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| Detail of a July 2, 1946 Marshall's ad |
Eighty years ago, Lorain was preparing to celebrate its first Post-War July 4th. But it was not going to be a raucous celebration, as noted on the front page of the July 3, 1946 Lorain Journal.
"Lorain police are going to crack down on all fireworks – and that includes anything from Roman candles to cap pistols.
"For the first 4th in five years, however, local celebrators will take to the county's highways and byways without war driving restrictions for the traditional Independence Day festivities – picnics, outings, and automobile excursions.
"Practically all industry except the steel and iron producing departments of the National Tube Co. will be closed down to give workers a holiday.
"Lorain park authorities anticipate the year's biggest beach crowds and will have an augmented staff of park police and life guards."
As in other years, traffic fatalities sadly were the headline.
Why so subdued after the war? You'd think it'd be a big hoopla.
ReplyDeleteAnd... Compare the 1,200 deaths predicted in 1946 to the 2025, 3.25-day long Independence Day holiday which resulted in an estimated 437 highway deaths (https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/independence-day/). This despite many more, cars on the road and faster road speed. Highway safety rules!
I wondered if they were concerned about what we now call PTSD, the recently returning Veterans, and the noise of fireworks…?
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! I went back and checked the newspaper to see if there was a reason for the low-key Fourth of July in 1946 as you and Don wondered. For me, the answer is in the editorial for July 3rd. It points out that Lorain experienced its greatest Fourth of July celebrations from 1900 to 1910 with the entire community turning out for ball games, old soldier reunions, outdoor dancing, horse races, rowing races, parades, tug of wars between steel workers and shipyard workers, running races, wire walking across the river, balloon ascensions, speeches by local politicians about the meaning of the Fourth, and of course, fireworks. But the Journal noted that it all changed when Mayor King banned cap pistols and giant firecrackers, and the "safe and sane" psychology infiltrated the community. Things apparently got a lot more sedate after that, and picnics and visits to the beach ended up being the norm for the holiday.
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