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Fourth of July in Nevada isn't what it used to be
Special to the Daily Mail
Nevada's big fireworks display in June, spectacular as it was, is a far cry from past Fourth of July celebrations that took place in our town on the actual July 4 as hundreds gathered around the Square for the big parades with marching bands, floats, clowns, horseback riders and pony hitches, and, oh yes, an occasional car and truck.
You had to get there early to find a good spot to see the showy spectacle in the l950s and '60s. Even if it rained, Vernon County residents turned out from all points to enjoy the fun.
Janet Wray recalls watching from the upstairs windows of her dad's medical office on the second floor of Moore's department store. Her dad, Dr. Rolla Wray, was often the parade marshal astride one of his giant geldings, either Bud or Major. Janet and her mother Avis would take 16 mm movies over the years, which Janet has since given to the Bushwhacker Museum.
The Grand Marshal was True Beisly, also astride an enormous steed.
Our high school bands always marched in the parades. I remember well as a snare drummer with Bob Wiser and Phillip Pierceall how we sweltered in wool uniforms that were July hot. One year I was the drum majorette for our junior high band in the absence of our terminally ill classmate Patty Beisly, True's daughter. I wasn't Patty's equal with the baton, but I was a lot cooler wearing shorts.
A crowd favorite was my great-uncle Charlie Logan's six-pony hitch, which he brought from his pony farm north of town. There were riders from the Nevada Boot and Saddle Club and other riding clubs in the region, and usually the Shriner clowns in their fun miniature cars.
Jack Edmiston recalls that businesses stayed open and sponsored many floats to publicize their stores.
One of the most popular was the Double Cola float sponsored by Hubert Fowler's Nevada Bottling Co.
"It was built like a six-pack and big enough for one boy to stand in each of the six slots while they drank bottles of Double Cola," Jack recalled. "I remember young Hubert Fowler who, like the other boys, were ecstatic to get to ride in the parade and drink all the Double Cola they wanted while the float motored around the Square. I think they were ready to float, too, by the time it was over."
The parade route was always the same, starting on east Cherry Street at Washington, west on Cherry to Cedar Street, north on Cedar to Walnut Street, west on Walnut to Main Street, and exiting on west Cherry.
Sixty years ago Nevada Daily Mail files for July 3 showed that Police Chief Alva Phillips warned against shooting any fireworks during the parade so as not to scare the horses. That particular parade was set to start at 10:30 a.m. followed by an old fiddlers' contest, and then a baseball game between the Nevada Red Sox and Warners Drugs of Kansas City at 2:30 p.m., at Lyons Stadium. Back on the Square at 6:45 p.m., was the introduction of political candidates, then a beauty contest and the carnival.
In that period, my family always gathered on our big front porch at Austin and Clay streets to shoot fireworks. The Roman candles usually flew across the street into Bill and Betty Sterett's yard. And one year, my three little boy cousins from Kansas came to visit and brought their M-80s and Bulldogs, which they joyfully pitched off the porch, rattling all neighborhood windows as they exploded. My cousin "Bud" learned the hard way that safety precautions are always in order when you're shooting fireworks, of course. He would have lost his hand if not wearing an asbestos glove Dad insisted the boys wear when they were shooting Roman candles. One went off in Bud's hand as he was holding it and today he still has a misshapen thumb from the accident.
Neighborhood parties with backyard games like croquet were always popular as folks brought their lawn chairs and shared a potluck supper or barbecue on the grill while little ones waved sparklers up and down the sidewalk.
Fireworks spectacles were held on the grounds of State Hospital No. 3 until the hospital was closed and as recently as last week at the Vernon County Fairgrounds. But the biggest and immensely popular celebrations were at Radio Springs Park from around 1910 into the Thirties when travelers came from miles around to picnic on the bluffs and around our beautiful lake, staying until dark to watch the fireworks. On July 3, 1915, the Daily Mail advertised:
"Big Celebrations July 5, Radio Springs Park, Band Concerts Afternoon and Evening, HIGH DIVING, Boat and Swimming Races, Bathing and Boating and Many Other Special Attractions, Dazzling Display of Fireworks in the Evening."
The Fourth of July activities on the Square have diminished as Bushwhacker Days has become popular.
But as in 1915 and now a century later the same Independence Day feelings will prevail in our wonderful country and joy in these summer traditions will continue. Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue and Happy Fourth of July.