Bicentennial

Daviess County a look into the past

200

years

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Bicentennial

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, May 29, 2015

May 30 Program 11:30 a.m.

Children’s activities from 12:45 to 3:15 p.m.

Kentucky Youth Chorale

Meet Miss Daviess County

Vintage/Pioneer Lawn Games

Sons of American Revolution Present Colors

Owensboro “Balloon” Twisters

Bicentennial colored pages to exhibit in courthouse

Ringing of the Courthouse Bell at noon

Face Painting

Mini-archaeology dig

Welcome by Joseph Hamilton Daveiss Opening prayer by Sister Sharon Sullivan, Ursuline Sister The Future as shared by Isaac Settle Greetings from: • Judge Al Mattingly – Daviess County’s 24th Judge Executive • Introduction of Local and State Elected Officials • Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne • Whitesville Mayor Greg Beyke Presentation of Proclamations Bicentennial Poem by Joe Survant Presentation of Daviess County Bicentennial Book, Print and Coin to Judge Mattingly Unveiling of Quilt Block – created by Daviess County Barn Quilt Trail Committee

Entertainment 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. Clogging on St. Ann Street with Barry Lanham 1 - 1:25 p.m. Wild Mountain Thyme 1:30 – 1:55 p.m. Michael Johnson

3 p.m. Happy Birthday Festivities 3 p.m. “The Spirit of Daviess County” written by Randy Lanham and Rick Miller, performed by Randy Lanham

2 - 2:25 p.m. Men’s Mass Community Choir

Celebrating Our Diversity – words from Joseph Hamilton Daveiss

2:30 - 3 p.m. Owensboro Community Band

3:30 p.m. Open Time Capsule

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Friday, May 29, 2015 Messenger-Inquirer

Bicentennial

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The founding of Daviess County

BY BETH NOFFSINGER

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MESSENGER-INQUIRER

he Revolutionary War was on-going when the first settlers arrived it what is now Daviess County, Kentucky. But it would be more than three decades before Daviess County would become the state’s 58th county.

The first settlers in Daviess County — Presley Smith, Peter Smith, William Stagg, Isaac Bowman, James Ross, Hannah Severns and Vangelist Haden — are believed to have arrived here sometime between 1776 and 1778.

Sometime around 1797-1798, Bill Smeathers, for whom Smothers Park in downtown Owensboro is named — became the first known white settler in the portion of Daviess County now known as Owensboro. The settlement was first called Yellow Banks because of

the color of its soil by the river.

Former County Judge George W. Triplett, who came to Daviess County in 1833, wrote years later that Bill Smeathers, Valentine Felty Husk and James Smeathers came here about the same time, followed

by Rodger Potts in 1802, the Messenger-Inquirer previously reported.

“The whole country, hills and river bottoms was almost a dense cane-break,” he wrote, “and filled with bear, deer, wolves and other wild animals, also turkeys in great abundance.”

It wasn’t until 1815 that Daviess County was officially created.

The county is named for Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, an attorney who lived briefly in his namesake county on a plantation called Cornland, the Messenger-Inquirer previously reported.

Daveiss was a U.S. attorney for

the state of Kentucky who signed on as a major in Gen. William Henry Harrison’s army to fight American Indians in the Wabash Valley of Indiana. He was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe on Nov. 7, 1811.

Counties in four states are named for Daveiss — though they spell their names with the i before the e.

In 1806, a post office was created at Yellow Banks, and a little more than a decade later, the settlement was officially named Owensborough when the city was incorporated.

The city is named in honor of Col. Abraham Owen, who like Daveiss, was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Owen was a Shelby County legislator, the MessengerInquirer reported, and he never visited the area that bears his name.

It wasn’t until 1866 that the modern spelling Owensboro began to be used.

JOSEPH HAMILTON DAVEISS

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Bicentennial

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, May 29, 2015

Calendar of Events May 29-30

Echoes of Elmwood at Elmwood Cemetery 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each evening.

These performances will all be tent shows.

Tickets are $15 per person. Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount.

May 30

Bicentennial 5K Run/Walk at Mount Saint Joseph Race begins at 8 a.m.

