The Monday After: Canton has long enjoyed 'Monumental' celebration of Fourth of July

A sky full of "Monumental Fireworks" will take to the air over the McKinley National Memorial in explosive color tonight on the eve of the Fourth of July.

Before those fireworks are exploded, beginning about 9:45 p.m., those gathered on the grounds of the adjacent McKinley Presidential Library & Museum also will celebrate the holiday with food and song. Jimmy and the Soul Blazers will provide musical entertainment, while food trucks also will be on site.

"Officially this is an event put on by the City of Canton on our grounds, and we work closely with many departments to make sure it is successful," said Kimberly Kenney, executive director of McKinley museum.

Kenney noted this is the second July 4 celebration since the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We can't thank (organizer) Pat Harper enough for organizing this event, including raising the funds for a spectacular fireworks show every year."

Early celebrations in Canton

Stark County's celebration of the Fourth of July has almost as long a history as the country.

The first time that John Saxton's newly founded newspaper – The Ohio Repository – reported on a celebration of the Fourth of July was in 1815.

"The day we celebrate," began the first toast listed in the paper of July 6, 1815. "May future generations recur to it as the birthday of National Independence; unhurt by assaults from without; unimpaired by folly and treachery within."

Another toast was to "The Constitution of the United States," although the toast itself more accurately praised those who defended it. The Constitution, it explained, was "formed by men whose memories are consecrated by their great and virtuous deeds," and "it demands the reverence of every American."

"The American Fair," began the final toast listed by Saxton in his first report on the most patriotic of America's holidays. "Heaven's last best gift to man."

Celebrating through decades

A few years later, in 1826, Stark County helped celebrate the first 50 years of the existence of the United States with prayer, a dinner, a military march, cannon fire and more toasts.

Among those toasts was one "to the memory of Gen. (John) Stark," the Revolutionary War officer from New Hampshire for whom Stark County is named. It included a bit of grumbling about the government that also had been brought to life by Independence Day in 1776.

"His short speech to his soldiers did more good than the speeches of six hours length did in the Senate of the U.S. at the last session."

The 100th anniversary of the birth of the country was celebrated raucously in Canton in 1876.

"The spirit of '76 broke out in Canton on Monday night, and the 'oldest inhabitant' never heard such a racket as prevailed from midnight until one o'clock, murdering sleep and raising the town generally," the weekly Repository reported on July 7, 1876. "Bells were run, whistles were blown, while firecrackers and torpedoes added their din to the deafening volume of sound which heralded in the Centennial year of our glorious Republic."

It was a notable birthday party for our country, "and we must have some noise," said the newspaper. Displays of patriotism – the hanging of flags, the playing of music, the reciting of historical addresses, and explosions – were expected.

The county helped the country start the second hundred years of its life, the newspaper said, "with as much hope and prospect of continued growth and prosperity" as the first century.

Celebrating a bicentennial

The Fourth of July celebration in 1926 on the 150th anniversary of the U.S. was frenetic, with events spread over three days. A parade weaved along the streets of Canton. A flying circus and motor derby were offered at the fairgrounds. A concert and fireworks were held at Meyers Lake Amusement Park.

The Repository called the latter "one of the most elaborate displays of fireworks which has been seen at Meyers Lake park in many years."

By the bicentennial in 1976, however, that multi-day celebration was evolving into a celebration that was formal in nature, staged in several communities. A parade and concert were part of Festival U.S.A. in Minerva and a holiday festival also was held in East Canton. Navarre offered Old Landmark Days and people in North Canton took in a Chautauqua tent show.

Many events held in recognition of the U.S. Bicentennial were coordinated by Canton Bicentennial Commission, led by director Tom Haas, who had been named to the position by Stark County Historical Society's director Gervis Brady.

In Canton, activities included an All-American Concert in the Park at McKinley National Memorial on Friday, July 2, 1976; Festival '76 in Monument Park on Saturday, July 3, including the performance of a jazz band and followed by fireworks that "outlined the dome of McKinley monument." The celebration concluded with the Bicentennial Religious Service in Canton Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, July 4.

The evening was clear for the fireworks that ended Festival '76, recalled Haas.

"By dark many, many more people with families showed up for the fireworks which were shot off from behind the monument," recalled Haas. "I remember, as the breeze was seemingly coming in from the north, I was very worried about sizzling firework debris falling on people’s heads. Thank God nothing happened. The kids and families loved that evening."

People of Stark County continue to love Fourth of July events. Many remain similar to ones held for the 1976 Bicentennial. Food, fun, music and, of course, fireworks all are part of recognizing the nation born from the American Revolution.

Ever since Haas and his historical commission staged Festival '76 the McKinley monument has seemed a logical site for the annual display of patriotism.

"The fireworks at the McKinley National Memorial have become a tradition enjoyed by generations of people in Stark County," said Kenney. "Everyone looks forward to this celebration. There is no better backdrop for a fireworks display than the Monument!"

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The Monday After: Canton has long enjoyed 'Monumental' celebration of Fourth of July