This is the 4th of July. It is fireworks, flags,
parades, concerts, hamburgers, hotdogs, baseball and apple pie, although fireworks
are in jeopardy this year. Much of the country is affected by drought, and fire
is a danger if something goes awry. Some places have cancelled their fireworks
saying if debris falls into water, it adds to pollution.
Fourth of July once meant a display of patriotism. On July
4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared the American colonies’
independence from Great Britain. On its first-year anniversary in 1777,
Philadelphia celebrated with bonfires, candles in windows and fireworks on a
jubilant day. Until more recently, the feelings of patriotism ran high and the
4th was more than a day off the job site.
The Wall Street Journal –
April 4, 2003 – carried a poll indicating a steep decline in the importance
of patriotism, down from 70% in 1998 to 38% in April.
Author Stephen Nathanson’s 1993 book on patriotism,
morality, and peace says patriotism consists of affection for one’s country,
defining oneself through the country, being interested in its welfare, and
sacrificing for the sake of the country’s welfare.
A Gallup poll surveyed patriotism in the country and found
Montana was #1 as the most prideful state, however Virginia had the most
American pride. That seems like a head-scratcher. Gallup Poll found Gallup, New
Mexico, to be the nations’ most patriotic city. (The city of Gallup was named for David Gallup and early
railroad paymaster. The city is not connected to the famous pollster George
Gallup.)
What happened? New York Times
columnist David Brooks penned an opinion, “The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in
Times Like These)” on March 30, 2023. The entire column can be found
online. Brooks concludes his column with his fears that we are so distrusting
of institutions and those around us that we do not reach out and thus
dysfunction continues. Brooks cites the Wall Street Journal poll by
saying people told pollsters that patriotism, parenthood, and community are not
very important.
Wolf River, which became Ahnepee/Ahnapee/Algoma, remembered its
very first 4th, July 4, 1851. It was not your grandpa’s 4th.
The settling families arrived in what is now Algoma during that week – the
Tweedales and Hughes on June 28, followed by the younger Warner family on July
4. The community was Kewaunee County’s first permanent settlement, except that
it was in Door County at the time. Kewaunee was set apart from Door the
following spring.
The Warners never forgot what happened as Pa Orin Warner steered
his boat into the river that 1851 day. The entrance depth was about 2’ and when
Orin guided his sailboat in, it capsized, sending the family and their
possessions and provisions into the water. Harriet was 9 and later told how her
mother, Jane, wept bitterly. Everybody was ok – little George Washington was
only 3 – and they collected their belongings which were dried out. Imagine
Jane’s terror. Nobody saw the accident. They were in a wilderness and who was
there to help? At the time, the river was a bit over a block north of where it
is today. The U.S. Engineers straightened the river and dredging continued on
and off for the next 170 years.
Life went on, the community and county grew, and subsequent 4th
of Julys were different. When the Civil War started, immigrants and those born
in the country alike volunteered or were drafted and served. Most of Kewaunee County’s
population were immigrants and perhaps thought the fight did not concern them.
They went forward. It is well documented that new Belgian immigrants got
shafted while the prominent stayed home, but that is another story.
When, in 1873, there was a newspaper in Ahnapee, events were
chronicled and encouraged. There were a few in town who felt they were above
the German immigrants, for instance, and had their own balls and celebrations. Such
animosity was noticeable for years before feelings of camaraderie spread and
folks made trips to Sturgeon Bay, Kewaunee, Casco and even Manitowoc to take
part in activities. Roads were so primitive that for years it was the Goodrich
Line, or sometimes Hart, ferries that took folks and bands up and down the
lakeshore. Traveling to Rio Creek and Casco were overland trips, and not easy.
Fifty years later transportation had changed and Algoma’s Delores Marr won the
Manitowoc derby race. She was one of two girl riders in the seven-entry race.
Each year brought something
special. Kewaunee fire company held a grand picnic and ball with the Bohemian
Turners as part of the celebration in 1878. Sullivan’s woods near
Maplewood was the location of a 4th of July 1882 picnic with
proceeds going to the area Catholic church. All were invited to what was
promised to be a good time. Clay Banks completed plans for their 1882 grand
celebration and took in $70 for the purchase of fireworks. That 70 bucks would
be around $2500 today. In 1892 Kewaunee’s
glorious celebration began with a grand parade followed by three bands at New Riverside
Park.