This race is held in partnership with Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.

May 30

Bicentennial Birthday Bash Noon – 4 p.m., Daviess County Courthouse This is the official ceremony of the year-long participation in community events highlighting Daviess County’s history and culture.

This is a free event. The 1965 Time Capsule buried on the lawn will be opened and the contents revealed. There will be dancing, music, children’s activities and free birthday cake.

May 30 - August 15

“Daviess County: Through the Lens of Art” at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art This event is the opening gala for “Daviess County: Through the Lens of Art.” A public reception is scheduled 6:30-8:30 p.m., May 30. Admission is free.

June 1 - June 30

Commemorative Postmark In honor of the 200th Birthday of Daviess County, the U.S. Postal Service has granted a special bicentennial postmark. The Post Offices at 4th Street, downtown Owensboro, and Whitesville will postmark your mail with the commemorative stamp during June.

June 1 - June 30

Owensboro Antique Mall Stroll around Downtown Owensboro and visit the Owensboro Antique Mall, located at 500 West 3rd Street. There will be a variety of historic memorabilia arranged in booths. Free Admission, but most items are available for purchase.

June 6

Book Signing of ‘Daviess County Celebrating our Heritage 10 a.m. – Noon, Owensboro Antique Mall The Daviess County Bicentennial History is a topical history of the county from its earliest settlement to today.

There are chapters on roads, railroads, river navigation, air service, the Civil War and other wars, education, churches and religion, agriculture, coal mining, barbecue tradition,

fine arts and cultural development, social developments, and women’s lives.

June 9 - June 13

Bicentennial Art Camp 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Owensboro Museum of Fine Art The second in the annual series of free art camps will celebrate Daviess County’s Bicentennial and feature the Kentucky Historical Society’s HistoryMobile.

Children will tour the mobile’s exhibition, “Torn Within and Threatened Without: Kentuckians in the Civil War,” and then create works of art based upon the Civil War experience in Kentucky.

Registration is required and may be made by contacting the museum at info@omfa.us or 270-685-3181. Admission is free.

June 13

Soap Box Derby with “Bicentennial Bash” trophy at Ben Hawes Park

June 19

Balloons Over the Garden 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., West Kentucky Botanical Garden Children will receive Daviess County coloring books, wooden nickels and have the chance to interact with living history actors.

June 19

Speakers include: Aloma Dew on Women during the Civil War in Daviess County, Isaac Settle on Research for Black Civil War Soldiers’ Historical Marker, Leslie McCarty on Kentucky Room Sources for Research and Glen Hodges on the Civil War in Daviess County.

June 27

Whitesville “Fireworks in the Park” 5 – 9 p.m., Whitesville Community Park Drive East on KY 54 to Whitesville, Kentucky to enjoy their celebration in the lovely Community Park.

July 4

Fireworks Spectacular 6 p.m. – 1 a.m., Downtown Owensboro Join downtown Owensboro for a display of fireworks from the combined city and county recognition of our nations independence and Daviess County’s 200th birthday.

Performance by the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.

July 11

Memorabilia Day 1 – 3 p.m., Daviess County Public Library Approximately twenty individuals and booths will display Daviess County souvenir booklets, newspaper editions, paintings, pictures, souvenirs, Owensboro baseball items, postcards, items from Daviess County mines and more.

“Juneteenth” Historic Marker for Daviess County African American Soldiers 6 – 7 p.m., Daviess County Courthouse August 1 Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Celebrating Daviess County’s Bicentennial: Day, is a holiday or observance in many U.S. Early Settlement on the Ohio River states to celebrate the anniversary of the 1 – 3 p.m., Daviess County Public Library abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865.

This new historical marker, honorably August 8 placed and dedicated at the Daviess County Celebrating Daviess County’s Courthouse lawn, recognizes slaves and free Bicentennial: Reflections on the Past men of color from Daviess County, who enlisted 1 – 3 p.m., Daviess County Public Library with the Union Army and served in the Civil War. Guest Speakers include: Lee Dew: Daviess County Railroads, Shelia Heflin: P.A. & June 19 Daviess County, Joe Castlen: Daviess County 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Circuit Judges and Dale Warren: Early survey After the marker dedication service, the maps of Daviess County, display of copies of official opening of an African American exhibit, originals.

