Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

history-Fourth-of-July

Full Text:

Newtown's Fourth Of July Was Not Always As Quiet As It Is Today

(with cut)

In recent years, the Fourth of July in Newtown has been a quiet day, compared

to all the fanfare of Labor Day. But that was not always the case. Newtown has

celebrated the Fourth of July in many ways Á with houses draped in bunting,

flags and strings of lights, traditional picnics, lively parades, and

spectacular fireworks.

Late in the 1800s and early in this century, the observances were quieter than

those of more recent years that featured parades and fireworks.

On July 7, 1893, The Newtown Bee reported that Newtown Street had a quiet

Fourth. However, the night before, apparently some ambitious boys succeeded in

getting the bell rope in the Congregational Church outside, and kept up "a

merry jingle," and firecrackers "were kept agoing, although the racket was

mild compared with previous years."

There was also the traditional picnic at St Rose, complete with ball game.

In Sandy Hook, it was an "exceedingly quiet day," although many residents

decorated their houses with flags and in the evening fireworks were set up at

a number of dwellings. Local musicians got together as an impromptu orchestra

and "took possession of Mr Warner's summer house and filled the air with

national airs."

Sen Houlihan and Wesley Hayes had displays of fireworks, and the Rev Mr

Linsley had the verandas of Trinity rectory adorned with lanterns.

On Mt Pleasant, there were fireworks at the homes of A.W. Peck, Mrs Addie

Nichols and James H. Weaver. Mr Leonard's hotel was decorated with lanterns at

night, and dancing was enjoyed.

In July of 1897, amid sweltering heat, a large crowd attended a picnic under

the auspices of St Rose Church. The picnic featured a half mile bicycle race,

which was won by John Pitzschler with Herbert Kellogg second and Clarence

Rippey third. In the one-mile race, Frank Smith took the first, and Will

Hawley won the three-mile race.

In the horse trot, a horse owned by E.J. Hall took a first. The traditional

ball game was followed by dancing at night to the music of Peck and Bliss.

On July 11, 1902, The Bee reported on a flag raising on July 4, which brought

out about 300 people, including visitors at the hotels.

A platform was erected at the liberty pole on which sat the Rev J.H. George,

chairman, and other local clergy, and attorney Charles H. Northrop and Robert

Beers. The flag was secured by Mr Beers, and Miss S.B. Minor and Walter Finch

spearheaded the fund-raising for it.

The Battle Cry of Freedom was sung as well as The Star Spangled Banner , and

the Declaration of Independence was read by Mr Northrop followed by a speech

by Rev O.W. Barker.

According to the paper, "the flag was flown to the breeze" to a 21-gun salute,

with Patrick Gannon, William Honan, Walter Finch and Michael White handling

the guns. Church bells chimed, and the exercises closed with the singing of

America.

It was a relatively quiet fourth in 1907, featuring the traditional picnic at

St Rose. Ice cream and cake were served, and music by Gallegher's Orchestra

was enjoyed.

On July 9, 1915, the paper reported that "Through the energy of Borough Warden

Peck and Landlord Porter of the Newtown Inn, the Newtown borough had the most

elaborate Independence Day the town had seen in a generation."

The street was brilliantly illuminated with lines of electric lights strung

from sidewalk to sidewalk. More than 200 cars were lined up along the street,

and about 2,000 people were in attendance.

A band from Danbury played, and fireworks were set off near the brick

building. Settees were set up in front of the inn and on the hotel plaza, and

the sidewalks and neighboring yards were crowded with spectators.

The Bee noted the absence of rowdiness as had been experienced in the past.

The Honor Roll

On July 12, 1918, The Bee reported on "One of the largest and most successful

patriotic celebrations ever held in town" when the Honor Roll on the front of

Town Hall was unveiled before about 1,200 people.

The chairman of the event was the Rev W.C. Cravner, who addressed the

gathering and presented the Honor Roll of Newtown's representatives in the

national army and in the war service.

