The first event of many to come in the celebration is the “Antiques Roadshow,” an antique appraisals fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in the town hall Community Room.
“I think any time that you have a village like South Charleston celebrate their 200th birthday, it’s a pretty big deal that this community has continued to prosper since its founding in 1815,” said South Charleston Mayor Sam Stucky. “It’s important for people to get out and go to the events and celebrate our community.
“I’d just like to encourage everybody to enjoy the village throughout the year because I don’t think any of us will be around for the tricentennial.”
South Charleston has several annual events, and the bicentennial celebration will add to that, Burton said. The celebration, which the committee began planning last April, is meant to be a community get-together, he said.
“We’re kind of enhancing what the village does,” he said. “They have a lot of activities going on in the year, so we’ve enhanced it and made a few additions here.”
The bicentennial committee has arranged for two resident historians, brothers Josh and John-Marcus Murray, to host a talk on South Charleston business history, said Sue Mattinson, secretary for the bicentennial committee. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 26 in the town hall.
The committee is also planning a walking tour of historical churches in South Charleston April 12, but the details for that are still being finalized, Mattinson said.
On June 13, two vintage baseball teams, the Champion City Reapers and the Ohio Village Muffins, will play an old-fashioned baseball game according to 1860 rules. Mattinson said the time and location of the game are still to be determined.
Several other events are in the works for the celebration, but details are still being finalized, she added.
Burton said the committee will release more information about upcoming events as the planning is finalized.
Saturday’s fair, sponsored by the South Charleston Heritage Commission, will feature three panels of experts who can provide estimates of value for items brought in. The cost is $5 for one item to be appraised or $10 for three items.
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