The Rockport Democrat, June 14, 1935

The first recorded celebration of the Fourth of July occurred in Indiana in 1822 while Abraham Lincoln as a gangling youth living in Spencer county, many interesting things are told of the early observation of the nation’s birthday and Attorney General Phillip Lutz, Jr., has made an exhaustive research of records pertaining to the way early Hoosiers observed the day. He will be one of the principal speakers at the dedication of the Lincoln Village in Rockport on July 4^th and his subject will be "The Fourth of July in Lincoln’s Time and Today." It will be an address worth hearing.

Judge Roscoe Kiper, former chairman of the Indiana Industrial Board will be another speaker, and his subject is; "The Lincolns in Spencer County," and his address will be another fine feature of the program. He is a lecturer of note, and is an authority on the subject of Abraham Lincoln.

Both speakers are members of the Boonville Press club, which feels honored in that Rockport has asked them to take part in the dedication program. The members of the Boonville Press club will attend in a body, and President Ernest W. Owen is calling on the entire membership to personally "boost the dedication program" at Rockport.

Ten days later, on Sunday, July 14, the Boonville Press club extends an invitation to Spencer county to attend the 12^th annual picnic of the club at the Nancy Hanks Park in Lincoln City.