Aspinock Memories
The history of July 4th - just in time for the 250th
By Terri Pearsall, AHS Museum Curator
As a child, I always loved this time of year when on the 4th of July my family went to picnics and enjoyed great fireworks across the night sky. I loved the smell of sparklers, watching them burning and we were always instructed to be careful not to get burned. The sparklers were always a hit, so much food, pop cycles (Tupperware popsicles made with Kool Aid), and lots of games were played.
The Fourth of July, Independence Day, has been celebrated across the United States since 1776. Now 250 years later, big cities, small towns, counties and states continue to cap off the night with dazzling displays of fireworks. But when and how did the entire nation agree to commemorate freedom in the same explosive way?
Independence Day celebrations began before the American Revolutionary War concluded, when the Second Continental Congress voted for the U.S. to declare its independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. According to History.com, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that July 2 would become the celebration of independence for years to come and should include “Pomp and Parade, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this Continent to the other.” Despite the vote to break away from Britain occurring on July 2, it was ultimately two days later when delegates from the Thirteen Colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. And from then on, the Fourth of July became the day that Americans would recognize the country’s independence. A little side note about John Adams. He believed that July 2 was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence and he turned down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. (some things never change) He died on July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Following the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the festivities traditionally held for King George III’s birthday – including concerts, bonfires, parades, and cannon firings – were also adopted for the July 4, 1776, celebrations.
It was said that some colonists did this in mockery of the king.
Fireworks really took center stage in Philadelphia during the first organized Fourth of July celebrations in 1777. According to the Pennsylvania Evening Post, a cannon fired a 13-gun salute to honor the Thirteen Colonies. Then, the evening closed with the ringing of the bells, and at night there was an exhibition of fireworks.
The 1777 celebrations extended all the way to Boston, where fireworks were also used over the Boston Common and the tradition of shooting light across the sky continued each July Fourth thereafter.
In 1870, Congress made Independence Day a federal holiday. According to the Library of Congress, Independence Day became the most important secular holiday on the calendar.
This year, being the 250th anniversary of our declaration of independence, there are many programs and celebrations scheduled in Putnam. On June 24 at 6 p.m. there is a program: “Jordan Freeman: The Fight to Set a People Free” at the town hall. July 8 at 6 p.m. another program “Connecticut Tunes & Tales of the Revolution” will be at the town hall.
On Saturday, July 11, tours of the Cady Copp Cottage, one of the oldest homes in this area — built in 1745 — will be held from 11am – 2pm. There is no parking at the cottage. A bus will be running continuously from the town hall to transport participants to the cottage. Registration for the tour can be made by contacting the Recreation Department at
The fireworks are scheduled for that night with a rain date of Sunday, July 19.
Hope to see you at one of these programs and/or the tour. Whatever you do, enjoy your celebrations. Information in this article was found on the internet.
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.
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