time Capsule in the Blackford County High School and Historical Society Building.
Total number of volunteers who participated.
- 22 Voulnteers.
Estimated total attendance.
- Estimated around 450 people including the students.
Estimated dollar amount raised.
- $5,000 was given from the City of Hartford and County Commissioner.
Estimated dollar amount spent.
- $5,000.
Blackford County Legacy Projects
- Bicentennial Flag Raising and Inaugural Civil War Artillery Deployment
- Bicentennial Living History Reenactment
- From the Heartland – Indiana Authors and Other Notable Hoosiers
- Growing Together
- Hartford City Park Expansion – Bicentennial Nature Trust
- Speaking of Yesterday
Blackford County Facts
The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Blackford County is the home of Colonel Kevin Ford who piloted the Space Shuttle Discovery for 13 days on Mission ‘STS 128’.
It’s also home to Jim Kline, who was recognized in 2011 as North America’s Top Producer by Top Producer Magazine.
Beginning in the late 1880s, the discovery of natural gas and crude oil in the county (and surrounding region) caused the area to undergo an economic boom period known as the Indiana Gas Boom.
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Hartford City Civil War Days – Step back in time to the period of 1861 to see how the Civil War soldiers dressed, lived and fought. This event is a reenactment and living history that covers the time period in which our county was divided as a Nation.
See demonstrations, on-going presentations, three battles which cover Shiloh. Visit the settler who sold their goods to the soldiers and civilians. Walk through the camps and converse with soldiers and civilians. Enjoy period and non-period food. Watch the oxen pull the CSA artillery. Visit blacksmiths, weavers, spinners, the medicine show and more.
Originally, the county was mostly swampland, but more land became available for farming as the marshes were cleared and drained. Agriculture continues to be important in the county.
County Seat: Hartford City
Year Organized: 1838
Square Miles: 165.08