“A Journey Shared: African Americans in Daviess County” featuring photos, artifacts, and August 15 information about Daviess County’s African Bicentennial Birthday Dinner American citizens will be at the Owensboro The Campbell Club, 6 – 8 p.m.

Museum of Science and History. There will be a free reception and a short talk on tracing African August 25-29 American roots.

Celebrating Women’s History Week Owensboro Museum of Science and June 20 History Celebrating Daviess County’s Bicentennial: A special Bicentennial look at important The Civil War in Daviess County women in Daviess County’s history.

1 – 3 p.m., Daviess County Public Library

September 5

Celebrating Daviess County’s Bicentennial: Sources at the Kentucky Dept. of Libraries and Archives at the Daviess County Public Library.

1 - 2:30 p.m.

Trace Kirkwood is speaking.

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a i a A Mou September 25-27 Cou Pioneer Days at Lambert Pioneer Village cour Yellow Creek Park p.m.

There will be activities, food and hands-on is op experiences. danc free October 3-5 of th Voices of Elmwood the c The portrayal of living history actors P designed to honor the region’s heritage and the caps lives of many people buried throughout Daviess birth County.

D the 2 October 17-18 form Reid’s Apple Festival Cou There will be craft booths, carnival rides, to se horse rides and more. as w caps

November 7

Veterans Parade 2 - 3:30 p.m. Owensboro Riverfront A parade to honor the Veterans of Daviess County.

November 14

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39th Annual Holiday Forest Festival of Trees Be at Owensboro Museum of Fine Art first s Admission to the Holiday Forest is $2 for adults and $1 for children. A special gala Smith opening is 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and admission to Jame the gala is $50 per person. Reservations can be Vang land i made at info@omfa.us.

17 to be November 21 portio Christmas Parade - A Bicentennial Christmas Owen 4 - 8 p.m. Downtown Owensboro 18 Josep December 5 the B Birthday Bash - Blowing out the candles estate 3 - 10 p.m. at the Daviess County Courthouseof Yel The event will include speakers, costumed Ohio 18 actors and more.

Yellow postm December 5 18 Holiday Stroll and Bicentennial Closing murd Ceremony Hami 4 - 9 p.m. Downtown Owensboro 18 The closing ceremony for the Owen bicentennial celebration will include the name time capsule re-burying ceremony on the Tippe Daviess County Courthouse lawn with 18 community caroling around the bicentennialJosep the st Christmas tree.

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Friday, May 29, 2015 Messenger-Inquirer

Trees

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Daviess County celebrates 200 years

BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON

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MESSENGER-INQUIRER

aviess County will be celebrating its 200th birthday Saturday with all-day festivities.

At 8 a.m., there will be a 5K run at Mount St. Joseph in western Daviess County and a birthday bash at the e courthouse lawn from noon to 4 p.m. The birthday bash is free and on is open to the public and will include dancing, music, children’s activities, free birthday cake and the opening of the 1965 time capsule buried on the courthouse lawn.

Plans are to remove the time d the capsule at 3 p.m. prior to serving the aviess birthday cake.

David Zachary, who is a member of the 20-person bicentennial committee formed by Daviess County Fiscal Court, said the committee is excited , to see what is in the time capsule, as well as to see the condition of the capsule.

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Bicentennial

“We plan to have some, if not all, the contents on display in one of the display cabinets in the courthouse for at least the balance of the year,” Zachary said. “We also plan on encouraging Daviess Countians to give us their thoughts on items to be included in the capsule for the next 50 years.”

An article that ran in the Messenger-Inquirer in 1965 stated the

mementoes in the buried capsule contain “a cross section of life in the county for the past 150 years.”

Aloma Williams Dew, who co-chairs the bicentennial celebration with her husband Lee, said they felt 200 years was worthy of a big bicentennial birthday bash, thus a year of activities.

“We want people to realize the importance of this occasion and for there to be something for everyone,” Dew said. “It is a county-wide birthday celebration.”

