VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP

Independence Day will be celebrated this weekend with many events planned across our great Country, as well as in Wayne Township. It is easy for us sometimes to get caught up in the celebrations and forget the real meaning of July 4.

Along with the celebrations, I like to take some time to think about the history of our Country and how fortunate we are to be Americans. When I look at the Declaration of Independence, I am struck with the foresight the founders of our country had, both in the language they used and the insight they demonstrated 234 years ago.

As we all learned in our history classes, the Declaration of Independence announced that the 13 American Colonies were now independent states and were no longer a part of the British Empire. It was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, but not actually signed until about a month later.

An interesting point about the Declaration of Independence is that the Continental Congress had voted two days earlier on July 2, 1776, to separate from England. It was only the wording of the Declaration that was approved on July 4. So, we should be celebrating our independence on July 2, rather than July 4, to be historically accurate.

To show the insight of our country’s founders, John Adams, one of the signatories, wrote that July 2 “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” Does this sound like what we do today, over 200 years later? It is just that we do it on July 4, instead of July 2.

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I also have found that Indiana hosts one of the oldest Independence Day Celebrations in the Country. Bristol, Rhode Island, claims to have the oldest, having celebrated there beginning in 1785. However, the small Southern Indiana town of Pekin, IN, has been celebrating continuously since 1830 and claims to have the oldest consecutive Independence Day celebration in the Country.

When we look at our forefathers, we cannot forget those who established our own Indiana government and developed our Township form of government. They recognized the need for a small unit of government to address the issues important to a particular community. Because of the flexibility they built into the township law, our township government continues to be relevant today.

Wayne Township was platted in 1824 and is the oldest township in Allen County. So far, I have been able to locate the names of past Wayne Township Trustees dating back to 1839. The Wayne Township Trustee in 1839 and 1840 was Samuel Hanna, one of the most influential men in the history of Fort Wayne.

He was followed in the 1800’s by many names you might recognize, particularly because so many of the former Wayne Township Trustees have streets, parks or other landmarks named after them. They include Thomas Swinney, John Clinton, Joseph Edsall, Hugh McCulloch, John Hamilton and George Breckenridge.

I was so honored to have been elected Wayne Township Trustee by you. And, I am awed when I think about those in whose footsteps I am following. I hope you have a wonderful July 4 weekend and that you take a little time to think about the reasons we are celebrating in the same way John Adams suggested.

Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.

Wayne Township Trustee