Celebrating the Fourth of July in an Earlier Decade
With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, local historians inevitably ask: how did we celebrate so many years ago? Has it always been loud fireworks and excessive drink? The answer to these questions remains a definitive yes and no. Depending on the year and the location, the fourth of July celebration in Sherburne County has been both loud and raucous, and other times silent and sedate. Veteran's Memorial at Sherburne History Center Using newspapers as the source, in the decade of the 1890s, often town baseball remained the highlight of a July Fourth celebration. The newspapers routinely reported of tournaments pitting Elk River nines against Rogers, Monticello, or other local teams. With the end of nine innings a watermelon feast marked the culmination of the celebration. During the decade, livelier celebrations also took place. In 1893, the newspapers advertised river excursions on the Mississippi River. The ste...