Back from left are Ohio State School Board President Paul LaRue, Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher, and Sons of the American Revolution Secretary Jean Yost. Front from left are local historian Scott Britton, Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels, Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA — The community gathered at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Front Street to celebrate the 238th anniversary of The Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787 on Wednesday.

Due to heavy rain, the event was moved from East Muskingum Park into the church across the street which was graciously provided by Pastor Carla Wobschall.

Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine were among those in attendance to celebrate the anniversary of the ordinance.

“It’s really an amazing document because you had 13 original states who were all jealous of their own power,” said DeWine. “When those states came into the union they were equal to the 13th so it diluted their power…and they did that willingly.”

DeWine spoke to the audience about what the ordinance meant for the nation moving forward during the time. The ordinance proclaimed that the Northwest Territory would join the Union and abide by the laws protecting religious freedom, trial by jury, the forbiddance of slavery and more.

Gov. Mike DeWine, right, and his wife Fran DeWine, left, were among the guests at the ceremony Wednesday. DeWine spoke about the history of Marietta as well as the importance of teaching history in public schools. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

DeWine made an emphasis on education and the importance of acknowledging the nation’s history.

“Lower education and higher education was all spelled out in that document…one of the things that I’ve been working on with our team is how do we emphasize social studies and teaching history more in the school.”

DeWine said the country has always been divided on different issues but what brings everyone together are the foundations like free speech and freedom of religion.

“One of the reasons for having public schools is to make good citizens and being a good citizen doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything,” said DeWine. “But if we have core values and remember what those core values are, that’s what’s important.”

Former Ohio governor and former Marietta Mayor Nancy Hollister guided the audience through the history of Marietta and the scheduled speakers for the ceremony.

The community took shelter from the rain on Wednesday in the First Congregational United Church of Christ to celebrate the 238th anniversary of the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787. Originally scheduled to be held at the Start Westward Monument in East Muskingum Park, the event was moved inside. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Those speakers included Marietta Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Patty Ullman, Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher, President of the Ohio State School Board Paul LaRue, local historian Scott Britton, Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels, and past president of the Marietta Chapter Tony Durm.

Each speaker highlighted a different aspect of the community’s history. As President of the Ohio State School Board, LaRue focused his remarks on the importance of public education in terms of the Northwest Territory Ordinance.

“The vision set forth in the Northwest Ordinance still has need today and it all goes back to Article 3; religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government,” said LaRue. “Schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.

The ceremony was more than a celebration of this historic document, but a moment in time for the community to gather and reflect on the past while looking to the future.

Marietta isn’t just the first official settlement in the Northwest Territory but a turning point in history that marks the pursuit of freedom for the people.

Ohio State School Board President Paul LaRue spoke about his personal experiences with the education system and how public schools progressed since the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The ordinance described freedom, education, morality and the right to assemble which are some of the foundations of the nation. The event concluded with closing remarks from Hollister who said, “Ohio was the start of it all but Marietta is the heart of it all.”

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.

Gov. Mike DeWine shared opening remarks on what the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787 means not only for Marietta but for the foundations of the nation. (Photo by Amber Phipps)