Fourth of July Reflections

Ever since the American colonists accomplished the gigantic and nervy feat of declaring their independence from the mother England back in July 4th, 1776, the 4th of July has been a national holiday and an occasion for great celebrating and fun making. The settlers who came to this area first by covered wagon, stagecoach and later by rail brought their 4th of July celebrating customs and traditions with them. Even though many Iowa settlers may have lived in relative isolation much of the year, July 4th was the time of the year they wanted to be together with friends and neighbors and they would go great distances to accomplish this.

In the early 1850s the Mason City and Clear Lake area first began being settled and already by the 1870s thanks to the coming of the railroad Clear Lake was being called, “Pearl of Western Waters “ and “Saratoga of the West”. In those pre refrigeration, pre air-conditioning, pre TV and radio days, a recreation starved populous was looking for a special place to go to cool off and have some fun and creative people developed Clear Lake as an up and coming resort with something for everyone. So it would follow that the 4 th of July would be especially noted and be an occasion for special celebrating.

In 1883 a group of civic minded Clear Lakers decided to have to entertain the influx of 4th of July visitors by initiating a parade and one has been held every year since except during the war years of the 40s and will be doing it again this year bigger and better than ever. No newspaper from 1883 -1895 did not happen to be available for a complete report for the very earliest parades. But beginning with 1895 a very complete history can be made through newspaper stories and clippings. I’m most appreciative to Marilyn Westover for sharing from her wonderful Clear Lake memorabilia collection for some of our items this morning.

An 1895 ad in the Clear Lake Mirror advertises a grand celebration saying that the businessmen and citizens of Clear Lake are hard at work preparing for the grand celebration of Independence Day and invite you all to come and participate in the pleasure of the occasion. The program is listed as follows:

9:00 – Music in the Park with the Clear Lake Band; Parade of ragamuffins with valuable prizes given as to the most original and unique display;
10:00 – Exercises in the park, singing by the Glee Club, prayer, the reading of the Declaration of Independence and an oration by Dr. Al L. Aldrich.
12:00 – Picnic dinner
2:00 – Tug of War with the town versus the country – $10.00 prize;
A bicycle race for 15 and under – first prize to be a wool sweater, the second prize a pair of bicycle shoes;
A free-for-all bicycle race with the same prizes and foot races, sack, wheelbarrow and tug races
A grand display of fireworks that was the attraction for the evening.

In 1896 a big ad said, “Clear Lake will celebrate Independence Day. Citizens are making ready a fitting celebration, a fine program being arranged. Everybody invited to join us in making the day an old-fashioned outpouring of patriotism. Come to the lake!”

The 1900 one said, “The 4th of July was to be appropriately observed by Clear Lake’s grand celebration. Bring the family to enjoy the shade, the lake breezes and interesting program which
is listed like this:

9:30 – Band concert
10:15 – Novelty and bicycle parade
10:45 – Exercises in the park including an address of welcome by Mayor R.F. Young -,an oration by the Honorable Perry Rose of Jefferson, Iowa.
12:00 – Picnic dinner in the park
1:30 – Band Concert
2:00 – Sports on the street with all kinds of races with cash prizes, even a fat man’s race-200 lbs. and over, a tug of war for the north and south side of town – the prize a box of Editors
Cigars and a cracker eating contest with no water allowed.
4:00 – Japanese Day firework
7:30 – More band music
8:30 – Grand illumination of fireworks on the lake- cash prize for the best decorated boat.

W. A. Bumap was the Marshall of the day and D.W. Hern president. The committee consisted of H.M. Halverson, F.L. Jones and C.E. Elf.

The 1901 celebration was billed as the 125th anniversary of our nation’s birthday and invited all to come to fittingly celebrate the glorious anniversary of our birth of freedom. To enjoy the
luxury of hundreds of shady nooks and glens that encompass the environ of the most beautiful lake in Iowa. We obviously hired a new Chamber of Commerce fellow. An ideal spot, the delight of a sail on the lake, a ride on a steamboat or pull up the oars will be valuable recreation in addition to a full program of exercises. In short, Clear Lake is the only place to celebrate the 4 th of July. The program added a new feature- the firing of cannon in the park at 4 a.m.

The ever popular band concert started at 9:30 and 10:15 the parade. Citizens were urged to join with their private carriages and turnouts decorated. Exercises included a welcome by the
President of the day, Mr. G.C. Huntley, the reading of the Declaration of Independence and an oration by Honorable Thomas Kingland of Forest City. The noon picnic was again advertised but within parenthesis it said (Clear Lake also has ample hotel and restaurant accommodations.) I suspect some housewives were already tired of fixing the right things for a potluck picnic. After more band music at 1:30 the popular sports in the street was again held and rowing and a tub race on the lake were added. At 8:30 a water carnival and fireworks on the lake with a picture caption,”let the lovers sigh in blissful quietude”. Another with a tent, “let the family lounge in the lap of nature,” and another, “the youngsters play in the lake.” It leaves something for everyone, I guess.

