Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/54

 yet definitely linked to it by history, the recognition accorded Marietta by the government of France is one of the accomplishments of this commemoration.

Marietta, at first named "Adelphia", was named for Marie Antoinette of France, by the American ex-soldier settlers. Also, (usually erroneously referred to in histories as Celeron de Bienville), who had retaken possession of the Ohio County for the King of France in 1749, had planted one of the six leaden plates involved, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. This was one of two of these plates ever found and now in existence. Because of these facts, and also in appreciation of the World War services rendered France by the Marietta College Ambulance Unit and Beman G. Dawes, its sponsor, the government of France has given to Marietta a large bronze tablet, 44 × 54 inches in size and inscribed with the copy used on the original Celoron plate.

This will be mounted upon a large stone in a look-out point now being erected at the corner of Virginia and Gilman Streets, within a few yards of the point at which the lead plate was found almost a hundred and fifty years ago.

A small tablet was also erected by descendants to the memory of Mary Gardner Owen, first woman settler in Marietta.

"Picketed Point", first fortification of the Ohio Company pioneers, was reproduced as to one of its blockhouses and part of the stockade by Reno G. Hoag and Durward S. Hoag, and constituted a point of great interest to Marietta visitors.

In the original plan for the commemoration, July 15th, 1988, the 150th Anniversary of the actual establishment of civil government in Northwest Territory, was intended as the climax of the celebration.

The President of the United States had given assurance of attendance, but as matters developed, was unable to come to Marietta on that date, but did come on July 8th, which was then called President's Day.

The Presidential train arrived at 9:00 a.m. and President Roosevelt spoke from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. The early morning schedule deterred the attendance of many from outside of Marietta, but the crowd was estimated at 80,000, probably the largest number of people in Marietta at one time.

The line of march was from the President's train at Second and Butler Streets north on Second Street to Washington; west on Washington to Front Street; and south on Front Street to the speaker's stand at the memorial.

The return march was over the same route. There were one hundred and eighteen press men, photographers, etc, present, said to be the largest number ever with the President on any trip up to that time. The program was broadcast over three of the national radio hook-ups.

The day was pleasant though very warm. Up until this address there had not been even the faintest suggestion of any political partisanship involved in the celebration, in any manner or form.