Dew said the bicentennial celebration began in April with local youths planting the state tree, a tulip popular, on the courthouse lawn and the unveiling of a portrait of Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, the county’s namesake.

The bicentennial celebration will conclude with the reburial of a time capsule on Dec. 5 at the closing ceremonies, which will tie in with the Holiday Stroll in downtown

Owensboro.

Dew said the committee also plans to have a special dedication of a public art sculpture at Saturday’s celebration.

“We want this year to be a constant learning, experiencing, fun time for Daviess Countians as we celebrate two centuries of history and get ready to enter our third century,” Dew said.

A limited edition bicentennial coin will be for sale Saturday. The coin, which features the Ohio River and the dates 1815-2015, will be available Monday at various shops throughout Owensboro.

Along with the community events, the bicentennial committee is also publishing the first history book of the rural areas of the county in more than 130 years. The book will cover the history of Daviess County from its earliest settlements up to 2015 and will be for sale at Saturday’s birthday bash.

Timeline These are some key events in Daviess County history.

Between 1776 and 1778: The first settlers — Presley Smith, Peter la Smith, William Stagg, Isaac Bowman, to James Ross, Hannah Severns and an be Vangelist Harden — stake claims to land in what’s now Daviess County.

1797-8: Bill Smeathers is believed to be the first white settler of the portion of Daviess County that is now tmas Owensboro.

1805: Approximate date for Joseph Hamilton Daveiss’ move from the Bluegrass region to his “Cornland” s estate, situated about two miles east houseof Yellow Banks (Owensboro) on the ed Ohio River.

1806: Post office created at Yellow Banks. James Meed is the first postmaster.

1808: Smeathers is tried for ng murder and freed at Hartford. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss is his attorney.

1811: Daviess and Abraham Owen, for whom Owensboro is e named, are killed at the Battle of he Tippecanoe.

1815: Daviess County, named for nnialJoseph Hamilton Daveiss, becomes the state’s 58th county by an act of

the General Assembly. Yellow Banks is chosen as the county seat.

1817: Yellow Banks is officially named “Owensborough.”

1820: Brick courthouse is built to succeed the original structure, which burned.

1837: First tobacco factory built in Owensboro.

1844: Owensboro’s first newspaper, the Bulletin, is established.

1850: Owensboro’s first bank is opened, a branch of the Southern Bank of Kentucky.

1861: Civil War begins. Union and Confederate companies raised in Daviess County.

1862: Battle of Panther Creek (or Sutherland’s Hill) south of Owensboro on the Livermore Road.

1866: Owensboro chartered as a city. E.S. Ayers is the first mayor of Owensboro. Owensboro Fire Department is organized.

1869: Construction begins on the first railroad here, known as the Owensboro & Russellville.

1871: Owensboro public school system created.

1874 : The Owensboro Messenger begins publication as The Owensboro

Examiner.

1879: “ Whiskey Boom” begins.

Nearly 20 distilleries operate here simultaneously.

1880: First telephones installed in Owensboro.

1883: Owensboro Wagon Co., a major manufacturer, begins business.

1884: The Owensboro Inquirer starts publication.

1890: Devastating tornado strikes Daviess County.

1898: Owensboro police force formally established. First public hospital is built.

1913: Owensboro Public Library starts operation.

1924: Brescia College is opened as Mount St. Joseph Junior College.

1925: First commercial oil production here. First year’s production — 10,661 barrels.

1929: The Owensboro Messenger and The Owensboro Inquirer consolidate.

1936: Hanging of Rainey Bethea at old county garage property (now the Owensboro Convention Center) becomes the last public execution in America.

1937: Flood raises Ohio to all-time high-water mark of 54.85 feet.

1938: Owensboro’s first radio station, WOMI, signs on the air.

1940: Glover H. Cary Bridge in downtown Owensboro is dedicated.

1946: Central Trust Co. opens Kentucky’s first drive-up banking window.

1947: Radio station WVJS goes on the air.

1946: President Harry S. Truman makes a campaign speech in Owensboro via train with a stop on the rails on Frederica Street. It was the first time a sitting president visited Owensboro.

