The date was May 25, 1916, Homecoming Day.

In Pendleton began a three-day celebration of the centennial of the State of Indiana at Idlewold Park; this celebration represented Pendleton, Fall Creek Township and Madison County.

The celebration started on a Friday at 5:30 a.m. with a 21-gun salute. Stephenson Hair fired the “Whistling Dick.” (Hair and the cannon are a story for another time.)

By afternoon it was estimated that attendance was between 2,500 to 3,000 on that first day of celebration, with the public bringing picnic baskets of food to enjoy in the evening along the banks of Fall Creek.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

At that time there were cottages at Idlewold. Those cottages were rented out to civic organizations of the day: Franchise League, Grand Army of the Republic, League of Madison County, Pendleton Public Library, Literary Coterie and the Curio Committee. The Red Cross had a tent to treat those overcome by the heat or injured.

The schools organized groups of students who provided entertainment from the day of the settlers, such as the Pendleton Boys Band, May Pole Dance, Club and Wand Drills and Virginia Reel. There were many speakers, and the program lasted well into the evening.

According to the records at Pendleton Historical Museum and pictures kept of the event, young ladies of the area dressed in costume to represent a Quaker, an Indian and a Dunkard girl and clothing of the decades 1830, 1850, 1860, 1890 and 1916.

Our records do not tell what transpired the remaining two days. However, it being at that time only 100 years after the start of the state and less than that of the town, there would be many residents who could share stories and the history of the days not too long after their starts.

Noel is president of the Pendleton Historical Museum board.