Chillicothe and Ross County — Perhaps the biggest local holiday is happening in less than a week: Chillicothe’s Statehood Day, on March 2nd.
Chillicothe was the scene of a political battle to create the state of Ohio from the Northwest Territory, which was won in the winter of 1802-1803. When official approval arrived from Congress late that winter, the legislature met and Chillicothe became the young state’s first capital. The date was memorialized later as March 1st.
For years it has been marked by the “Prayer Breakfast” coordinated by the Kiwanis Club of Chillicothe on the Saturday morning closest to the official date. Political leaders join with pastors for the event to commemorate and pray for local, county, state, and national leadership.
The Kiwanis club also awards presents a “Statehood Day Achievement Award” to a citizen(s) for “best representing the ‘Spirit of Ohio’ through their community service and their devotion and dedication in the philanthropic endeavors supporting the arts, higher education, and economic development throughout our community and the state of Ohio.”
In more recent years, free open houses of local historical institutions have been added to the local holiday. This year it will be the Ross County Heritage Center, David Nickens Heritage Center, Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, and Ross County Genealogical Society (more on those soon).
But the winners of the Achievement Award have been announced: Bill and Linda Herrnstein, who are best know for the Herrnstein dealership, but have also established the Herrnstein Family Fund through the Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation.
From the news release:
The Chillicothe Kiwanis Club and Ross County Ministerial Association will be hosting their annual Ohio Statehood Day Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 8:30am. The event will be hosted at the First Presbyterian Church of Chillicothe located at 13 Mead Drive.
Tickets to the Ohio Statehood Day Prayer Breakfast, catered by the Pour House at Machinery Hall, can be purchased at the Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau at 230 N. Plaza Blvd: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm (closed 12 – 1pm for lunch). Cost is $15.00 per ticket and is limited to 100 attendees.
(Don’t confuse Chillicothe’s Statehood Day with the state’s Statehood Day, which is commemorated in Columbus, sometimes on a different date. The statehouse is also offering an exhibit and film on Ohio Statehood Day March 2nd through the 5th.)
