THE FIRST ANNUAL HISTORICAL

ST. CLAIR DAY

NOVEMBER 6, 1792-1922
Originated by

PREBLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

PROGRAM

12:15-1:30 at the Old Fort. Flag Salute

Wilcox, New Paris, Ohio.

(21 guns) C. M.

Unveiling of Monument - Marion McPherson, Eldorado. Remarks C. B. Galbreath of the State Historical and Archæological Society, Columbus, Ohio.

Music Girls' Sextette - Union High School, Lewisburg, Ohio.

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1:30 P. M. Assembly Room of Court House

Music Girls' Sextette - Union High School.

The Story of Fort St. Clair - Ralph Ehler, West Alexandria High School.

Lost Treasures (Columbus meeting the Indians) - Pupils of Jefferson Township High School.

The Birth of the Flag Pupils of Jackson Township Schools. Chorus The Star Spangled Banner.

Address C. B. Galbreath, Columbus, Ohio.

Vocal Solo Oleson Zimmerman, Gratis High School.
Lowry's Skirmish at Ludlow's Spring

School.

Monroe Township High

Music Quartette Monroe Township High School.

Evening 7:30 P. M. Assembly Room Court House

Music - Pupils of Jefferson Township Schools.

Surrender of Indians at Greenville Pupils of Dixon Township Schools.

Legends of Early Preble County History - Frank Blackford, Eldorado, Ohio.

Mad Anthony Wayne in Preble County - Pupils of Camden Schools.

Music Mrs. Marie Burns, Mrs. Stella Risinger, Helen Young and Roy Benham.

An Original Indian Play - Dramatized by group of girls, Eaton

School.

Aims of Preble County Historical Society - President H. R.

McPherson, Eldorado, Ohio.

Cornet Solo with Piano Accompaniment - Charles and Mary Cottingham, Eaton, Ohio.

Some of the historic episodes announced in the program were given with appropriate costumes. The rendering of the different parts by the schools of the county was highly creditable to the participants. There

was no prompting or break. The list of exercises is presented above in full in order that it may be suggestive to other counties of the state.

The Dayton Daily News of November 7, the day following the exercises, has on its front page a number

of illustrations of the unveiling of the monument and the following account of the exercises:

EATON, Nov. 7.- With ceremonies fully in keeping with the occasion, the first annual historical St. Clair Day was observed here Monday afternoon and evening by the Preble County Historical Society and citizens of the county. The day marked the anniversary of an important battle between whites and Indians at Ft. St. Clair, one mile west and slightly to the south of Eaton. The date was November 6, 1792.

The commemorative ceremonies included unveiling and dedication of a monument at Ft. St. Clair in the afternoon, followed by a program of exercises in the assembly hall in the court house.

C. B. Galbreath of Columbus, secretary of the State Archæological and Historical Society, gave the dedicatory address at the unveiling of the monument. He also gave an address later at the meeting in the court house. In dedicating the monument he paid a touching tribute to the heroes who fell in battle at the historic old fort. He said they had waited 130 years for the tribute that was being paid them today. He declared it most fitting that the monument dedicated to their memory should be erected by a veteran of the Civil War - Major W. H. Ortt.

The monument was unveiled by little Miss Marion McPherson of Eldorado, daughter of H. R. McPherson, president of the County Historical Society. A flag salute of 21 rounds from a cannon was fired. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Charles F. Irwin, Eaton Presbyterian Church, an overseas chaplain and chaplain of the American Legion post of the county.

The monument dedicated at the old fort stands fully eight feet in height and weighs eight and one-half tons. It is a native Preble county boulder and was procured from the farm of Clarence Dalrymple, two and one-half miles north of Eaton. A tablet in the face of the monument bears this inscription: "Erected by William H. Ortt in October, 1922. Sacred to the memory of the soldiers who fought and died in the battle with the Indians at Ft. St. Clair, Nov. 6, 1792." The tablet is of bronze, 21 by 16 inches, and is the handiwork of Dr. C. M. Wilcox of New Paris. The flag staff also was erected by Major Ortt. A concrete base has been installed at the fort to receive a cannon and balls he will contribute.

Graves of six warriors who fell in the Indian battle have been placed in proper condition and marked with headstones. The stones bear these names: Lieut. Job Hale, Kentucky militia,

Firing salute of twenty-one guns over the graves of the soldiers who fell at Fort St. Clair. Major Ortt at the extreme right. Dr. Wilcox to his left and in front. Mrs. E. G. Clerke,

cannoneer

killed in battle with Indians, November 6, 1792; OrderlySergeant Matthew English, Private John Williams, Private Isaac Jett, Private Joseph Clinton, Private Robert Bolling.

The Indian hordes in the battle were led by Little Turtle, while Capt. John Adair led the opposition. The fort took its name from Gen. Arthur St. Clair, then governor of the Northwest Territory.

The ceremonies observed upon the 130th anniversary of the Ft. St. Clair battle were conceived by the county historical society, formed a little more than a year ago. It is the hope of the society to reclaim the site of the old fort. A plan of procedure looking to this end is being worked out.

The attendance and manifest enjoyment in the celebration of this day evidenced the fact that nothing so stimulates interest in local history as the participation of the public schools. Preble County is fortunate in having in its court house at Eaton an ample audience room communicating with the office of the Superintendent of Schools. This room was filled to its capacity by an attentive audience that remained throughout the rendition of the program.

The occasion brought visitors from outside of the county. Among them was Mrs. E. G. Clerke, daughter of Dr. C. M. Wilcox. She came from Cincinnati and acted as cannoneer in firing the salute preceding the dedicatory ceremonies at the monument. The excellent work inaugurated by the celebration of St. Clair Day at Eaton has had its sequel in provision by the General Assembly for the purchase of the St. Clair site and its improvement as detailed in the following items included in the appropriation bill passed by the General Assembly.

Vol. XXXII-33.