1949: Owensboro Sportscenter opens with 7,400 fans watching the University of Kentucky Wildcats beat the Bradley Braves, 62-52.

1951: Kentucky Wesleyan College moves to Owensboro. New Owensboro-Daviess County Airport completed.

1955: Theatre Workshop of Owensboro is founded. Minor league baseball, a local staple for more than 50 years, ends as the Owensboro Oilers leave town.

1957: Owensboro-Daviess County Industrial Foundation organizes to help secure new industry for the area.

1958: Owensboro begins integration of its public schools.

1962: Texas Gas Transmission Corp. fans the fuels of southern expansion, moving its headquarters to the city’s southern edge.

1964: Fifth (and current) Daviess County Courthouse is formally dedicated.

1966: Owensboro Area Museum opens its doors in a rented building at 602 Sycamore St. 1967: Owensboro Civic Orchestra incorporates.

1970: Owensboro’s population tops 50,000, making it a metropolitan area. The Audubon Parkway between Owensboro and Henderson opens.

1971: Wendell Ford of Owensboro is elected governor.

1972: The 70.24-mile Green River Parkway between Owensboro and Bowling Green opens.

1973: Daviess County Lions Club opens its new fairgrounds at Philpot.

Daviess Fiscal Court creates an 11-station volunteer fire department network, providing fire protection for all parts of the county for the first time.

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Bicentennial

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, May 29, 2015

Art to interpret history at OMFA L

BY BETH NOFFSINGER

the series.

Chase Bank donated the paintings to the art museum’s permanent collection in he history of Daviess County will be 2007. celebrated through contemporary and Several contemporary, Owensboro historic works of art at the Owensboro artists are featured in the exhibition, Museum of Fine Art. including Rex Robinson, Rhonda “Daviess County: Through the Lens McEnroe, Joe Overby, Enid Roach, John of Art” will be on display May 30-Aug. 16 Medley, Todd Derr, Katie Lowing, Ann at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. Bruner, Marion Vasterling, Jan Frazier More than 200 works of art and artifacts and former Judge-Executive Reid Haire. dating from 1815 to 2015 make up the Their works are paintings and exhibition, which is being presented as photographs that interpret important sites part of Daviess County’s bicentennial and events in Daviess County’s history, celebration. according to the art museum’s press The Daviess County Bicentennial release.

Committee approached the art museum “Through the Lens of Art” will also when the committee first formed to discuss the museum’s participation, said Photography being displayed is artistic interpret the industrial history of Daviess County, featuring art and memorabilia Mary Bryan Hood, the art museum’s as well as historical, Hood said. from local industries. There is a traditional director.

“While the primary focus of the art piece to interpret the industry as well “We came up with the idea of offering a exhibition is the fine and decorative as the pieces of memorabilia. unique perspective of history,” she said. arts,” according to an art museum press Folk art, or art by untrained artists, will The exhibition features works done release, “it also includes historical objects be on display, as well. One artist featured and related materials documenting the especially for “Through the Lens of is Margaret Hudson Ross, an Owensboro economic, political, military, social and Art” as well as art curated from the art High School teacher who took up painting religious traditions important to the era.” museum’s permanent collection and A series of paintings by Kentucky artist after she retired. the city of Owensboro’s municipal art The art museum’s free Bicentennial Harlan Hubbard depicting the Owensboro collection. riverfront at various stages of the mid-19th Art Camp for children is June 9-12.

Works from the art museum’s John to mid-20th centuries are among the Participants will have a chance to Bourgholtzer Photography Collection works that will be displayed. Those will also be on display and will be tour the Kentucky Historical Society’s paintings were commissioned in 1969 by complemented by photographs on loan HistoryMobile, then take part in from the Kentucky Historical Society, The the former Citizens State Bank (later J.P. workshops to build replicas of Civil Filson Historical Society and the Kentucky Morgan Chase Bank), and Hubbard spent War-era toys.

Museum at Western Kentucky University. several weeks in Owensboro working on The art museum’s ArtLand, an art

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MESSENGER-INQUIRER

studio geared toward children, will offer daily, free instruction about the early arts and crafts of the bicentennial period, the press release states.

