The Fourth of July

Patriotism in our country was different a century ago.  While there were certainly detractors of the government back in the early 1900s, the overall level of trust that Americans had in the nation and its leaders was far higher than it is today. It's not necessarily that there is less love of country now, but the nature of the feeling has changed.  It seems we are more critical, more cynical, less wide-eyed in our allegiance. Once, most Americans presumed that our country was always a force for good.  Today it seems we’re often not so sure.

A look back at American society a century ago shows a more innocent brand of patriotism — indeed, a more innocent society.  For evidence, one can look back at Independence Day celebrations around the turn of the century.  In our city of Palo Alto, for instance, July 4th was a very big deal.  And during three summers in particular — 1895, 1901 and 1904 — the city really put on a show.

The scale of these events was quite remarkable.  For a town incorporated in 1894, the July 4th celebrations were quite ambitious, drawing hundreds of out-of-towners to Palo Alto.  They were all-day affairs, beginning at daybreak with the singing of the national anthem and the ceremonial firing of the “National Salute” by two cannons.  The 1904 celebration included a giant parade that stretched more than a mile, commencing at 11 o’clock with the explosion of 10,000 powder firecrackers.  Holding a thousand small U.S. flags, the marchers proceeded through the downtown area past houses and storefronts decorated with red, white and blue bunting and patriotic paraphernalia.

The parades always included floats, which were particularly elaborate during the 1895 festivities.  On display were national symbols — the Liberty Bell, Uncle Sam, George and Martha Washington, and the Goddess of Liberty — accompanied by 44 little girls representing (what were then) “the several states.”  There was also a “Red Man Float” that one would certainly not see today.  The Palo Alto Times reported that “the members of the various councils were in Indian costume and their appearance and yells carried one back to the earlier days. Following this were a number of half-naked ‘Indian’ lads, a squaw with papoose and other appropriate features.” 

There were great bounties of food at the celebrations.  Rather than the backyard BBQs of today’s Fourth of July holiday, the 1904 feast was a community event for no less than 5,000 people.  It did feature a familiar menu, however.  Barbecued meats, along with “assorted delicacies,” laid out at tables under a giant red, white, and blue tent assembled near the corner of Ramona and University.  The 1901 celebration included a free clam bake in which F.S. Gifford, an old-time New Englander, coordinated the baking of 3,000 clams in a brick-lined pit that was heated by a roaring fire.

During the 1904 party the touring Veteran Fireman’s Association of San Francisco were the featured guests.  They demonstrated how fire fighting was done in the “olden days” and performed the song, “When We Ran with the Old Machine.”  Actually, they weren’t kidding — the old machine, in fact, dated back to 1852.  In a touching expression of appreciation, 500 of the townspeople marched with the First Regiment Band to Mrs. Jane Stanford’s house on campus, serenading her with a tribute to her late husband.  She would later call it one of the “landmarks of my life.”

And of course, the Fourth of July wouldn’t be the national holiday without some exhibition of the national pastime — especially as baseball was never more popular than at the turn of the century.  The 1904 match was staged between the Pacific and Western companies of the Southern Pacific Railroad, while in 1901, clerks had a chance to face their bosses away from the store and out on the diamond.

Such early celebrations were characterized by a lack of self-consciousness hard to imagine today.  For instance, patriotic singing was very popular and local citizens didn't hesitate to join the chorus.  Along with the "Star-Spangled Banner," Palo Altans also belted out “America,” “My Own United States,” “American Republic” and “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean” — an old hymn that for some time was in the running to become our official national anthem.   The festivities also featured a trained orator’s reading of the Declaration of Independence and a speech from a senator or some other dignitary.  In 1895, Dr. Charles Decker rang in the day by exclaiming that “Today from every pulpit, glad, happy people sing their anthems of joy... All the States of the Union have donned their holiday attire and Palo Alto…will permit no locality to out-shine her in her offerings and her enthusiastic display of National love.”

And there were lots of games — not just for the kids, but for the adults as well.  These days it's a little hard to imagine downtown businessmen participating in the “Fat Man’s Race,” “Doughnut-Eating Contest,” or “Three-Legged Pursuit,” but it was common in that time.  In fact, J.F. Parkinson, future Palo Alto mayor, was the 1901 Fat Man’s champ, taking home a coveted box of cigars.  It’s even harder to imagine the merchants of today queuing up to catch a greased pig, which the 1901 program described as taking place following the animal’s “proper lubrication.”  The event always proved popular since the reward for catching the pig was, in fact, the pig itself.

Non-athletic contests also entertained the crowd.  One particular favorite was the “Parade of Horribles,” a July 4th tradition common in those days, in which locals dressed up in comically grotesque costumes.  Prizes were also awarded for “Best Decorated Bike” and “Best Gentleman Waltzer,” although the contests for “Homeliest Woman on the Grounds” and “Best-Looking Girl under 14 Years” would probably be left off the program today.

Long after children were in bed, the 1904 holiday carried on into the evening with festivities that lasted until one o'clock in the morning.  The grand ball, an illuminated bicycle parade, the firing of another 25,000 fireworks and a midnight supper served at two downtown hotels kept stalwart patriots awake and celebrating.  Only then was it time to say goodnight to Uncle Sam, having thoroughly proved Dr. Decker’s earlier prediction that “Palo Alto…will permit no locality to out-shine her in her offerings and her enthusiastic display of National love.”