Logan County is about to turn 200 years old and local historical, political and tourism leaders have begun planning a yearlong birthday bash.
Logan County was officially formed by an act of the Ohio Legislature passed on Dec. 30, 1817, that took effect March 1, 1818, according to official histories of Logan County published in 1880 and 1982.
The bicentennial will be celebrated throughout 2018 with a kickoff event that is expected to include tours of the Logan County Courthouse. Events later in the year are being planned for the various villages and townships as well as a large countywide gathering in downtown Bellefontaine in mid-summer.
Commissioner John Bayliss said at the Tuesday planning meeting that he expects the courthouse restoration to be complete by the March timeframe to kick off the festivities.
“We are working now to bring the building together and wrap up the construction inside,” the commissioner said. “But we expect the courthouse would be ready for people to come in in time for a spring event.”
Logan County History Center Curator Todd McCormick, one of the primary organizers of the bicentennial celebration, said he has already begun organizing a collection of 200 artifacts that will be displayed throughout the museum for its annual exhibit. An open house to showcase that exhibit is being planned for April, he said.
The following months will be focused on villages and unincorporated communities, the planners said. They are trying to reach out to the various village leaders to find existing events that can be billed as bicentennial events — such as the DeGraff Country Fair, the Logan Hills Festival in Zanesfield or Fourth of July or Memorial Day celebrations.
“Our goal is to get as many people involved as possible,” McCormick said.
“We need people to feel like this is not just a Bellefontaine event,” volunteer Warren Taylor said.
Bellefontaine, however, will be the centerpiece of a larger event that is currently being planned for July 21, the organizers said.
In addition to a large festival style gathering with music, food and activities, there was talk of a series of parades that lead from various communities and converge at either the Logan County Fairgrounds or in downtown Bellefontaine.
The group is seeking additional volunteers to get involved in planning and executing activities in the various communities. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact the Logan County History Center, 521 E. Columbus Ave., at (937) 593-7557 or the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, 100 S. Main St., at (937) 599-5121.
The next planning meeting has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Logan County History Center.