Lorain Prepares for July 4, 1926

The year 1926 was the 150th Birthday of the United States. So it's not surprising that the City of Lorain had big plans for its civic celebration on July 5th (unlike 1936, which I wrote about yesterday).

An article in the July 2, 1926 edition of the Lorain Journal detailed the festivities.

As noted, the Central Lorain Business Mens' Association had planned "the most ambitious celebration ever staged in the city or in Lorain-co." which would take place at Lakeview Park. There was to be the raising of the Stars and Stripes; a bathing beauty contest; a "Missing Man" hunt; the reading of the Declaration of Independence; a band concert; a picnic supper; and a huge display of fireworks.

The observance was further detailed on the front page of the Saturday, July 3, 1926 Lorain Journal.

The editorial cartoon depicting the United States at 150 years as a big, fat baby is somewhat hilarious.

The celebration, of course, was overshadowed by the tragic death of a young boy on a scooter who was struck by a truck in front of his house. The death of the boy brought the number of traffic fatalities for the year to a total of four. So emotions would be running high.

On July 12, however, the driver of the truck ended up being exonerated of responsibility in connection with the boy's death. On the third morning of the trial, Judge H. C. Wilcox decided that there was insufficient evidence to bind the driver over to the grand jury. A neighbor witnessed the accident and her testimony 'was largely responsible for the exoneration.'