In their new settlement of Marietta on the bank of the Ohio River, investors in the Ohio Company celebrated the Fourth of July in 1788 with “a spread of food and drink in ample quantity.” Punch and wine was “seemingly limitless,” and 13 toasts, among them to the United States, Congress, the king of France and the new federal Constitution were made.
In addition to toasting the king of France, the settlers had chosen Marietta, from Marie, to remember France for its aid during the Revolutionary War. The Fourth of July was not all about the United States. The country was young and remembered its European ties; George Washington was not yet president.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, passed by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the fall of that year, made this 1.5 million acre expansion possible. Its participants – investors who would construct their cabins and clear their land for farming – largely came from New England. Revolutionary War veterans were given some preference, but most participants were carefully selected for the construction and fabrication skills needed for river boat and town building. It was the beginning of “Ohio Fever.” During the roughly 100 years to follow, the names of other territories and states to the west would precede “fever.” The country was limitless.
David McCullough writes about this early westward expansion in his new book, “The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West.”
(The “Northwest” in 1787 was between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; the eventual far reach to a more distant Northwest would come with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.)
After the food and alcohol on the first July Fourth came two particularly harsh winters when food was in short supply for the not fully prepared Marietta residents; after that, Marietta, on the very significant Ohio River trade route, flourished.
Although McCullough ends “The Pioneers” in 1863, we can expect that at the right moments in history, Marietta had expanded fireworks, baseball, even larger parades on the Fourth. It is like that in almost every town and city in the country.
Red, white and blue are waved and worn and bands play marching music. There are tributes to the country and its founders.
Durango Rotary clubs will hold their increasingly popular breakfast at Rotary Park on Thursday morning beginning at 7:30. Activities continue at Rotary Park throughout the day. Beginning at 9:15, the Southwest Civic Winds and Fort Lewis College administrators and faculty will read historical documents from the country’s origins. An Independence Day Party is from noon to 4:30.
Durango’s Main Avenue parade is at 6 p.m., an hour later than last year, and fireworks are launched at 9:15 from above Roosa Avenue.
Bayfield’s Lions Club has a Thursday morning breakfast that allows everyone to walk a block to Mill Street for the 10 a.m. start of the town’s parade. The parade has only gone around once in recent years, but it is a long one. Activities and food then take place at the park.
Silverton’s fireworks reverberate off the mountains. Beware, however, that Silverton‘s authorities have shown less patience with drinking and rowdiness.
Remember that this holiday celebrates our United States, which always needs attention. Make a pledge to vote, to give some assistance to those in need or to support or lead a community betterment project. We are fortunate to live in such a great country, one which can be made even better.
