It’s Only 99 More Years Until Our Tri-Centennial

In August, 2008, a group of city and township residents got together to plan a small celebration marking the 200th anniversary of Huron’s founding.
Instead, the two-dozen members of the Bicentennial Committee put together a spectacular year-long calendar of events, including:
•    A logo design contest
•    A community picnic and birthday party on the lawn surrounding the boat basin, with a children’s carnival and a group photo of all who attended.

•    A public art project featuring 25 “ARTirondack” chairs depicting scenes of our area from the Bicentennial slogan, “The Land, The Lake, The River & The People.” Sponsored by local businesses and painted by area artists, the chairs were all sold at a hugely successful auction in August, 2009. Logo designer Robb Harst created a chair depicting the circular design mounted three-dimensionally on one of the ARTirondack chairs that was raffled off, with funds going to Huron area charities.
•    A GEO scavenger hunt, using obtuse clues to artifacts of Huron’s past.
•    A photo contest.
•    A Children’s tractor-pull.
•    Homecoming events for HHS alumna. 

There was a giant parade float, depicting a lake freighter complete with a scale model of Huron’s first lighthouse, designed by Dick and Evie Durkin. A small army of volunteers pitched in to help Dick transform a school bus into the 42-ft. long steel-hulled boat, complete with rivets, a wheel house and a sandy beach on the aft deck.
Monies raised from these various events were donated to Huron area charities and funds were set aside to thank the Huron Historical Society, Huron Public Library, River Fest Committee and the Huron Chamber of Commerce for their assistance throughout the past 28 months.     
Sharon Barnes had a vision for the observance from day one, and with the zest and enthusiasm of a true historian, she achieved her major goal -- to leave some memento of the Bicentennial and the people of our time for future generations. Once again, Robb Harst stepped forward, volunteering his artistic talents to create a dramatic marker and time capsule commemorating this community milestone.
The capsule was filled with a legacy of memories, such as pieces of beach glass, taconite, (the small pieces of iron ore delivered to Huron docks by lake freighters for many years) a Bicentennial collection of poems, a 2009 City Directory and collections of Hahn’s sweet corn seeds and heritage tomato seeds first brought to this country from Italy by the Mussell family.
On a balmy, sunny day in October the five-foot wide black granite marker that sits atop the time capsule and a tinted concrete pad depicting a compass rose was dedicated in a small circular garden just outside the boat basin office. Harst personally sandblasted the Bicentennial logo on the huge piece of granite which sits atop the compass rose.
With the help of fellow Janotta & Herner employees, Aaron Boes, Tom and Doug Elmlinger, Steve Sallee and Marv Ott; and Bob Smith, another volunteer tradesmen, Harst and Doug Steinwart, facilities manager of the basin, the historic marker now sits high above the Huron River.
Sharon and the Bicentennial committee created a magnificent celebration of the past 200 years and a fitting token for those yet to come.
The Barnes family and the Huron Chamber of Commerce hosted an After Hours at the nursery on Dec. 9. Nearly 100 people were on hand to celebrate a job well done. Various committee heads were recognized and Mayor Marilyn Shearer read a proclamation expressing the city’s appreciation for the efforts of everyone involved.
Sharon was presented a large crystal medallion which reads, “Thank you for all you have done for Huron … In the past, In the present, and In the future".