Fourth of July Celebrations

   I've noticed in the Joplin Globe and elsewhere the past few days that a number of area towns will be hosting Fourth of July celebrations this weekend. Nearly all, if not all, of them feature fireworks displays, but most also have a variety of other events and entertainment lined up, including parades, car shows, food vendors, and musical performances. One hundred years ago in the Ozarks, the Fourth of July was celebrated in similar fashion as it is today. I think political speeches were a bigger part of Fourth of July gatherings 100 years ago than they are nowadays, although we still have our share of those, too. Another difference is that there were probably more small towns back then that had their own little celebration than there are today.
   For instance, in 1922 both Stella and Fairview in Newton County (MO) had Independence Day celebrations, and both drew large crowds, according to the Neosho Times. Stella "had a big celebration, as they always do," said the Times, and Fairview had an "overflow" crowd and "the biggest celebration in the town's history."
   I'm not sure whether either Stella or Fairview still has a Fourth of July celebration nowadays. If so, the events apparently aren't nearly as big as they used to be, because I don't believe I've ever heard of either staging such a celebration. Both towns were once pretty thriving little villages, but they've both lost population and businesses over the years until today neither is a center for commerce as they were 100 years ago.
   One town in the Joplin/Neosho area that had a big celebration in 1922 and still does today is Seneca. One hundred years ago the Fourth of July bash at Seneca was "a great success," but "the pleasures of the day were marred when the parachute man was killed."
   Speaking of parachute men, I think daredevil acts in general were probably more characteristic of old-time Fourth of July celebrations than they are of today's celebrations. In addition to the parachute act that cost a man his life at Seneca in 1922, one of the main attractions at the Eldon (MO) Fourth of July celebration was an airplane pilot who "thrilled the crowd" with "daring stunts" and even took passengers up in the air for a fee so they could "enjoy" a few "loop the loops" in the air for themselves. The Eldon Independence Day celebration also featured a baseball game between the local Eldon nine and a team from the Jeff City state prison called the Penitentiary Cubs. The Cubs won 15 to 7.
   At Thayer (MO), a brass band from Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, provided musical entertainment during a two-day Fourth of July celebration 100 years ago. The Thayer event, like the Eldon celebration, also had baseball games, but perhaps the biggest draw was The Great Kentzger, Juggler and Hoop Roller. Kentzger "put on the best comedy and hoop act ever seen around here," said the Thayer News. The Thayer celebration didn't have as many food vendors as it had in past years, according to the News, so, consequently, those that were on the grounds did a booming business.
   And that's the way it was, 100 years ago this weekend.