July 3rd of times past

I drove through my nearest town tonight and surprised to see only one establishment open, and no one was there. I don't get out a lot anymore but the July 3rd of 25 years ago started running through my head. I was 18 yrs old with a full time job. The neighboring town used to block off their Main Street and have a band come play for the night. My town had a few places open. One of the restraunts used to stay open late the night of the 3rd. Many walks of life all got together to visit. I remember staying out until about 4am that night. I still lived with my parents, so they were not impressed. The band quit at 1 the restraunt closed at 2. I visited with a group of people outside for another hour+.


It was this way until I got married and had kids. From 1999 and on I had a wife and small kids consuming all my energy. So I really can't say when the last Main Street dance was or when all the businesses gave up on being open.

Now one small establishment by the lake north of town shoots off some fireworks from 10-11pm and everyone goes home.

Well written, Nathan. Exact same story of rural decline here in Swift County Minnesota. Was a true Paradise of Rural Life 30 yrs ago.

Its gone to the extreme in the other direction where I live used to be in the country.Now its dozens of eating places and gas stations many open 24/7,plus Walmarts,Lowes,many grocery stores
and lots of traffic.Its handy sometimes but gets old after awhile.

It takes young folks to keep these kind of events going , and in true rural towns , there are no jobs , and not much for young folks to stay for . While I farm beside a small rural town , the town is in commuting distance to a large city . So our town is growing , and lots of activity goes on . Houses here don't stay on the "for sale " market long , and a new subdivision is being built. This brings other things that I would rather not see happening , but cannot change .

July 3 past. Making sure the car had gas and grocery shopping had been done. Certainly no fireworks back in the '50's in Texas, too hot and dry. No parade in town, mostly family celebrations.

Same here....but the real paradise was the late 50s and 60s when I was a kid. Main street blocked off and a carnival set up in a town of 500. Flags and parades. Great times and memories.

In started in my early 20's about eight of us got together and put on an annual 3rd of July party. We would do a pig roast and bring in a truck load of beer kegs. One friend worked for Coke and would bring in a truck of ice and soda. It was not unusual to see 500+ people show up. We never had anyone get out of hand and one time the cops drove in and drove back out. This party was held at the end of a dead end road with only one other house. It took us a week to set up. We had to mow the lawn which was usually about a foot high and we flagged the fences so nobody would run into them. Someone would go and get fireworks from another state as they were not sold in Wisconsin at that time. The acetylene bombs were a huge hit and would make the house shake. One time we blew up the outhouse. The partying up to the big day was just as much fun. We had to get a pig and butcher it, we would put up large tent, and clean up the place. People would bring food and were thrilled to be invited. We did this for 10+ years and when we moved off the farm we lost a place to put on such a party. Every year something would happen that was talked about for many years later. It sure was fun.

Nathan there are few places in ND or SD that have the same population they did just ten years ago. So there are fewer people to support these types of activities. Also it is harder to keep civic organizations going these days. People have less free time. Man and wife both working jobs and driving longer commutes make for little free time in the evening for outside things.

Also times have changed with many different types of entertainment. I can not even remember the last "Dance" I went to and there is only one held annually in my town anymore. Used to be at least 1-2 per month.

Rural America has been in the decline since the 70s, and will continue, seems like a natural evolution. The areas have lost tax base, young people, are heavily subsidized by medicaid and welfare, and have an opioid addiction issue. It seems like most cities are starting to prosper, with manufacturing moving to where the people are. I am lucky to live in a rural area near a semi major city with many manufacturing and high tech jobs.

I hate to see it, but seems like it is inevitable.

Patriot John Adams in a letter to his wife Abigail on April 3,1776 ,Philadelphia.

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epica in the history of America. I'm aft
to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It
ought to be solemnized with pomp and parades with shows,games,sports,guns,bells, bonfires and
illuminations. From one end of this continent to the other.From this time forward for evermore."