The 1907 official programs still list the 4:00 a.m. firing of the cannon in the park and a 10:00 parade led by Clear Lake’s all-star band. The Honorable Duncan Rule was the orator at the 11:00 exercises in the park and the audience joined in the singing of “America” before dinner at 12:00.

Following the usual band concert there was an exhibition drill by Foresters Elmwood Camp #320. There were sports in the street with prizes listed for winners in every race like a $3.00 hammock, a $1.00 jackknife, a $3.00 watch chain, a side of bacon, a sack of cornmeal, a Briar pipe, and for winners of the greased pig race, a greased pig. Visitors were urged to follow the band to the ball park at 3:00 for a game between Mason City and Clear Lake and more band music before the grand fireworks at 8:30 followed by dancing at the Pleasure Pier.

Jumping ahead just one year to 1908 the newspaper ad said, “the dawn of day will be announced by the thunder of one hundred guns, a grand parade will form at 9:30 and march through the principal streets to City Park where an excellent program will be given. Music and plenty of it by the Kennedy Caddy All professional Band was promised and the great program of sports was being arranged including all kinds of races for all ages; boat races, baseball, bathing and shoot the shoots. A Bowery dance both afternoon and evening at the covered dock was a special attraction. The Mason City-Clear Lake Electric Railroad offered to make the round trip for 25 cents, good on all trains. The day of celebrating would close with a grand water carnival and fireworks on the lake. “The time of your life is waiting for you, come and get it!”

One 1910 ad shows a fine topped buggy you are urged to buy so you can come to Clear Lake for the 4th of July in style as prices are right. You can also get your shoe repairing done at the same shop; Bellmeisters at Ventura.

Jumping ahead to 1917 a great patriotic parade was advertised to be headed bay companies A & D of the Second Iowa Infantry followed by the Clear Lake Professional Band, Red Cross and all
patriotic orders, Sunday schools, farmers decorated cars, and merchant’s floats. A rousing patriotic speech A. A. Koobler from Osage was promised for 1:30 with lots of land and water sports to follow and by this time the prizes had all gone to cash except for the Silver Cup for the Evenrude Race winner. Clear Lake and Swaledale were providing the baseball competition and a professional band the music. There was also to be dancing at the White Pier all day and evening and Bayside Amusement Park activities all day and night with boats leaving the lakefront every five minutes. At dark fireworks was one of the grandest displays of patriotic fireworks ever seen in northern Iowa fired by the Duffield Company of Chicago from a platform built out on the lake.

1918 was labeled as a “Loyalty” celebration. Lots of band music as always with the Britt Ladies Concert Band also included. The parade included representatives of the Allied Nations, the Red Cross and all civic organizations. Dr. Charles Flint, president of Cornell College gave the patriotic address at 2:00 in the park. Vaudeville entertainment was added in addition to the usual street and water sports. A ball game; the Claydiggers versus the Cement City Bowlers with an admission of 25 cents, all proceeds to go to the Red Cross. The big evening feature was a patriotic pageant, “Spirit of Democracy” in City Park and an illuminated boat parade. Again there was dancing all day and evening at the White Pier, boating, bathing and fishing, Bayside Amusement Park attractions, and the Alabama Minstrels to entertain. S. J. Clausen was president of the day.

In an era of time from 1900 on Big Jim Miller, father of well-known Clear Laker Roscoe Miller who was involved in many, many events and 4th of July parades very often leading the parade riding on a white Arabian horse named Pigeon. Jim could also train horses to do tricks and his horses, particular Pigeon, would do tricks in front of the stage in the park to the great amusement of spectators. Jim served as Parade Marshall once again the last year of his life in 1936 spanning over a quarter of a century of his involvement of Clear Lake’s 4th of July celebrations.

Pictures and eye witness accounts of early 4th of July parades always show a great abundance of red, white and blue bunting, a kind of crepe paper bunting material decorating vehicles, horses, people, everything. There was always lots of horses and ponies probably at least 100 in every parade. Again, the Millers played an important role in this phase of the parade as they raised horses and ponies and would train them to pull different vehicles like a hand- made stagecoach or a trick deal where a tiny Shetland pony colt with stiff shaft seems to be pulling an automobile along. Often horses would run away causing an unexpected and unwanted bit of excitement.

