Every summer on the Fourth of July (or thereabouts) in Jefferson County there are going to be picnics, barbecues and a night sky full of fireworks, and when it’s all over the local newspaper will write a Fourth of July “wrap” to let everyone know what happened. It’s true at the Leader today, and it was true for the Jefferson Democrat in 1891.
Jefferson County’s patriotic celebrations of the past seem to have stacked up to today’s parties. But, for some, at least back then, and perhaps now, they are not quite patriotic enough.
Back in 1891, a Jefferson Democrat reporter known only as Zulu was a little miffed that the picnics throughout the county were all fundraisers and that so little focus was on the birth of the nation. Unlike today, where opinion is separated from news, she had her say.
“So far as we have heard the ‘Declaration of Independence’ was not read, neither was there an oration delivered at any point in the county, except Hillsboro. The picnics were all given for the purpose of making money, and all appear to have been successful; but there was no attempt at commemorating the nation’s day, and we think this is a serious oversight,” Zulu wrote.
A list of events held in the county on July 4, 1891, follows:
In High Ridge, the Ancient Order of United Workmen (A.O.U.W.) and the Order of Chosen Friends organizations had a joint picnic. Crowds were estimated at between 800 and 1.000. Music was provided by the Kimmswick Brass and Reed band and dancers were plenty.
“An excellent dinner, including meats well barbecued, was served. Everything on the grounds in the way of refreshments was sold out before 10 o’clock at night, and the crowd dispersed at an earlier hour than usual,” according to the Jefferson Democrat.
In Antonia, a large crowd attended the Social Club’s picnic, and the Miller Band performed. Dinner was served in hotel style at Fred. C. Vollmar’s, the article said.
“A great many beer kegs were emptied and all passed off very pleasantly. The picnic is voted a big success.”
In De Soto, the picnic was given by and for the benefit of the A.O.U.W. lodges and Select Knights. The festivities began with a parade. Sports and music and dancing followed until midnight.
“Vollrath’s Brass and String band of St. Louis was employed, at a cost of $210, to make the music, and it was pronounced to be first-class. There was a fine display of fire-works at night, this part of the entertainment costing about $260. Everything went off smoothly and it is supposed that it was a success financially, as it certainly was in all other respects,” the paper reported.
In Festus, the Masonic Lodge put on a picnic to raise money build a hall. The event featured the Maxville brass band, a popular group in its day.
A picnic dinner with “temperance drinks” was held but adult libations were not far away.
“It was a harvest day for Frank Kenner, as he had the nearest beer saloon to the picnic ground. It is calculated that a good sum was realized by the Lodge,” according to the article.
In Hillsboro, resident William Bryan had a barbecue and picnic and people from every part of the county came to hear the Moss string band perform and to dance until midnight. Beer and other refreshments may have got the best of some however.
“There was a scrapping match in the afternoon, between Clay Moss and Louis Grossglose, and both parties were promptly arrested,” the article said.
In the spirit of the holiday, perhaps, Moss was asked just to make a small donation to the school fund, according to the article.
