PERRYSBURG — It was a bicentennial celebration for the history books in Perrysburg Township on Saturday.

Spafford House Museum President Judy Justus introduced Douglas Brinkley, a Rice University professor who is called the CNN presidential historian, and the man who knows more about the presidency than any man alive.

Historian Douglas Brinkley leans into the audience during his talk at the Perrysburg township Bicentennial celebration on Saturday. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

More than 150 people filled a large tent to hear Brinkley speak.

His love of history was developed in the back of a 24-foot Coachman trailer that his parents drove around the country, taking him to visit monuments and parks in vacations where he memorized one detail after another.

But it was the monument to Oliver Hazard Perry that Brinkley felt was the most beautiful, much to the consternation of his mother, who had taken him around the country.

In addition to recalling growing up in the area and going to school at Perrysburg High School, Brinkley put the history of the area into perspective.

He wove the importance of Perrysburg — both the township and the city — into the founding story.

Brinkley touched on the importance of the role of the War of 1812, with Hazard’s order, “Don’t give up the ship.” There was also President William Henry Harrison, who fought with Mad Anthony Wayne on Lake Erie in the War of 1812.

Taylor Moyer portrays a Shawnee tribe member during the Perrysburg Township Bicentennial festival. He’s a humanities teacher at the Toledo School for the Arts, speaks to festival attendees. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

It was outer space that held the real hero for Brinkley.

He said that the most he had written about his time growing up in Ohio was in his book “American Moonshot.”

Quoting President John F. Kennedy, he said “We go to the moon not because it’s easy but because it’s hard.”

“When we see our country fraying in different ways, we’ve got to capture that indomitable spirit. That’s a spirit you will be able to capture when you visit the museum here,” Brinkley said. “Remind ourselves that this is a shrine we are at, to thank people that were our predecessors who helped make living along the Maumee River, in Perrysburg Township, and in the City of Perrysburg … make it such a special American place.”

Brinkley’s friend since elementary school, J.D. Justus, introduced the trustees, who held a special formal meeting during the celebration.

The Perrysburg Township Trustees hold a special meeting during the township bicentennial celebration on Saturday. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

They accomplished some standard business, with zoning, maintenance, fire and police department reports. There were also many proclamations and presentations to the township from federal to local politicians.

There was a moving presentation given to Festival King Doug Pratt from State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg.

Perrysburg Township Bicentennial Festival King Doug Pratt, left, receives a special presentation, also for his late wife, Festival Queen Mary Ellen Pratt, from Ohio State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

With tears in his eyes, Pratt received a commendation for his years of support for Perrysburg Township, but also for that of his late wife, Festival Queen Mary Ellen Pratt. They had been married for 65 years when she passed, just days before the bicentennial celebration.

The festival also included several special reenactments.

Judge Spafford, played by Judge Aram Ohanion and Sheriff Webb, played by Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, held court outside a mock jail cell. The cell door was an original township jail cell door.

Judge Spafford, played by Judge Aram Ohanion, center, and Sheriff Webb, played by Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, right, have locked up Perrysburg Bicentennial Festival King Doug Pratt behind the original jail door, for catching too many fish. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

Showing his sense of humor, Pratt hardly fought being locked up by the judge and sheriff for catching too many fish.

There was also food vending, a children’s bouncy house, tours of the Spafford House Museum, a working blacksmith, a Native American trading post, basket weavers, wool spinners and steam threshers.

Susan Cayton demonstrates her 18th century replica loom at the Perrysburg Township Bicentennial festival. Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune

The Perrysburg Township Bicentennial Commemorative Magazine is still available through the township offices at a cost of “two bits,” or 25 cents.