three-pound cannon nicknamed “Black Betty.” The cannon was used when Richmond guards were brought in to protect the records. The cannon had been loaded with iron scraps. A crowd demanded the guard come out of the Centerville courthouse. When they refused, the cannon was fired, the door blown off its hinges, and the guards were forced to beat a hasty retreat. Soldiers were brought in the next day to move the records to Richmond. Centerville's tenure as county seat had come to an end. The holes from the cannon shot are still visible over the door of the old courthouse, now the Center Township Library. The Centerville post office has been in operation since 1818. In 1828 the National Road, which ran along Centerville's Main Street, was surveyed. It later became the first improved section of the trail in 1850 by a Special Act of Congress. Centerville's cobblestone street was a major stop along the trail to the West. During the height of the Gold Rush, 49,000 wagons would travel along the street each year. Centerville is known as the “City of Arches” due to the five main arches on the Old National Road. The original road was 100 feet (30.5 m) wide, but was reduced to 65 feet (19.8 m) after several buildings in the town had encroached into the roadway. The arches were used as a way to get behind the buildings and into the backyards of the houses. The five arches in Centerville are the Backenstoes, Dill, Shortridge, Lantz, and Malone Archways, all built between 1823 and 1836. In August, Centerville has Archway Days, held to celebrate the historical archways. The Centerville Historic District (Centerville, Indiana), Oliver P. Morton House, and Westcott Stock Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Education Centerville has one secondary school, Centerville Senior High School, and one library, Centerville-Center Township Public Library. Notable people John A. Burbank (1827−1905), Governor of Dakota Territory Barry Jones (1963− ), pitcher in Major League Baseball George Washington Julian (1817−1899), state and U.S. Representative Joseph Henry Kibbey (1853−1924), Governor of the Arizona Territory Oliver Hazard Perry Morton (1823−1877), Governor of Indiana and U.S. Senator from Indiana References External links Town of Centerville, Indiana website Centerville, Indiana informational website Towns in Indiana Towns in Wayne County, Indiana National Road Populated places established in 1814 1814 establishments in Indiana Territory