Benton's bash

The town of Benton may be small in size, but it knows how to throw a great party. In celebration of the sesquicentennial of Benton's founding on April 26, 1860, the town is holding several special events this year.

On April 24, the sesquicentennial festivities kicked off with a ceremony attended by more than 300 people. The population is less than 800. Period costumes and pledges by men to forgo shaving for the duration were in abundance.

As with the celebration of many historic milestones, Benton plans to bury a time capsule this year including a Blue Book (Official Manual State of Missouri) and essays by students about the town. This will be during the next part of the hoopla June 4 and 5 when the Sesquicentennial Whing-Ding is scheduled.

The town also buried a time capsule during its centennial in 1960, but efforts to locate it on the grounds of the Scott County Courthouse have been unsuccessful. Benton is the county seat of Scott County.

The 150th anniversary of the town is likely to spill over to the annual Neighbor Day, which is held each Labor Day weekend.

Folks who live in Benton are rightfully proud of their town. Happy sesquicentennial.