BeeLines - July 4, 2018
By Marybelle Beigh, Westfield Town & Village Historian
Highlights of First Independence Day Centennial in Westfield on July 4, 1876
“Glorious Centennial Fourth,” the Wednesday Morning, July 5, 1876, Westfield Republican headlined. The article begins, “The revolutionary fathers anticipated no stormier times in the assertion of their independence than were experienced by the various committees having in charge the celebration of yesterday, with this important difference: Our troubles were with the elements, theirs with an overbearing mother country.”
A little prickly shiver ran up the back of my neck and scalp as the story continued, “The arrangements for this centennial celebration were compete in nearly every particular and in keeping with the importance of the occasion; and had it not been for the continuous rain which fell, sometimes in showers and often in torrents, from 8 A.M. until 3 P.M., the Westfield celebration and demonstration would have been a complete success.”
It’s not unusual for history and genealogy buffs (Who? Me?) to lapse into imagining scenes of what it was like “way back when” while reading about or viewing family or area historical places, items and events that pique their curiosity. The weather app on my phone has been threatening major thunderstorms for our upcoming July Fourth, as well.
Since this week’s BeeLines had already been planned to continue sharing more of pioneer Hon. Austin Smith’s Historical Oration at the Centennial Fourth that was shared in last week’s article, further reading of that edition of the newspaper was sought to know more about the events of that day. In the editor’s column, next to the article described at the beginning of this week’s BeeLines, was the following “disclaimer.”
“In order that the Republican might contain a full report of the proceedings of the Fourth, it has been delayed one full day—and almost its whole space devoted to this one event—to the exclusion of both political and local matters.” The column began with the quip, “Yesterday the world celebrated; today it’s getting over it.” And further down, “One way to celebrate the Fourth is to bring the eight children and a bushel basket of lunch—settle the family in a hotel parlor, being careful not to wipe any of the twenty feet which have propelled the troupe through all mudholes within convenient distance—feed the dear family from the basket—ask for a pitcher of water (and only a few glasses) of the accommodating landlady—witness the display that some one has provided, get into the best windows and see the fireworks, and then go home and tell all the neighbors what a glorious day has been had, without costing a cent.”
That all being said, many of the events were actually held: “The day was welcomed by the ringing of bells at midnight, succeeded by bonfires, and at daybreak by the firing of THE NATIONAL SALUTE.” Despite “the torrents of rain, Main street was thronged with a jostling, good natured crowd…” Following the salute, there were games of Cricket, Base Ball old, (omitted sack race, stone race, and rail race), and Base Ball new. The exercises in the park were opened by a few remarks, prayer, and reading of the Declaration of Independence, with historical comments, and the Glee Club singing Whittier’s “Centennial Hymn.” They then adjourned to Virginia Hall for the chief event of the day – the Historical Oration by Hon. Austin Smith. Recall that the President requested a history of the town, some of which was summarized in last week’s BeeLines, but following are more highlights in the words of Smith.
“While endeavoring to comply with the request of the President, it would seem improper and malapropos to pass over in silence the great event of which this is the centennial anniversary… The noble sentiments of that immortal instrument [Declaration of Independence] to which you have just listened, and which has been read annually to the people of the United States for the last hundred years, cannot fail to inspire the dullest heart with patriotic emotions… Indeed, its promulgation was listened to and felt by mankind as the voice of God. It made tyrants tremble and inspired new hopes and courage in the hearts of the oppressed and downtrodden of all nations.”
Hon. Austin Smith then notes that time does not permit the retelling of the history that led to the Revolution and that when the Declaration was made, we had no “organized government or compact; and it was not until the autumn of ’77 that eh Articles of Confederation were formed, by which under the name of the United States of America, the States entered into a ‘league of friendship’ with each other, for their mutual defense and security.” But even the Articles were not enough to hold a government together – no power of self-preservation – we were without a “nationality.” It took the leaders of the states another ten years of struggle to call for a General Convention, which met at Philadelphia, May 25, 1787, with Washington as their president, to decide to abandon the Articles of Confederation, and establish a National Government, resulting “in the formation and adoption by the people of the Constitution of the United States.”
From there, Smith describes a few notable events of the history of the United States through the Civil War, to the Centennial of the Declaration, and then launches into the history of the Town of Westfield which was summarized in last week’s BeeLines.
Immediately after the address, there was an Indian Foot Race around the village square. The procession was attempted with some success despite the storm, beginning with a four-oxen team drawing the Westfield Cornet Band, followed by thirteen small children dressed up and carrying banners bearing the name of the thirteen original states. Next was Uncle Sam, “four in hand driving a chariot containing his thirty-eight daughters” – young ladies dressed up to represent the then 38 states, and “guarded by Columbia” represented by Miss Clara Wedge. Many displays or floats representing trades and businesses came next, including a 1776 log cabin interior with old fashioned spinning wheel, and concluded with mounted and dismounted dressed-up “fantastics.” Throughout the day, “a few veteran cavalrymen made charges through the street.” And, of course, at 8 PM were the Fireworks, and a closing piece by the Cornet Band.