September 27, 2019 at 5:28 p.m.
Unique celebration
Heritage Festival honors county's moniker
Unique celebration
Jay County is unique.
Literally.
Jay County Historical Society is playing off of that uniqueness this weekend as its annual Heritage Festival celebrates Jay County being the “Only Jay in the USA.”
“We are the only Jay County any place in the USA,” said Jane Spencer of the historical society. “There’s a Jay Township up in New England, but there’s no other Jay County.”
The historical society has made T-shirts celebrating that unique name, that was given in honor of John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States.
Their appeal, it turns out, has stretched beyond Jay County residents.
“We even had a family that’s last name is Jay from out on the West Coast, and they ordered eight T-shirts simply because their last name was Jay,” said Spencer.
In addition to celebrating the county’s moniker, the festival is also featuring a display that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Jay County Courthouse. (The building was dedicated Jan. 24, 1919.)
The current courthouse is the fourth in the county’s history. The inaugural building sat on a different site, closer to Meridian Street.
“The first was a long, low, leaky log courthouse,” said Spencer. “That lasted two years.”
The other three have all sat on courthouse square, bounded by Main, Walnut, Court and Commerce streets.
Construction on the current courthouse — it is built of Bedford stone and mahogany wood — began in 1916 after it was decided that more space was needed.
“It’s just one of the most beautiful courthouses, I think, anywhere in Indiana,” said Spencer.
The display this weekend at the festival — it is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jay County Historical Museum, 903 W. Main St., Portland — includes the key to the first courthouse. There are also some lightbulbs that were used in the dome early in the history of the current building, as well as the key and lock for the third courthouse.
Visitors to the festival can also expect to see the typical fare, including the food offerings. Saturday’s menu features beans and cornbread cooked over an open fire. Sunday is chili day, and footlong hotdogs will be available throughout the festival.
There will be an ice cream soda fountain offering floats, sundaes and pie.
Vendors will be on hand offering a variety of items.
“Everything on the grounds is homemade,” said Spencer. “We have gourd things, we’ll have your usual fall vendors … Just all kinds of vendors.”
She also emphasized children’s activities, which focus on toys and games from centuries past.
They include rolling hoops with sticks and walking around the grounds on stilts. The free activities will also include making a bird feeder out of a pine cone.
“It’s just a wonderful fall tradition,” said Spencer. “We all love festivals.
“It’s a wonderful place for grandparents to bring your grandchildren.”
Literally.
Jay County Historical Society is playing off of that uniqueness this weekend as its annual Heritage Festival celebrates Jay County being the “Only Jay in the USA.”
“We are the only Jay County any place in the USA,” said Jane Spencer of the historical society. “There’s a Jay Township up in New England, but there’s no other Jay County.”
The historical society has made T-shirts celebrating that unique name, that was given in honor of John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States.
Their appeal, it turns out, has stretched beyond Jay County residents.
“We even had a family that’s last name is Jay from out on the West Coast, and they ordered eight T-shirts simply because their last name was Jay,” said Spencer.
In addition to celebrating the county’s moniker, the festival is also featuring a display that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Jay County Courthouse. (The building was dedicated Jan. 24, 1919.)
The current courthouse is the fourth in the county’s history. The inaugural building sat on a different site, closer to Meridian Street.
“The first was a long, low, leaky log courthouse,” said Spencer. “That lasted two years.”
The other three have all sat on courthouse square, bounded by Main, Walnut, Court and Commerce streets.
Construction on the current courthouse — it is built of Bedford stone and mahogany wood — began in 1916 after it was decided that more space was needed.
“It’s just one of the most beautiful courthouses, I think, anywhere in Indiana,” said Spencer.
The display this weekend at the festival — it is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jay County Historical Museum, 903 W. Main St., Portland — includes the key to the first courthouse. There are also some lightbulbs that were used in the dome early in the history of the current building, as well as the key and lock for the third courthouse.
Visitors to the festival can also expect to see the typical fare, including the food offerings. Saturday’s menu features beans and cornbread cooked over an open fire. Sunday is chili day, and footlong hotdogs will be available throughout the festival.
There will be an ice cream soda fountain offering floats, sundaes and pie.
Vendors will be on hand offering a variety of items.
“Everything on the grounds is homemade,” said Spencer. “We have gourd things, we’ll have your usual fall vendors … Just all kinds of vendors.”
She also emphasized children’s activities, which focus on toys and games from centuries past.
They include rolling hoops with sticks and walking around the grounds on stilts. The free activities will also include making a bird feeder out of a pine cone.
“It’s just a wonderful fall tradition,” said Spencer. “We all love festivals.
“It’s a wonderful place for grandparents to bring your grandchildren.”
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