Although each year was marked with some type of patriotic
celebration, 1880 saw the biggest changes and events in Kewaunee County’s first
50 years.
The feeling was that enough money could be raised by
soliciting subscriptions and petitioning the city council* to make an appropriation.
The committee pointed out that it was the “duty of every citizen” to aid in
raising money. No single individual would derive benefits, but the entire city
would. It was pointed out that businessmen would indeed make money but they
were also making larger contributions. Everybody was expected to give according
to their means, and everybody would benefit.
Each person was encouraged to “speak, utter, talk,
articulate, pronounce, converse, say, tell, recite and relate” views on the
subject to ensure a public demonstration, “the grandeur of which can only be
imagined and not described.” William Bastar
wanted to see that happen and had a large gang working on his new building
which he planned to have ready for a 4th of July dance in his upper
hall.
Where there had been
cultural animosity, the committee encouraged German citizens to arrange for
speakers in that language because the foreign-born populace was important. Plans
included singing, reading the Declaration of Independence, and a brass band
while the committee looked for speakers outside the city.
In 1882, the Record cautioned against the sale of toy
pistols which were big on the 4th. The paper called the pistols an
“instrument of death” which was addressed by Wisconsin law that said the sale,
use, or possession of a toy pistol or revolver was unlawful. A conviction meant
up to 6 months in jail, a $100 fine, or both. Who knows if the law had teeth? Wisconsin
has fireworks laws 141 years later.
By 1885, John McDonald’s Third Street roller rink was nearing
completion, and McDonald planned a good time on July 3 and 4. The paper
editorialized that McDonald did so much for citizens that Council should give
him a vote of thanks rather than charging him for his license. The idea didn’t
fly.
1894 saw activities throughout the area. Roads were no longer the primitive paths of 20 years earlier and folks traveled to entertainments. Henry Sibilsky extended an invitation to a picnic and dance at his Mill Street hall. Admission to the dance was 25 cents. The Forestville William Duwe Camp Son’s of Veterans held a dance and picnic at Stokes* in Nasewaupee. Dance tickets were 25 cents for the affair that was expected to attract a large attendance. John Blahnik’s grove in Kodan was also holding a picnic with music by the Arion Band. It was said Mr. Blahnik would spare no pains to make the occasion pleasant. Joseph Prokash made dance arrangements at his Prokash Hall in the Town of Ahnapee while Rudolph Bruemmer was advertising a picnic and dance at his place on the Green Bay Rd. (now Fremont St. at Bruemmerville.)
George Bottlok & Bro. had
a grand celebration at his Bottkolville/Euren hall in 1896. That same
year,
F. Kwapil & Son was ready for the “glorious approaching 4th”” taking orders for oranges, bananas, lemons,
peanuts, coconuts, peaches and other fruits not grown in the area. Kwapil
guaranteed favorable prices. The Temple of Honor celebrated at their 4th
and Fremont grounds, which were “handsomely fitten (sic) up for the occasion.”
The observance of Independence and the 50th
anniversary of Wisconsin’s admittance to the Union took place in 1898. The Record
did not mention Kewaunee County’s 46th anniversary weeks earlier
when it said Algoma didn’t need an excuse to celebrate.
In early June 1899, the paper
called attention to the 4th of July saying, in effect, that the
citizenery should get on the ball. The paper encouraged folks to hustle to plan
a big day so that people could stay in town for a good time. Algoma
residents were in Sturgeon Bay for their celebration that year. For those who
missed it, Algoma Press told readership that Frank Columb of Sturgeon
Bay was struck in the face by a piece of plug tobacco box under which a large
cannon cracker exploded. Columb was severely injured at that celebration. The
following year Algoma had a similar event.