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Daviess County to celebrate Juneteenth

BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON

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MESSENGER-INQUIRER

uneteenth, also known as June 19, is a U.S holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery throughout the South. This years marks the 150th year since the Emancipation Day. On June 19 in Owensboro, there will be the dedication of a new historical marker at the Daviess County courthouse. The marker will recognize slaves and free men of color from Daviess County who enlisted in the Union Army and served in the Civil War. Bicentennial board member Aloma Dew said she invites everyone to come to the courthouse for the celebration.

“We are a very diverse community,”

she said. “But we have not always Americans in Daviess County,” will be recognized all of the different cultures at the Owensboro Museum of Science and faces. We hope going into and History. The exhibit will our 200th year we are able to On June 19 in feature photos, artifacts and do more of that.” information about Daviess Owensboro, Dew said she hopes the County’s African American there will be citizens and soldiers. unveiling of the marker will the dedication shed light onto a part of area “It is important because history that has been ignored. of a new we have never celebrated “These black soldiers are contributions of most of our historical an important part of Daviess African American community, marker at the and almost no one knows of County history,” Dew said.

“There are descendants of Daviess County the courage of those slaves these soldiers still living in who signed up with the Union courthouse.

Owensboro and Daviess to fight for their freedom,” County today.”

Dew said. “It is a fascinating After the marker dedication, the and important story.” official opening of the African American After the opening, there will be a exhibit, “ A Journey Shared: African free reception and a short talk by Isaac

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on th T One wing of the Owensboro Museum mark of Fine Art not only houses works of mail art — it is also considered a museum will b treasure, itself.

D The John Hampden Smith House, a Civil War-era mansion, will be highlighted bicen has t during “Daviess County: Through the Lens of Art,” an exhibit that will celebrate indiv in th Daviess County’s bicentennial.

“This house is a major feature of our exhibition,” said Mary Bryan Hood, the art museum’s director.

The art museum purchased the Smith House in the late 1980s, and it has restored the mansion twice. It was first restored as part of a renovation and expansion that opened in 1994 and 19 included the construction of the atrium to the between the Smith House and the former most Carnegie Public Library, where the art 19 open museum opened in 1977.

19 The second restoration happened after a 2003 fire that started on the roof 500 ro of the Smith House heavily damaged the first ti Fine A mansion.

19 The home was built by Major John 19 Hampden Smith, a tobacco merchant who Festiv was also a stock holder and director of the 19 Deposit Bank of Owensboro. open

SMITH HOUSE

Settle on tracing African American Roots.

Comm 19 the ab railro cong area s 19 open 19 to loc decad 19 expan 19 Owen Owen Merc Merc 19 $1.8 m includ restro 19 Ohio 19 anno 20 up to 2,300

Friday, May 29, 2015 Messenger-Inquirer

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A Limited time postmark available in June

BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON

bicentennial postmark is just another way of promoting the celebration to a special group of interests. o continue with bicentennial “Whether you are a history buff, celebrations, community members stamp, postal, or an Owensboro/Daviess will have a limited time postmark County collector, June will be the month on their mail this summer. to send that special letter or postcard The postmark, which is a postal um marking indicating the date and time the to receive the postmark,” Zachary mail was delivered to the postal service, said. “We are encouraging parents and will be available only for month of June. grandparents to send that special card to your family members or loved ones.”

David Zachary, a member of the a The postmark has been approved by hted bicentennial committee, said the group the U.S. Postal Service and will become has tried to touch a lot of different available on Monday, June 1 — Daviess rate individuals, activities and interests County’s actual 200th birthday, and it in the county during 2015, and the ur he

er arts he

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to be able to place the Owensboro postmark stamp in a time capsule when it is reburied later this year, but the committee has to get approval from the postal service prior to keeping the postmark. He said from his understanding, the postmark will need to be modified or damaged to a point where it is unusable after June 2015 if the community is able to keep it in the new time capsule.

Zachary said he worked with the Kentuckiana District Retail manager from the Louisville office to get the special postmark in Daviess County.

2012: Owensboro Medical Health System changes its name to Owensboro Health.

Smothers Park, a multi-million dollar attraction, opens in downtown Owensboro.

