The Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission has announced its lineup of grant-funded events for April 2023.
Jackson Township, located in the middle of the northern section of Hamilton County and home to Atlanta, Arcadia, and Cicero, is being celebrated during April. All three towns and the surrounding areas have tons of history waiting to be celebrated.
During April, the Bicentennial Commission will highlight Jackson Township events from cemeteries to vintage sports to the train … and more. The traveling exhibit will also tour during the month. You can see details and other events on the online calendar at hamcoturns200.com/events.
Watercolors in the Indiana Room
April 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Maker Space at Hamilton North Public Library
West Brinton Street, Cicero
FREE
Hamilton North Public Library Art Instructor Lor MacNorton will lead participants in modern recreations of local, historic class portraits and photographs from the Indiana Room of the Cicero Library. Participants may donate their creations to the library; the best of the donated paintings will be framed and displayed. Register on the library’s website. The event is limited to 25 participants, so sign up soon.
Nickel Plate History Express
April 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hobbs Station, Forest Park Drive, Noblesville
$20
Celebrate the history of the town stations along the Nickel Plate line. Get on board at Hobbs Station in Noblesville’s Forest Park and travel north through Cicero, Arcadia, and Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, disembark for a break and refreshments, then travel back for a round-trip experience. Tickets are selling fast at NickelPlateExpress.com.
Jackson Township Historical Tour Open House
April 15, 2 to 5 p.m.
Hamilton Heights Student Activity Center
420 W. North St., Arcadia
FREE
With your smartphone and QR codes, you can unlock the past with this interactive self-guided driving tour. Students from Hamilton Heights Middle School have put together videos about historic buildings and places in Jackson Township. Signs installed in front of these buildings give participants the chance to see history, and on April 15, several of these buildings will be open to the public, including the mini-museum at the Student Activity Center in Arcadia.
Hamilton Heights Athletic Events
April 19, 5 to 8 p.m.
Hamilton Heights High School
FREE
Learn about the evolution of girls sports at Hamilton Heights and the new Unified Sports initiative where students with all levels of intellectual and physical abilities play on the same teams. Watch softball, both track and Unified Track meets, tennis, and a throwback baseball game.
Day at Red Bridge Park
April 21, 7 to 9 p.m.
Red Bridge Park, Cicero
FREE
Festivities will include a showing of the Ball State PBS Special Now Entering Cicero as well as a Hoosier Hot Shots movie. Join for local music and be sure to enjoy a meal at local restaurants offering historically inspired desserts at discounted prices. Scavenger hunt prizes will also be given out on this date. Open through April 17, find the instructions for the hunt at ciceroin.org/event/hamilton-county-bicentennial.
Atlanta’s History Showcase
April 22 & 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Atlanta Town Hall
FREE
The Town of Atlanta is taking a dive into its rich past by going back in time. Mail a historic postcard and tour historic homes and businesses downtown. On Sunday at 9:30 a.m., attend a church service with the three Atlanta area churches. Afterwards, enjoy activities and ride the caboose.
Vintage Baseball Match
April 22, 1 to 4 p.m.
Bishop’s Park
East 256th St., Arcadia
FREE
Hamilton County Parks and Recreation will host a vintage-style baseball game. There will be displays on the history of the park, along with a kettle corn vendor and other activities. Bring a picnic lunch and get your “baseball cards” signed by the players.
Jackson Township Cemetery Lantern Walk
April 22, 7 to 9 p.m.
Cicero Cemetery
Morse Court, Cicero
FREE
Help honor those who have passed by remembering the impact they made on the community. Hamilton Heights High School theater students will showcase research on people buried in cemeteries around Jackson Township and will portray these notable citizens as visitors walk through the cemetery. Lanterns at each headstone will light your way along the path.
Sheridan Elementary Bicentennial Celebration
April 27, 7 p.m.
Sheridan Elementary School
FREE
The second and fourth grades will be joined by the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for a Bicentennial Celebration concert that showcases historical songs throughout time.
Arcadia & The Hoosier Hot Shots
April 28, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Remnant Coffee Shop
West Main Street, Arcadia
FREE
Join the Town of Arcadia for a display of a newly created timeline of the town’s history. You can also celebrate the historic local talent of the Hoosier Hot Shots. In the 1930s, the band was nationally famous for its radio shows and “talkie” movies with the well-known tagline, “Are you ready, Hezzie?”
Jackson Township’s Signature Event
April 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Arcadia Christian Church
FREE
As a way to celebrate the end of a month that commemorates all things Jackson Township, the township will organize an event to remember. Bring the family and have your photo professionally taken for free as part of the “Faces and Families of Jackson Township” Collection.
Also come for the debut of the Jackson Township Fire Department’s restored original fire engine, partially funded by the Hamilton County Bicentennial. A mini-parade will begin at noon, and there will also be an arts show hosted by Hamilton Heights Schools.
Finally, bring your copy of the Hamilton County Bicentennial book to have it signed by students from Hamilton Heights who contributed to the epilogue.
About the Bicentennial
The Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission was established by the Hamilton County Commissioners as the official oversight agency for the 200th anniversary of the county in 2023. It will do so in partnership with the Hamilton County Historical Society, Hamilton County Tourism, Inc., and lead sponsor Duke Energy. For more information, visit hamcoturns200.com.