McLEAN COUNTY HISTORY & GENEALOGY NEWS
By Euleen Rickard
Recently in Jim Hansford’s History & Genealogy article he listed all the historical markers and monuments in McLean County. Fort Vienna the site of one monument marker has been written about many times. Ken Ward wrote three articles for the McLean County News, one in the early 1970s, one for the Bicentennial in 1976 and another in 1987. In the Bicentennial article he stated that Fort Vienna was founded around 1784 and using a description of the fort taken from Ben F. Landrum’s deposition of 1924, he wrote “the top of the ridge or hill is formed of solid rock and is curved in such a manner as to make a rock formation on three sides with the river forming the forth side, it consisted of fourteen tunnels dug ten to twenty feet back into the hillside.” It was a “cave-fort”, not the “square or rectangular area enclosed by a sharp-poled fence” as we usually picture a fort.
In 1928 the General Evan Shelby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Owensboro marked the site of the old fort with a boulder monument. The unveiling of the monument took place during the 4th annual McLean County Fair.
A McLean County news articles dated October 19, 1928 was headlined ‘AGRICULTURE-SCHOOL FAIR BIG.” It stated that it was the “fourth annual effort of the schools and agricultural organizations of the county to demonstrate to people the advancements of these interests and the progress being made in the schools under the leadership of Superintendent J. W. Dillehay and the teachers of the rural and graded schools, as well as forging along scientific lines some of the more progressive farmers in co-operation with the county agent E. P. Tichenor and his junior club of boys and girls. Evidence of the good work done by Home Demonstration Agent Miss Hazel Vincent and her club women was not wanting as demonstrated by the various articles of handiwork shown at the fair.”
Most of the article gave attention to the new historic marker and the parade of thirty floats, describing it thusly, “the float parade on Thursday afternoon traversed Main and First Streets to the boulder marking the site of Old Fort Vienna.” The General Evan Shelby Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution had charge of unveiling exercises.
The floats were decorated to represent events in the early life of the people of the United States. Awards were given to six of the floats: “The Forty-Miner” Little Grove School; “The Pioneer Home” Reeve School; “The Seal of Kentucky” Sacramento School; “Puritans Going to Church” Glenville School; “Daniel Boone, a Captive” Rumsey School and “Bryan’s Station” Oak Grove School.
There was much praise for the unique design of the marker and for the ceremony that included “a human flag formed by ninety pupils of the Calhoun School under the direction of Mrs. John Priest and Mrs. Wilbur Duke.”
The historic marker at the top of the hill remains today and the tradition of the fair continues. Through the years the fair has grown but things have changed. Today it is sponsored by the Calhoun Lions Club and conducted according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture regulations for the use of state funds. It is held in the summer time and consolidation of the schools has limited school competition, still it remains an event where people work together to make the community a better place.
The museum plans an exhibit on McLean County Fairs. If you have memorabilia of any fair that you would contribute or loan for exhibit, please contact Helen Anderson or Mildred Iglehart. Our exhibit will be open to the public during the coming fair days, July,18th and 19th.