For the second year in a row, evening fireworks for the 4th of July were a no show
at Alcyon Lake in Pitman, New Jersey, which neighbors the town of Glassboro
where I grew up. Ever since I was a little girl, "going to watch the fireworks"
was the highlight of each Independence Day celebration. While my Dad
use to shoot off firecrackers during our holiday picnic, nothing could beat
the spectacular flair of red, white, and blue rockets exploding like fire
flowers against the evening sky before falling to earth again in a
shower of sparkling petals. Those were the good old days.
Like the annual Fourth of July Parade in Pitman, the firework display
at Alcyon Lake has drawn thousands of spectators over the years.
Last year, Pitman shot off fireworks on July 1st.
This year, they have decided to shoot off fireworks on July 5th.
The town is also selling tickets-$4.00 each, cash only-to view
the fireworks inside Alcyon Park.
I find this change in schedule disappointing to say the least.
A rain delay I can understand. But it did not rain last night.
Independence Day is the fourth day of the month of July.
WHAT WOULD LEN ECKMAN THINK?
Newspaper columnist Len Eckman lived in the town of Pitman for
nearly all his life. He had a great love for America and for patriotism,
and for the celebration of Independence Day each year, as expressed
through his folksy column, "Thru The Knot Hole" which ran in
the Pitman Review section of Cam-Glo Newspapers, from 1974
until his death in 1983. Not only did his down-to-earth writing style
reflect a strong sense of community spirit, but pays especial tribute
to the people and events in the town he loved to call home.
The following are excerpts from the book, "Thru the Knot Hole:
A Touch Of Len Eckman" which I was delighted to find waiting
for me on a shelf in a thrift store several years ago.
FOURTH OF JULY STARTS VERY EARLY
One of the big thrills of a Pitman celebration of the Fourth is the early
morning preparation that goes into that festive day. With seating locations
high on everyone's priority, it is not uncommon to see people out at 7 a.m., even
in their pajamas, setting up chairs in their favorite spots for viewing the parade.
There are a lot of people who didn't sleep too well the night before worrying
whether they have everything on hand for completing their float in the morning.
There are always last minute adjustments and having all the necessary ingredients
on hand for those emergencies is on more than one person's mind.
All the beauty participants have butterflies in their stomachs in preparation
for their ride down the parade route before those thousands of people.
ON THE EIGHTH DAY
"On the eighth day, God created Pitman."
That's loyalty for you. This unique sign was on the back of a cute float
entitled, "Memories Keep Our Past Alive" developed by the Pitman
Methodist Church. The float depicted an old time song service with
appropriate costumes, and even an old time organ. Obviously,
Pitman held a high spot in God's planning, according to that sign,
and some of us support that theory with our usual unbiased opinion.
NO FIREWORKS BRINGS BACK MEMORIES
Many Pitman newcomers or residents of 20 years or less probably don't
remember that fireworks were first set off around Sunset Auditorium in
the early days of the Cottagers Association and the money was all raised
by interested people. The spectators sat around Sunset Auditorium Quoit
Club and the Masonic Club and tennis courts to see the annual display.
Members of the Pitman Fire Patrol, closely associated with the Cottagers
in those days, set off the fireworks as part of the celebration. All Fourth
of July costs including the parades, prizes, and games, were underwritten
by the cottagers who came to Pitman in the summertime.
The Fourth of July was their big celebration.
The parade started and finished in the cottagers area and broke up
at the ball park where a holiday doubleheader was always played.
The proceeds of these games financed the summer baseball teams.
Later when the Cottagers Association began to fold and more summer
residents became permanent residents, the Fourth of July parade became
a difficult assignment. The borough was convinced to take over the
program as a community effort. This proved to be a wise move as
the town spread out into other areas. In the new program, the fireworks
continued and were set down on the picturesque side of Alcyon Lake
where they have drawn thousands of people each year.
TWO FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS? YES, RIGHT HERE IN PITMAN!
Not in 1974-but it was true for many years in Pitman. The reason for the two
celebrations was created by the manner in which the sparsely settled areas were
laid out in Pitman. The original celebration was started in the Pitman Cottagers
Association area of Pitman and handled completely by them.
We talked about this some time ago in an earlier column.
They featured the celebration in that area, because of a keen desire to enjoy
each other's company on such a special day. In the early Pitman days,
neighborhood functions were top drawer. Up in the north end of town,
known then as the Highland area, the Highland Fire company was one
of the focal points. Each year, they raised enough money to have a
celebration on the 4th of July in the afternoon for all the kids and families.
It was held along Oakland Avenue from Woodland Avenue to Colonial Avenue.
The main spot was on the corner where Harold and Dot Ewe built their house.
Following the afternoon games and outdoor picnics, they had their fireworks
display. So Pitman had two celebrations.
SUPPORT THE FIRE PATROL AT THE PARADE
Another historic event has been the annual Fire Patrol Red Tag Day on
the Fourth of July. This was started way back when the original parade
was handled by the Cottagers and it was the way in which their Fire
Company could obtain enough money to operate.
Tag Day has continued ever since and this Fourth of July, the Fire Patrol boys
will be out en masse with their tags. This is their principle money making
project of the year, so reach down deep when they stop along the route.
FLAG RAISER
Of all the early morning plans for the celebration of the Fourth of July, one
home on Cyrus Avenue stands out historically as one of the official openers
of the day. It's "Flag Raising Time" at Howard Keebler's.
Sure, it's great to have a flag raising that morning, but this is extra special,
-special because, it is conducted by 97 year old Howard Keebler. one of
Pitman's oldest and most active citizens. Howard has a regular ritual each
Fourth of July morning and the neighbors are all invited to the affair.
Mr. Keebler is an interesting man. He was a Charter member of the
Highland Fire Company in 1912 and still gets out to the annual Sour
Kraut dinner with "his Boys". He also has the distinction of being
the oldest member of the First Baptist Church and attends regularly.
He also prides himself on being the only member of the church
baptized in Alcyon Lake, before the Church had a Baptistry.
In The Congressional Record dated July 11, 1974 Mr. Keebler
was recognized by the Honorable John E. Hunt (R-NJ) as
"one of the country's great patriots."
"Thru The Knot Hole: The Touch Of Len Eckman"
Complied and Edited by Sue Eckman Brown M. Ed.
and Charles Parker, Ph.D.
Copyright 1983 by SLACK Incorporated
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