The Rockport Journal, May 1, 1936

Article was typed as it was worded in the newspaper.

Noted People Visit Pioneer Village

SUMMER FESTIVAL SCHEDULED TO START SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Tourists are coming almost daily now to visit the Lincoln Pioneer Village, several large groups making the tour together.

Teachers are bringing their pupils to let them see the way people once lived here in Spencer county, teaching history in this way makes a lasting impression.

The noted religious leader, Toyohiko Kagawa, who is the outstanding native Christian of Asia, was a visitor at the village two weeks ago coming a great distance to visit the scenes connected with the life of Abraham Lincoln in Spencer county.

These things give our citizens a greater enthusiasm for making plans for another and greater 4th of July celebration this year.

The work at the City Park has progressed nicely and things will be in readiness for the opening of the Lincoln country summer festival on Sunday, June 28.

On that day a religious service will be given in the replica of the Old Pigeon Baptist church and all the churches are asked to cooperate in making this a great religious service.

The committee on arrangements for this opening of the new church are: Mrs. Mina Cook, Mrs. K. C. Atchison, Mrs. Prentis Thurman and Mrs. George Brown.

The Spencer County Historical Society, City Park board and Chamber of Commerce are sponsors for this year’s celebration, with the assistance of the Southwestern Indiana Civic Association, who have voted to take part in the program on July 4th and help in the entire festival, which means the towns in twelve counties of southern Indiana.

Ben Curtis is program chairman, Hilbert Bennett and Claude Snyder are the parade committee, with Loney Parsley marshal of parade. The Lincoln play written by Miss Alice Hebert of Evansville will be produced on the night of July 3 at the high school gym under the direction of Mrs. Bess Ehrmann and Miss Lucille Richards, which will be in the nature of a prelude for the celebration on the following day.

Frank Stewart, Thomas Fortune, Clarence Underhill, Hilbert Bennett and Henry Hoch are to have charge of the concessions in the park for July 4th.

Get ready for the biggest Fourth of July celebration ever in Spencer county, bring your family and friends to see the great Lincoln Pioneer Village.

Four new buildings have been erected in the village this winter by WPA workers under the direction of George Honig, artist and sculptor. These log houses are most outstanding and are worth going miles to see. They are replicas of the Old Pigeon Baptist church where Thomas Lincoln and wife were members, the Lincoln grew to manhood and the Daniel Grass home, founder of Rockport and a member of the Constitutional Convention.