You probably noticed in the different 4th of July advertisements the prominent part that band music played in each and that continued on with the inviting of bands from other towns to also come and take part. During the many years that Ted Whiney served as parade chairman, he worked hard to build up the number of bands participating in the parade and this number continued to grow yearly until Mason City began their Band Festival Parade. And since that was usually shortly before the 4th of July parades, the number of guest bands did begin to taper off then.

We worry about weather for our parades into the 80s and always will no doubt but our concerns are relatively minor compared to the concerns back when the streets were dirt and wet weather
produced a sea of mud for spectators and parade participants alike. The red, white and blue bunting didn’t react too well to rainy conditions either. The first post WWII parade in 1946 was billed as the biggest and best ever. Ted Whiny was the parade marshal honoring his 25th time as head of the parade committee.

Ads warned visitors to bring their own lunch because restaurant owners advised that the current meat shortage would be at its worth over the 4th. The first place winner was the Women’s Relief Corps featuring a pioneer mother and Lake Shore Hotel with its decrepit old cars carrying passengers bound for a picnic won first in the commercial division. Many bands including a clown band from Corny Hollow, wherever that is, entertained.

In 1947, there were 8 bands and 50 floats, outboard motor races, a soap box derby, a Western rodeo with professional stars, ball game with the House of David versus the Clear Lake town team, Golden Glove boxing on the stage and beautiful fireworks. How’s that for variety? Doing their bit for everyone, weren’t they?

1949 contrasts and adds the best pyrotechnical demonstrations ever seen in Iowa. There was a synchronized swimming show featuring local talent along with professional aqua clowns billed
as “the outstanding water act performing today.” The Wa-tan-ee won first prize with an Indian float in the parade and the grand finale of the day was the spectacular fireworks marred slightly
by waves and wind rocking the firing platform causing an untimely explosion near the end. But the paper account said, “no one minded and it did not interfere with making a huge American
flag with the band playing the Star Spangled Banner – best ever celebration.”

In 1950 a free style swimming event and a bathing beauty contest were added and Miss Arlene Prestoldt was named Miss Clear Lake of 1950. A brother and sister team, Virgil and Virginia Ashland, led the parade on their beautiful Palomino horses. The music mothers float won first with an old car loaded with bathing beauties dressed to depict years 15, 16 and 17 and won the commercial division. In the patriotic division, the VFW won that. A Viking ship made of chicken wire and crepe paper sponsored by the Vikings of Ventura won rave reviews. There was even a Junior Miss beauty contest for girls age 2 – 5 and 3 year old, Mary Margaret Breheny won that.

In 1953 the fireworks featured a 50 foot reproduction of Niagara Falls with fish swimming through the falls. An amateur show was won by a piano student from the School for the Blind in Vinton. Ted Whiney for 30 years had been parade marshal winning a place of honor in the long line of beautiful floats. In 1953 the musical review, “Old Songs and New” made a great hit. Lois, Mrs. Bud Hughes directed it and it featured the talent of many locals who are still active in our community today.

In 1954 Sydney Halford served as chairman of the July 4th activities. A giant sundae complete with a red balloon cherry and the caption, “Everyday is Sunday at the Lake Shore Hotel” won the first place in the commercial division. Daylight fireworks as the parade left the Surf parking lot was called a big success.

The 1976 parade in connection with the nation’s bicentennial celebration is the biggest parade ever held in the 100 years of parades. There were 150 entries, many antiques and floats, old cars and machinery, to tell and to honor the 200 years of our nation’s history.

Well you can’t come to this year’s 4th of July parade in celebration on the electric train. You can’t go down to the foot of Main Street and catch a boat leaving every 5 minutes to go to a Bayside Amusement Park that is no longer there. You can’t rent a swimming suit and ride the “shoot the shoot” at Peterson’s Bath House or pay for 3 dances for a quarter to dance with the favorite girl of your choice at the White Pier Dance Hall but you can hop in your air-conditioned car and drive there quickly and comfortably. You probably have or know someone who has a motorboat so you can enjoy a ride on the lake. Instead of a permanent amusement park, City Park will be filled with carnival rides and games to amuse you and there are lots of beaches where you can swim in your very own swimsuit and probably go dancing at night at the beautiful Surf Ballroom if that’s your thing.

And just as through the years, the parade and fireworks have been billed as the biggest and best ever this year’s will undoubtedly be so as the 1908 ad said, “let’s the lovers sigh in blissful solitude “, “let the families lounge in the lap of nature” and “let the children play in the lake but you all come” because there is something to help everyone celebrate our nation’s birthday.