The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-02-10
FAILS
PROPERLY TO
MARK MANY
NOTED SPOTS
Morton's Birthplace, Under
ground Railroad and Site
of Clay's Speech Are With
out Explanatory Tablets.
PEOPLE ARE NEGLIGENT
BY w. r. PoUNDsToNE

The average Richmond citizen
is proud Of his city. He delights
to tell the visitor of the city's in
dustrial activities, of it's beauty
and the culture of it's people.
Of the history of the commu-
rity most visitors learn but lit
tie for the average Richmond
citizen has an amazingly small
knowledge of this interesting
subject, interesting not only To-
cally but to any intelligent Wis
itor, for no community in the
state has a richer history than
Richmond and Wayne county.
Other Cities Realize Need.
In this movement for bigger, bet
ter Richmond the city and its environs
must be well advertised to provide a
basis for INDUSTRIAL expansion, fact
younger and more enterprising west
ern communities realized some years
ago, and into this scheme of advertis.
ing might be incorporated plan for
emphasizing the city's historical i'm
pcrtance.
Why not preserve historical land
marks CT the city and county, provide
memo1 i0!s fo- the community's distin-
suishcd sons c1d daughters and erect
suitable markers On sites where his
tcric1l c,CN5 transpircd?
~. NJ Ordinary Rcad
TraiiiaS through three of the
ccunty's largest towns. Richmond,
Centerviilc and Cambridge City, and
forming their main traffic artery is the
ancient National road, the very dust
of which is laden with historic ro-
nance, but to the ordinary traveller of
this famed highway it is nothing more
than an ordinary road.
Who knows that the Dublin bridge
on this highway Is only one remaining
Of the numerous bridges constructed
by the Federal government in the
building of the road? No marker tells
its story.
Who knows the story of old School
fields tavern in Dublin, a haven of
hospitality, in its time, to weary stage
travellers on the lane to the golden
west" No shaft nor marker relates
its history, yet it once sheltered the
chief executive of the republic, Presi-
dent Fillmore, who came in a stage on
an inspection trip
Few Recall Historic Trip.
Only few of the Oldest residents
OF the western part of the county re-
call the fact that when President Fill
more departed from Schoolfields tav-
ern the road was so muddy that his
stage could not be operated and he
was placed in a light roadwagon, the
seat of which was a quecnswGre crate;
only these Oldest inhabitants recall the
hostile demonstration on the part of
the townspeople when the chief execu-
tive left Dublin, a demonstration re-
sulting from Filmore's action in stop
ping the completion of the highway
because he regarded authorization of
the work "class legislation
One of the most important pages in
the nations history prior to the Civil
war relates to the famous Under |
ground Railway" which transported so
many negroes from southern slavery /!
to Canadian freedom, and the most i'm |
portant station" of this railroad"
Was located in Fountain City.
Know Little Of History.
In this building, which still stands, |
was once sheltered Eliza Harris, the !
heroine Of Uncle Toms Cabin" This |
louise in many communities would be !
a priceless relic. Wayne county folks
know very little of its absorbing his |
tory
Who knows the site Of Camp Wayne
near Richmond, where so many Ind |
lana troops were modified and trained |
during the Civil war? Why not erect
a handsome memorial shaft on this
historic site?
Who knows the site of the first
building erected in Richmond? Men,
bers of the county board of commiss-
toner's can see it any day from court
house windows Why not mark this
historic landmark?
Morton's Home Unmarked.
What is being done to preserve the
birthplace of the county's greatest son,
one of the greatest Of all Americans,
Oliver p. Morton, Indiana'N war gov
ernor." 1t r.ands in Ce;'t3rville, but
no marker nor memorial tells its story
to the chance pilgrims to its doors. +
To the everlasting shame of the
county no statute has ever been erect
ed to Morton, although the state has
paid signal honor to his memory at
the state house.
Who knows the location of the place
where Henry Clay made his famous
speech which cost him the Presidency?
II is i'm Richmond. /;