The speech of acceptance on behalf of the town was by an honored veteran of

the Civil War, First Selectman Ed Brisco. A patriotic and forceful speech was

made by the Rev W.B. Lusk, rector of St Stephen's Episcopal Church of

Ridgefield.

The lumber for the construction of the Honor Roll was contributed by E.C.

Platt of Hawleyville and the lettering done by C.W. Canfield.

A dance followed, and the sale of ice cream netted the Red Cross over $100.

In 1947 the Fourth of July parade included floats by at least six

organizations and a number of other mobile units. The Sandy Hook Fife, Drum

and Bugle Corps, the Grassy Plain Corps from Danbury and many marching units

participated.

The parade formed in the rear of Edmond Town Hall with the line of march down

Main Street, around the flagpole, and down Church Hill and Glen roads to the

Sandy Hook Fire Department.

In 1948, residents of the borough were asked to hang up flags, bunting and

other decorations on July 4 and 5 to add festivity to the annual parade.

The parade stepped off on a hot, humid Monday with a broiling sun overhead.

"Leaping Lena," a car that bucked like a bronco without spilling its

passengers, led the parade. American Legion Post Commander William Wenzel and

his unit and color guard led the marching units, among which were Girl Scouts,

Boy Scouts, volunteer fire companies, and club members. The VFW float depicted

the "Spirit of '76" while the American Legion's represented the American home,

"What We Fought For."

A parade topped the July 4, 1949 celebration. As reported in the July 8 Bee ,

members of a score of Newtown's clubs and civic organizations were undeterred

by prospects of high temperatures and turned out to march.

Early arrivals at the line of march included Mrs William Mannix with her

station wagon prepared to transport some of the Brownie Scouts.

Spectators began to arrive before 10 am, looking for cool spots and vantage

points along the roadside.

The celebration was sponsored by the Sandy Hook Fife and Drum Corps. A. Fenn

Dickinson was marshal and Louis Carbonneau, treasurer. Secretary Robert

Lockwood supervised the floats.

Leading the parade with matching colors were the Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr

Post 308, V.F.W., and the Raymond L. Pease Post 167 American Legion, with VFW

Commander Slocum and Oswald Peck, acting commander of the American Legion. The

first float in line was "Miss Liberty", prepared and piloted by Mrs Mannix and

Harold S. DeGroat.

Cub Scouts, with leader Donald R. McCain, Jr, were on foot, and their

well-formed ranks brought third marching prize from the judges. There was a

good showing of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, led by the Rev Paul A. Cullens.

"Good Old Daze," the VFW Auxiliary float, presented a bride of yesteryear on

her wedding day. The Camp Fire float, "Make Mine Democracy," featured a voting

booth with a dummy voter inside, and a ballot box.

One of the largest floats was that of Fredericka House, a summer camp in Sandy

Hook sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, New York City. The Sandy Hook

Fife and Drum Corps added zest to the patriotic celebration. They were

followed by the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company with Hawleyville, Newtown

and Dodgingtown Fire companies exhibiting the town's firefighting equipment.

On July 4, 1950, in addition to the annual parade, the Boy Scouts sponsored a

fireworks and athletic program at Taylor Field behind Hawley School.

Intermittent rain and thunder storms had disappeared in time to bring out a

large field of athletic contenders and spectators.

The parade seems to have been discontinued during the 1920s and '30s, but was

revived after World War II, and ended in 1955, when it gave way to a

celebration of the town's 250th anniversary on August 6.

The Bells Of Newtown

On July 4, 1966 at 2 pm, the bells of the Newtown Methodist Church and the

Congregational Church rang out for freedom in conjunction with bells in

American installations across the world, just as the Liberty Bell marked the

signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks display began in 1967. In July of 1973,

Newtown had a departure from its usual tradition by having the fireworks at

the town park on the eve of the Fourth of July. Crowds of people still came to

see the spectacular display.

The fireworks display was discontinued in 1982 because of rising insurance

rates and increased difficulties with crowd, traffic and fire control.

In 1975, the town began its tradition of a Labor Day parade, with accompanying

festivities.