As Mount Vernon approaches its 150th anniversary, there’s a sense of pride and reflection in the air. The small but spirited town has grown from a handful of pioneer families to a thriving community that continues to celebrate its roots while embracing change.
City officials, local historians, and volunteers have been working for months to prepare a series of events marking the occasion. From the courthouse square to the schools, reminders of the town’s rich heritage are everywhere — banners, historical displays, and even a time capsule project that will preserve memories for generations to come.
“Mount Vernon has always been about connection,” said Mayor Lisa Hartwell during a recent interview. “Our people are what make this town special — hardworking, kind, and proud of where they come from.”
The celebration will culminate in a weekend of festivities featuring live music, food vendors, and a parade down Main Street. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has coordinated with local businesses to sponsor everything from children’s activities to a Saturday night fireworks show. Many downtown shops are planning extended hours, with some offering limited-edition merchandise tied to the anniversary theme.
For local historian David Minter, the anniversary is more than just a milestone — it’s a chance to tell the stories that built Mount Vernon. He’s been curating a photo exhibit inside the Franklin County Historical Museum, where visitors can view century-old images of the town’s first businesses, schools, and families.
“You can see the pride in their faces,” Minter said. “Those early settlers built everything from scratch — the courthouse, the church, even the streets we walk on today. Their determination set the tone for who we are.”
The exhibit will include handwritten letters, early maps, and a restored flag that once flew above the courthouse during the 1920s. Local students from Mount Vernon High School’s history club helped catalog and display the items, giving them a unique hands-on connection to the town’s story.
While honoring the past is central to the celebration, the town is also looking ahead. Recent improvements to parks, roads, and public spaces have laid the groundwork for continued growth. A new walking trail near Lake Cypress Springs is among the most talked-about additions, drawing both residents and visitors who enjoy its scenic views.
The mayor’s office recently announced plans for a downtown beautification project that will include upgraded lighting, new benches, and seasonal landscaping. Business owners say the improvements have already helped bring more foot traffic to the area.
“People want to spend time here again,” said shop owner Maria Sanderson, who runs The Porch Market on Main Street. “You see families walking, kids riding bikes, and couples enjoying coffee outside — it feels alive.”
The Chamber of Commerce has also reported a rise in tourism inquiries, especially from families tracing their roots back to Franklin County. With the anniversary approaching, hotels and short-term rentals are nearly booked for the celebration weekend.
Much of what makes Mount Vernon special lies in the everyday connections — the Friday night football games, the annual stew cook-off, and the way the community comes together during both triumph and tragedy. At Mount Vernon High, the Tigers football team is having one of its strongest seasons in recent years, and local businesses proudly display purple and gold signs cheering them on.
“Our school spirit runs deep,” said Head Coach Brian Walters. “But it’s more than just football — it’s about representing this community with pride.”
Across town, church groups are organizing food drives, senior centers are planning holiday luncheons, and volunteers are decorating the square for the upcoming Christmas parade. These overlapping moments of service and celebration are what many say truly define the Mount Vernon spirit.
As part of the 150th anniversary, community leaders are inviting residents to contribute their own stories — photographs, recipes, journal entries, and even family anecdotes — to a digital archive called “Voices of Franklin County.” The project will ensure that local history continues to grow with each generation.
“We want to capture not just what happened, but how it felt to live it,” explained organizer Sharon Bell, a lifelong resident. “Future generations should know what it means to call this place home.”
The time capsule, which will be sealed after the final anniversary event, will include letters from students describing their hopes for Mount Vernon in the next fifty years. The capsule will rest in a display case at City Hall, to be opened in 2075.
As the town prepares for a weekend of music, history, and fellowship, residents say they’re grateful for what Mount Vernon has become — and optimistic about what’s next. From the courthouse bell that still rings across the square to the laughter that fills its sidewalks, the sense of continuity remains strong.
“We may be small,” Mayor Hartwell reflected, “but our story is big — and it’s still being written.”
With banners waving and hearts full, Mount Vernon enters its 150th year not as a town frozen in time, but as one proudly moving forward, guided by the same faith, friendship, and resilience that have always defined it.