2013: First Christian Church is destroyed by a fire. Owensboro Health Regional Hospital opens its new facility.

2014: Owensboro Convention Center and

Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Owensboro/ Water front open. Kentucky Bioprocessing conducts research and development for Mapp Biopharmaceutical of San Diego to create ZMapp, a compound used as a post-exposure treatment for the Ebola virus. The U.S. 60 extension opens to traffic on the city’s east side.

2015: Retired U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford dies.

Timeline

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d 1974: Wendell Ford of Owensboro is elected m to the U.S. Senate. Cable television lines reach mer most Owensboro neighborhoods. t 1976: The Owensboro Riverport Authority

opens.

1977: Executive Inn Rivermont opens its first of 500 rooms. The Ohio River freezes over for the the first time in 30 years. Owensboro Museum of Fine Art dedicated.

1978: Towne Square Mall opens.

1979: Owensboro International Barbecue who Festival begins. f the 1984: Owensboro Community College opens as an extension of Henderson Community College.

1989: J.R. Miller Boulevard opens along the abandoned Owensboro & Russellville railroad line, taking part of the traffic away from congested Frederica Street and opening up area south of Owensboro for development.

1992: The $17 million RiverPark Center opens at First and Daviess streets.

1993: Scott Paper Co., the first new industry to locate in Daviess County in almost two decades, begins hiring.

1994: Ragu announces a $12 million expansion.

1995: Work begins on an expansion of Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.

Owensboro-Daviess County Hospital and Mercy Hospital officially became Owensboro Mercy Health System.

1996: The Sportscenter undergoes a $1.8 million renovation, with improvements including a new roof, lighting, sound system, restrooms and entrance.

1997: Rain causes extensive flooding of the Ohio and Green rivers and Panther Creek.

1998: U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford of Owensboro announces he will retire from the U.S. Senate.

2000: An F3 tornado that carried winds of up to 180 mph hits Daviess County. More than 2,300 homes were damaged or destroyed,

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should be able to be used for the 30-day period.

“Having two incorporated cities within Daviess County is the reason for our choices of an Owensboro bicentennial station site and a Whitesville bicentennial station site,” Zachary said. “We hope to be able to swap the Owensboro postmark to other Owensboro locations during that 30-day span, also.”

The post offices at Fourth Street in downtown Owensboro and Whitesville will have the commemorative postmark.

Zachary said the committee is hoping

and 221 businesses sustained damage.

Then President Bill Clinton visits Audubon Elementary School in May. 2001: The $7.4 million Daviess County Detention Center opens its 423-bed facility on U.S. 60 East.

2002: The William H. Natcher Bridge opens on Oct. 21 after four years and 10 months of construction. The International Bluegrass Music Museum opens in April.

2004: The first River of Music Party (ROMP) is held. The Southern Little League all-stars became the first team from Owensboro to make the Little League World Series.

2005: Daviess Fiscal Court votes 3-1 to ban smoking on most public buildings where residents under the age of 18 are allowed to enter. John Bays sells the Executive Inn Rivermont for $10.75 million.

2006: Nicky Hayden, an Owensboro Catholic High School graduate, won the MotoGP world championship in his fourth season as a MotoGP rider. Ground is broken on Owensboro Grain’s $22 million biodiesel plant.

2007: Riverfront development work begins.

A F-2 tornado struck parts of Owensboro as a line of severe storms swept across the county, causing more than $12 million in damage.

2008. The Executive Inn Rivermont closes in June. Construction begins on the riverwall in downtown Owensboro.

2009: An ice storm hits the region on Jan. 27, crippling the area as power lines are damaged and electricity is knocked out. The city of Owensboro purchases the Executive Inn Rivermont for $5 million on March 27, then had the hotel imploded on Nov. 8. Commercial air service returns to Owensboro.

2010: Owensboro Medical Health System breaks ground on its new hospital. Western Kentucky University-Owensboro has its grand opening in its new building.

2011: Cape Air begins offering direct flights from Owensboro to St. Louis. The four-lane U.S. 231 corridor opens.

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Bicentennial

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, May 29, 2015