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Page 34 December 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
1876
by James Rada, Jr.
Celebrating Independence During the Country’s Centennial
When America celebrated its “After the firing of the first gun, “mounted on fiery chargers, with in straw hats and red and white
first one hundred years in 1876, all chances for sleep were banished sashes and rosettes, then made sashes. Each woman represented
Mechanicstown threw the country a and most of the people got up and their appearance and commenced one of the thirty-eight states in the
grand party. commenced trimming their houses forming the procession, which was country at the time.
“The old saying that the people with evergreens and flags prepared found to be no easy job, as the The final group in the parade
of Mechanicstown could never get the day before,” the newspaper crowd was so large and at times was buggies and carriages filled
up anything of a startling nature was reported. ungovernable,” the newspaper with patriotic citizens “who have
beautifully knocked in the head last Nearly every house and building reported. in many instances given proof of
Tuesday—the 4th of July—by one in town was decorated with patriotic The International Order of Odd their loyalty and strong attachment
of the largest demonstrations ever colors for the occasion. Fellows dressed in their full regalia to the country so dearly bought by
held in this place, and we doubt if The first train of the morning was the first group in the parade. the blood of our forefathers,” the
its equal was ever seen in a town of brought the Rouzerville Band This fraternal organization of Catoctin Clarion reported.
twice the inhabitants,” the Catoctin to town, along with throngs of roughly two hundred members was The parade ended at a large
Clarion proclaimed. people who had boarded the headed by the Rouzerville Band and grove, where a stand with a podium
The event had been in the works Western Maryland Railroad train led by John H. Rouzer. had been erected. For the rest of
for months and went off as planned, at each stop along the route. The The next group was students and the morning, the crowd listened to
with the weather providing a Woodsboro Band arrived in town teachers from the various Sunday speakers and music.
beautiful day to celebrate. in its band wagon around 8:30 Schools in town. Each class carried At noon, there was an hour
Mechanicstown wasted no time a.m. “which occasioned a general a banner identifying their school. intermission for lunch. Many
in beginning its celebration with stampede down Main street to The group of two hundred students people ate a picnic lunch at the
Charles Harman firing off a cannon receive them. After dismounting, and teachers was headed by Col. J. grove. One local merchant made
at midnight on July 3, “which had they played several lively aires, R. Rouzer. $200 that afternoon. He sold four
the desired effect of awakening our which was highly appreciated by They were followed by the barrels of lemonade, fifty gallons of
citizens from their sound slumbers.” the crowd and largely appreciated,” “Goddess of Liberty,” played by ice creams, and a number of cakes.
This was followed by a parade of according to the Clarion. Kate Stokes, “beautifully dressed When events resumed in the
the Mulligan Guards, under the With the inflow of spectators, and seated on a richly adorned afternoon, spectators heard more
command of Capt. William L. Lynn. the population of Mechanicstown throne and drawn by two white music and talks. They were also
They marched through town in the swelled to around 3,000, which horses, with four gallant escorts at entertained by different sketches:
early hours of July 4. The Mulligan was five times more than the town’s her side, in the person of Marshall The Signing of the Declaration,
Guards were a militia group, total population. The newspaper Gaugh, Joe Freeze, Anderson Polly The Cradle of Liberty, Centennial
which had started in New York but even noted that although and W. T. Weller,” according to the Visitors, Centennial Trunk, and a
gained popularity after the musical Emmitsburg was holding its own newspaper. comedy sketch.
comedies of Ed Harrigan. Different Independence Day celebration, Next in the parade came a After a dinner break, the crowd
branches of the organization had a large crowd of Emmitsburg wagon filled with men playing the formed up on the town square to
sprung up across the country. residents had chosen to attend Founding Fathers of 1776. It was enjoy a fireworks show.
The parade continued until the festivities in Mechanicstown followed by two Veterans of the “We predicted some time ago
4:00 a.m., when the churches in instead. War of 1812 riding in a buggy. that this would be the crowning
Mechanicstown began ringing their The town’s grand parade then The band wagons of the event in the history of our town
bells. The chiming ended only after began forming. Parade Marshal Woodsboro and Lewistown bands and verily were our predictions
dawn. Dr. J. J. Henshaw and aides followed, filled with women dressed realized,” the Clarion reported.