Herman Haucke and Frank Damas were known to have devil-may-care
attitudes. Grandma’s Cousin Herman did much for the community but was known to
tip a glass or two, which might explain things. At the 1890 celebration, the
men were to set off a firing salute, which happened prematurely. It made news
because one of them – it is unclear which – had gunpowder in his pocket. The man’s
clothing was burned as was his face. A subsequent paper carried an article
about Herman setting off a cannon with the cigar in his mouth. It further said
if townsfolk saw Herman with a sling on his head, they’d know why.
Who knows how many mishaps the 4th brought, but
in 1905 the Kodan correspondent to the paper said the town was surprised that
there were no serious accidents that year, saying it was unusual.
Patriotism was high in 1900. Civil War vets were dying and
the Sons of Veterans were taking their places. The Spanish American War era was
over and technology was mind-boggling: telephone instruments, electric
lighting, roads, and the talk of the cock-eyed like horseless carriages and
flying machines. The railroad offered trips to Green Bay in hours, rather than
at least 2 days by horse and buggy.
In 1907 Rio Creek’s Record correspondent said the 4th
was a rather dead affair in the village because the majority of residents
either went to festivities at Casco or Bruemmerville. Casco’s George Blaha, proprietor of
Casco Park, planned for a “dawn-to-dawn” rousing 4th at his popular
resort. Blaha planned games and races for prizes, evening fireworks, and good
dancing music throughout the day. The railroad offered excursion rates from
Algoma, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay, and intermediate points. Both the
Ahnapee and Western and the Green Bay and Western offered excursion rates to
Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, Kewaunee, and intermediate points through July 8th
, prompting Blaha to say, “Casco is the only place in this vicinity that will
celebrate the 4th and nothing but the 4th.”
But it was Algoma that the Record was certain folks could
not afford to miss. The city’s most attractive feature would be the airship
flight. Who could even imagine such a thing? There would be street bands
performing all day, a circus parade in which anyone with a costume might win a
prize, and a baseball game with Peshtigo in the afternoon. Folks could cool off
during a hose fight with 8 members of the fire department. Honors went to the
one who stayed on his feet the longest time in the greased pole contest while
catching the greased pig made everybody laugh. Horse races were on tap and there
was loose and tight wire walking. Everything that citizens could wish for
culminated with the biggest fireworks display in the evening.
When a June 1880 Record encouraged every man, woman
and child assist the cause of the 4th, it encouraged the decoration
of every home with garlands, flags, and banners. The paper said everybody in
the country should wake up and display their patriotism. It said American
people were born in France, Germany, England and everywhere else, however it
mattered not and that patriotism “demands that it should be rescued from the
oblivion into which it is being allowed to fall by the indifference and the
ingratitude of the American people.” It happened that Judge Boalt was one of
the speakers that year. He seemed to be pointing out that those with less than
he, financially and intellectually, should not infringe on those such as
himself. He railed against the ignorant accepting communism and religious
fanaticism that appeared to be directed at Catholics. While papers praised the
industrious Germans, Boalt complained about them and other immigrants. There
were those who said celebrations were “humbug” and controlled by “damn
Yankees.”
One hundred forty-three years later, David Brooks ended his New
York Times column saying, “Only love and a leap of faith can break
through distrust. That is why a credible form of patriotism is so important
right now. We’ve hit that spot in the cycle of crisis and renewal at which
people have to take the kind of common actions that send the vital message: we
can trust each other.”
Notes:
*Ahnepee became the Village of Ahnapee in 1873, and the City of Ahnapee in 1879. July 4th, 1880, marked the first celebration as a city.
*Stokes -
today Highway 42/57 and Door County Highway O.
Notes:
*Ahnepee became the Village of Ahnapee in 1873, and the
City of Ahnapee in 1879. July 4th, 1880, marked the first
celebration as a city.
*Stokes - today Highway 42/57 and Door County Highway O.
Online: David Brooks, New York Times, March 30, 2023, “The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in Times Like These)”.
Stephen Nathanson, Patriotism,
Morality and Peace, 1993, Rowan & Littlefield Publishers
Wall Street Journal – April 4, 2003
https://news.gallup.com/poll/394202/record-low-extremely-proud-american.aspx
https://news.gallup.com/poll/507980/extreme-pride-american-remains-near-record-low.aspx
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-pull-back-from-values-that-once-defined-u-s-wsj-norc-poll-finds-df8534cd
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