Plaque A At the dawn of the 1800's,
Territorial Governor William Henry
Harrison rode horseback through
this valley and grew to admire the
serenity of its hills and streams,
and the intrepid determination of
its pioneer settlers. A frequent
overnight visitor at the cabin
of Edward Smith, along a cool
spring at the present day
fairgrounds. Tradition holds that
the future President of the United
States took particular delight
in a vocal rendition of Virgil's
"Pastoral Elegy" sung by Smith's
young daughter, Jennie.
Plaque B And when the still night has unfurl'd her robes
o'er the hamlet around, gray twilight retires from the
world, And darkness encumbers the ground, I'll leave
my own gloomy abode, to Corydon's urn will I fly,
There kneeling will bless the just God who dwells
in bright mansions on high...
this mournful lament for the
mythical shepherd boy, Corydon,
suggested to Governor Harrison a
suitable name for the fledgling
settlement plotted by Harvey Heth
in 1808, "Corydon it was called
henceforth" setting it on course
with destiny, as a place where
Indiana was born.
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