Bit of History - April 24, 2024

In the April 12, 1900 edition of the Ridgeway Journal, the editors lamented that “Ridgeway had not celebrated the Fourth of July for a number of years.”  Many people had been disappointed the year before and the editor wanted to know “now what is to be done this year?” The editors went on to suggest that if a celebration was to be had, “start the committees to work; if not let the people know it and other towns will, undoubtedly, make arrangements for celebrations of their own.”

Whether it was because of the editorial or just in-personal prodding, Ridgeway did have a grand 4th of July celebration that year.  The June 28, 1900 issue of the paper detailed as many of the plans as they could considering that they couldn’t obtain a copy of the program.  Twenty-five businesses had agreed to take part in the grand parade “and it is likely the parade will be the finest ever seen in this section of the country.  After the parade, the festivities continued in the park with an oration by the Honorable E. B. Lytle, music, literary exercises, and reading of the Declaration of Independence.  The Silver Toned Jubilee “singer and cakewalkers” of St. Joseph were expected to be there to give a grand open air concert and cake walk.  There was also to be “unlimited sports of various kinds” in the afternoon.  Readers were told to watch for “bills for particulars” as the editors were sorry that they couldn’t give a complete program.