Martin seeks new logo for 100 year anniversary

MARTIN - If you were anywhere near Martin in 1986 then you will recall Bennett County's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating '75 Years of Progress.'

It was a calendar year full of festivities saluting our connections to ancestors who were here in 1911.

The Bennett County Historical Society and the Bennett County Retired Teachers' Association produced A Journey Into the Past 1911 - 1986, a 127 page chronicle of the community's bygone times, and still available for sale locally.

There was also a Jubilee logo contest and the winning entry was used exclusively during all Jubilee related events and splashed across an assortment of souvenirs and other items.

Ken Moreland designed the winning Jubilee Logo entry. "The cow and calf represent the importance of the cattle industry to the economic growth of Bennett County. The sandhills in the background represent the southern edge of the county and the extreme northern tip of the world famous cattle country. The wheat shows that it is the main agricultural crop grown in Bennett County. The building to the right shows the old court house in Martin.

The old court house represents a link from early Martin until relatively modern times. It was not only the very heart of Bennett County's civic and political life but was one of the first and largest buildings in Martin. It also shows the flat, windswept plain, devoid of any trees that was early Martin. The arrow on top represents the Indian heritage of the area and the buffalo skull represents the hundreds of thousands of these animals that once roamed Bennett County and the high plains in the early days."

Now it is time to commemorate a new milestone, Martin's Centennial in 2011. The Bennett County Historical Society is sponsoring a logo contest in a search of a very special emblem that will symbolize Martin's 100th birthday. The 2011 Centennial logo is only limited by the contributor's imagination so please share your original designs. The logo will be used on souvenirs, official letter head, signs, and other memorabilia during the Centennial. The winner will receive $100. Contest rules are:

1.The logo will depict Martin's Centennial, 1911 - 2011

2. The logo will be accompanied by a written description of the logo and what it represents

3. Include participant's name, address, and contact number.

4. The Centennial Committee makes the final decision regarding the logo, reserves the right to modify the design, and holds the exclusive right to the use of the logo. All logo entries become the property of the Centennial Committee.

5. Submit your entry by April 1, 2009 to: 'Logo Contest' c/o Martin Drug & Mercantile, Attn: Joyce Wilson, Box A, Martin, SD 57551

or email: martincentennial@yahoo.c om.