Center to honor history

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the granting of the patent for the Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine through the efforts of Springfield attorney Harry Toulmin, the Heritage Center of Clark County will present a program at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Crabill Discovery Hall, 117 S. Fountain Ave.

Internationally recognized historian on the Wright Brothers, Betty Darst, will relate the story of the first decade of flight and the impact of Harry Toulmin, a patent law attorney in Washington, D.C., who came to Springfield in 1886 because it was a center of innovation and invention and required skilled legal representation for patent proceedings.

With officers in the Bushnell Building, 14 E. Main St., Toulmin’s most famous clients would be Orville and Wilbur Wright. They traveled on the interurban streetcar from Dayton to Springfield to meet with Toulmin, who would handle their patent proceedings for nine years. The Bushnell Building, on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by attorney Jim Lagos, who will also be featured on Wednesday’s programs.

Young inventors of today, who were recent finalists in an Invention Convention at Wright State University, will also exhibit their innovations and inventions. Included will be Northeastern Schools student and Springfield City Schools students led by teacher Elena Ackerson. The winner of the “Wright Innovator” award will be introduced by area coordinator Leslie Vasquez.