Cummins celebration welcomes Cummins family, employees

When Cummins celebrates its 100th anniversary in downtown Columbus on Saturday, the company will have some special guests.

Sally Leyes, director of internal communications for the Columbus based diesel engine manufacturer, explains that will include nearly 100 of Clessie Cummins descendants and family.

Clessie Cummins grandon, Matt, is traveling from Oregon in his Cummins powered Ram pickup to attend the celebration.

The company was incorporated in February 1919 in Columbus. On that day this year,  company locations around the world held celebrations on that day. But they are also holding celebrations all summer long at company locations across the world, Leyes said.

Starting in May and lasting through September, each Cummins site will hold its own localized version of the celebration event.

Saturdays event in Columbus is the only one in Indiana and employees from Seymour to Indianapolis will be attending. It is limited to Cummins employees and retirees and their families but about 13,000 people are expected.

Downtown activities will include live music, food, displays and tours of the Cummins headquarters building. Shuttle buses will be taking visitors from satellite parking locations including the lots at the CEP and Cummins Fuel Systems.

The downtown activities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the area around Mill Race Park including Jackson and Fifth streets and the headquarters parking lot.