GREENVILLE – Caleb Wiant, the son of Walter and Carrie Wiant, completed his Eagle Scout project by sprucing up the signs at both ends of Ohio State Route 121, which leads into Fort Jefferson.
Wyant, a member of Pitsburg Troup 185, spent nearly 80 hours refurbishing the signs that were no longer legible to passersby.
“It is a project that had been here for a while, and nobody had claimed it,” said Wiant. “It was something close to home and might mean a lot to the community.”
Wiant noted no one or no organization claimed ownership or took credit for installing the signs, but each sign states “Historical Society” on the backside.
The steel posts were cut from the signs, and Wiant took them to his home, where he sandblasted and painted them. Neave Township provided new posts, and the newly painted signs were reinstalled in their original location.
“Fort Jefferson is very historic; the sight of the Fort is here, and I thought it would mean a lot,” Wiant stated. “I have learned a lot about Fort Jefferson in history class, so I thought it was pretty cool that I could be a part of the recognition here.”
Local historian Dr. David Cox attended the presentation of the new signs, where he presented Wiant with three books: one on Fort Jefferson, one about Anthony Wayne’s buttons, and a new book written by Caitlyn Clark.
“Caitlan Clark just wrote a book about Lewis and Clark and how they met in Greenville and were important to the nation’s greatest adventure,” said Dr. Cox.
“To have some youth in the community take on a project like this is great,” Dr. Cox continued. “It fits right in with the Friends of Fort Jefferson and what we’ve been trying to do. Us old people are getting an uplift by the young ones now.”
“Caleb did this pretty much on his own,” said Caleb’s father, President of Neave Township Trustees. “It’s right up our alley with the type of hobbies we’re involved in with antique tractors and memorabilia restoration. We’re familiar with sandblasting and refinishing projects, so it was a really good project he did on his own.”
“Congratulations, a job well done,” said Neave Township Trustee and Darke County Township Association President Ty House. “A young man steps up like that; it’s a real pleasure to know him and his family. I am very proud of his achievements on this, not only getting an Eagle Scout Award, but this project has been sitting there, and it is a wonderful project. Can’t say how proud we are of a young man in our neighborhood.”
“I want to thank Caleb for a nice job. It was very well done,” said Neave Township Trustee Jason Rice. “We have such a rich history in this part of the United States, and seeing Caleb’s project carry that on is very important.”
Caleb took time to thank those who had a part in his local Eagle Scout project.
“Thank you to the Neave Township for donating the posts,” he said. “Some of the paint came from one of my neighbors, Benson DeWeese. Sherwin Williams donated most of the paint and paint brushes for the project.”
