The Newcomerstown Bicentennial:“Celebrating with pride, our History, our Present, the legacy of our Future”

  • By Teri Stein
  • February 17, 2014
  • 431
                        
Summary: The party kicked off on Dec. 31, 2013 and continues throughout 2014 as Newcomerstown celebrates their history, present, and future in a grand celebration of their bicentennial. 2014 is proving to be a big year for the small community of Newcomerstown. The residents kicked off their Bicentennial Year on Dec. 31, 2013 with a First Night Celebration and the fun just keeps on coming. It’s all a result of the Newcomerstown Bicentennial Committee, which was formed in 2011. The committee is comprised of approximately 20 people from the area. The first night celebration went better than expected. “People said it was the best thing that happened in Newcomerstown and can we do it again next year,” said Pat Cadle of Newcomerstown, who co-chairs the committee along with William McCulley of Columbus, a former Newcomerstown resident. Cadle was happy to report that there is a committee in place to continue the first night celebration. Newcomerstown is a tight knit community of residents, many who have lived there for generations. “I feel like a relative newcomer and I’ve lived here 33 or 34 years,” said Cadle who served in Newcomerstown’s school system over the years as a teacher, guidance counselor, and principal. The committee has activities planned for each month in 2014. “There is something for everyone,” said Cadle. “We’ve had good support from the businesses and the citizens,” he added. “The most gratifying thing with so many people on the committee is you always have someone who can help you.” The village was founded in 1814 but its history dates to around 1750 or earlier when the members of the Delaware tribe settled there calling the village Gekelemukpechunk. According to the Newcomerstown Historical Society website the handful of colonists living in the village called it Newcomerstown after Chief Newcomer. Another story has the village named for a female newcomer who was brought to the village as a captive and was taken as a new wife by Chief Eagle Feather. Eagle Feather’s current wife became enraged and killed the Chief and his new wife. Warriors then killed the first wife and named the village in honor of the newcomer. After the Delaware moved their settlement, Newcomerstown was settled by Nicholas Neighbor and a new group of settlers, becoming an official village in 1814. It was noted that the village boomed during the era of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Famous Newcomerstown residents include baseball legend Cy Young, who was born in nearby Gilmore, and The Ohio State University football coaching legend Woody Hayes, who grew up in Newcomerstown and graduated from the local high school. The Bicentennial Committee not only wants to celebrate Newcomerstown’s birthday but also to show residents how much they have to be proud of. The committee hopes their efforts will attract the attention of businesses who would like to locate in the village with its easy access to I-77 and a reliable workforce that values their community. The public is encouraged to participate on March 1 – 2 in the Bicentennial Art Show to be held at the Newcomerstown Union Hall from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The hall is located at 150 North River Street in the village. The event is a juried art show for all ages. “We are looking forward to that. We tried to provide a variety of activities that will interest everyone,” said Cadle. April will be a month dedicated to Veterans. The first week of April will feature a parade for Veterans, the second week a dinner, the third week will be a dance to honor Veterans, and the event for the fourth week will teach about honoring the American flag and how to care for it. An event whose date is yet to be finalized is a project for students from the high school to interview and video senior citizens talking about their memories of the village. The information will be used to create a time capsule and a video available for purchase. Talking to senior citizens and recording their stories is important. “You lose so much of your history every time a senior citizen dies,” said Cadle. Some of the many other events scheduled are a quilt show, Spring Fling dance, Golf outing, Cy Young celebration, July 4th Fireworks, Bicentennial Scavenger Hunt, Car Show, photography contest, Delaware Days, a community play, and ending the year will be the burial of a time capsule on Dec. 31, 2014. For more information visit the bicentennial website at www.newcomerstownbicentennial2014.com.


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