Organizers of a three-day celebration to be held this weekend call it the mother of Missouri counties. Early settlers called it the State of Wayne during 14 years spent pursuing that official designation.
In 1818, it was dubbed Wayne County.
At one time, the boundaries stretched from Bollinger County to the Kansas state line, encompassing even portions of what are Arkansas today.
Butler, Iron, Reynolds and many other counties would later be carved from its borders.
Descendents of the pioneers who helped build Wayne County will be honored during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday on the old courthouse grounds in the Old Greenville Recreation Area, where much of the weekend's festivities will take place.
A bicentennial celebration for Wayne County has been combined with the 27th annual Old Greenville Days. Activities will held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers event.
"The county was formed in December of 1818, at (Old) Greenville, where we're going to be having the celebration," explained David Bollinger, chairperson of the Wayne County Bicentennial Committee.
The town site was called Cedar Cabin at the time, and renamed Greenville a month after Wayne County was designated.
Bollinger is among approximately 20 families of bicentennial pioneers who have registered to say they are still in the county.
"Most families can't say their family has lived in the same spot for 200 years," said Bollinger, adding the committee has had about 300 bicentennial family medallions reserved by descendents.
The Bollinger family can document their pioneer ancestor, Philip Bollinger Sr., in the area that is now Wayne County as early as 1807. He is Bollinger's great-great-great-grandfather.
"Since then eight generations of Bollingers have lived within a five mile radius of Greenville," Bollinger explained. "We're the oldest family in the Greenville area. It's home to us."
Like many families, the Bollingers were farmers. Bollinger's grandfather had a farm that was among those sold to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under duress for the construction of Wappapello Dam.
Other pioneer families include the Limbaughs, Seabaughs, Millers, Slinkards and the descendents of Francis Clark of the Piedmont area, who settled in the area around 1803.
Members of the bicentennial committee hope to hold additional celebrations this year, including an event closer to the actual Dec. 11 date when the county was created, Bollinger said. The group also wants to organize an event recognizing the 90 one-room schools that once existed in the county, he said.
"We're still doing fundraising. This is totally run by donations only. We've raised a good amount of money to put on a good festival," said Bollinger.
These events were made possible by the work of members of the bicentennial committee and board, he said.
Members of the Wayne County Bicentennial Committee include: Bollinger of Greenville; vice-chairperson Kim Combs of Piedmont; secretary Susan Elayer of Patterson; treasurer Harold Twidwell of Clubb; and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representative Andrew Jefferson of Poplar Bluff.
Board members are: Linda Lunyou, Shirley Eaton, Brenda Seal, Russ Moore and Brenda Davis, all of Piedmont; Mary Jo Atchison and Angela Smith, both of Williamsville; Vickie Patterson of Greenville; and Carol Starner of Patterson.
Celebrations
Events Friday, Saturday and Sunday include free historic displays, magic shows by BoBo the Clown, stagecoach rides, a petting zoo, a bounce house and games for children.
There will also be craft and food vendors, local historical displays and square dancing.
Shuttle bus rides from Greenville city park to Old Greenville will be given every 30 minutes, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Stage coach rides will be from 10 am. to 6 p.m. Saturday in Greenville.
The Wayne County Bicentennial committee will sell event-themed T-shirts and commemorative coins during the weekend.
Donations for the celebration and other events can be mailed to Wayne County Bicentennial, P.O. Box 241, Greenville, MO 63944.
Schedule
Friday
* 4 p.m. opening ceremony
* 4:30-5:30 p.m. Cade
White and Friends
* 5-6:30 p.m. Otter Creek Band
* 6:30-7 p.m. Cade
White and Friends
* 7-10 p.m. Punches Family
* 7-10 p.m. square dancing
Saturday
* 9-10 a.m. Rising Son
* 10-11 a.m. Gene Riddle
and The Oak Hill Singers
*11 a.m.-noon Two
Girls Bluegrass
* Noon-1 p.m. Swamp Rats
* 1-2 p.m. Iron Mountain Station
* 2-3 p.m., at Old Courthouse
grounds Bicentennial Ceremony
* 3 p.m. Auction of Wayne
County bicentennial quilt
* 3-4 p.m. Buzzard Run
* 4-7 p.m. Just E Nuff
* 7-10 p.m. Brothers Walker
Sunday
* 9-10 a.m. church service
* 10-11 a.m. The McAtees
* 11 a.m.-noon Two
Girls Bluegrass
* Noon-1 p.m. Rising Son
* 1-2 p.m. Iron Mountain Station
* 2-3 p.m. Level Ground
* 3-4 p.m. Buzzard Run
* 4-5 p.m. Gene Riddle
and the Oak Hill Singers
* 5 p.m. Closing ceremony