Page 8 - Demo

In 1949, with the Indiana Territory%u2019s 150thbirthday approaching, the state%u2019s General Assembly created the Indiana Territory Sesquicentennial Commission. Its purpose was to %u201cobserve appropriately%u201d the upcoming anniversary, however no money was appropriated for the project. As a result, its chairman, Judge Curtis G. Shake, secured funding from sponsors such as the Indiana Motor Trucking Association, the Indiana State Police, and Shell Oil Co.The goal of the Indiana Territory Sesquicentennial Commission was to celebrate the anniversary statewide by getting as many people as possible to participate through educational materials and programming. The result was a traveling exhibit%u2014the Hoosier History Caravan, which debuted in Vincennes, then went on to visit every county in Indiana over a four-month period. To pay for the Caravan, the Commission received $2,000 in donations, $267.20 in royalties from the sale of commemorative plates, and $103.50 from other sources, for a total income of $2,370.70. The total expenses were slightly less, at $2,328.12, and it was decided to donate the difference of $42.58 to the Indiana Historical Society. Not surprisingly, the biggest celebration took place in Vincennes%u2014the former capital of the Indiana Territory. Mr. F. Albert Reiman, general chairman of the local festivities, was instrumental in creating 42 separate committees. They ranged from Decorations to Finance, and Novelties to Traffic. For those interested in philately, Willard Goodson represented the local Fort Sackville Stamp Club.Don Kendall, %u201ca Harvard man,%u201d was in charge of publicity for the Vincennes%u2019 celebration, which ran from Friday, July 1 through Tuesday the 4th. During those four days, downtown merchants decorated their windows with displays that included early pharmaceutical and surgical equipment, vintage maps, a visual explanation of the evolution of locomotives, and pioneer costumes. The Shriners sold soft drinks and sandwiches, and the Red Cross set up first aid