History New Pekin, Indiana

1 history

1.1 old pekin
1.2 fourth of july celebration
1.3 morgan s raid
1.4 2012 tornado

history

the land town of new pekin first entered on august 25, 1818. original town plat made on december 23, 1883 w. a. graves. town of new pekin incorporated in 1903 provide funds build , operate school.

the new pekin post office has been in operation since 1840.

old pekin

on september 29, 1819, isaac davis entered section 30 in become polk township. several years later in 1831 christian bixler laid out town of pekin on south side of mutton fork, blue river.

before 1831, there several buildings @ location. 1830 stage coaches making regular runs between jeffersonville , salem. wagon route between salem , new albany passed through area. pekin staging stop horses watered , changed.

the town prospered until 1851 when railroad completed. train station built on more level north side of blue river. businesses gradually migrated new location. in 1854 county commissioners declared town vacant , area became known old pekin.

fourth of july celebration

the town of new pekin claims distinction of having oldest consecutive independence day celebration in united states of america. pekin began celebrating independence day in year 1830. bristol, rhode island claims have celebrated since 1785.

few historical facts earliest celebrations exist, information available coming oral tradition. first several celebrations said neighborhood affairs, though assumed did not stay way long. many families lived in surrounding townships , there few social activities.

various sources recount celebration held near old pekin 1830 until 1856. circa 1857 celebration moved near blue river, festivities held until 1885. in either 1872 or 1873 picnic held @ farm of james campbell, had built recreational area.

the fall of 1884 saw completion of fairgrounds. following year, celebration moved new fairgrounds. many local residents did not agree celebration being moved there , held second celebration @ tash grove.

in 1909, gill brothers bought southern part of old fairgrounds, became known gill s grove. became present location of pekin community park, celebration has been held every year since.

today celebration consists of fireworks display, parade, live bands, three-on-three basketball tournament, carnival, food vendors, flea market, reading of united states declaration of independence, prince , princess contest, horseshoe pitching contest, queen contest, cookouts , many other small celebrations around town of pekin.

morgan s raid

on july 11, 1863, while crossing blue river near new pekin, captain william j. davis of morgan s raid , of men captured 73rd indiana volunteers , detachment of 5th u.s. regulars. captain davis , several other soldiers taken new albany, indiana , secured in county jail.

2012 tornado

on march 2, 2012, ef4 tornado hit new pekin. 5 fatalities in washington county occurred in new pekin. debris new pekin found 160 miles away in pleasant plain, ohio.