July 4, '79: Firemen's caps & the courthouse cupola

I'm sure today's Chariton firefighters are an athletic bunch, but it seems unlikely any of them would willingly repeat a feat demonstrated 140 years ago on July 4, 1879, by their forbears --- climbing by members of the Hook & Ladder Company to the big ball atop the cupola of the 1858 courthouse, then hanging their hats (briefly) on the lightning rod that crowned it.

Thanks to Jack Hultquist and the Kearney County (Nebraska) Historical Society, we have this image of the old courthouse, replaced in 1893-1894 by the current courthouse, with the ball and lightning rod clearly evident. Nowadays, there's a ladder truck that could accomplish the same purpose in a less hazardous manner.

If newspaper reports are to be believed, the crowd gathered in Chariton on July 4, 1879 (a Friday) was the largest ever assembled there. The C.B.&Q. had offered half-price fares to and from Chariton at every depot along its route from the Mississippi to the Missouri and the north-south spur lines along it.

One of the big attractions was the Loan Exhibition (admission 15 cents) at the Methodist Episcopal Church, featuring antiques, art work and curiosities collected by Chariton women for display during the preceding week. The best meal of the day was served by the Presbyterians at Mallory Opera Hall (25 cents a plate). The featured orator for the morning program was the Hon. Lewis Miles, Corydon attorney and politician.

And the fireworks that concluded the day were launched from the roof of the Mallory business block, located on the current site of US Bank.

Here's the lineup for the big day, as published in The Chariton Patriot of June 25, 1879, followed by a report on the event, published in The Patriot on July 9:

ORDER OF EXERCISES

FOR THE 4TH OF JULY

Salute at Sunrise

Whangdoodle parade at 9 o'clock

Procession of soldiers of the Mexican War and those of the Rebellion, at 10 o'clock

Meeting of the soldiers and citizens at Court House Square at 11 o'clock, where the following exercises will be held:

Music by Chariton Cornet Band

Prayer by the Rev. J.R. Reed

Music by the Band

Reading of the Declaration of Independence by C.O. Perry

Hon. Lewis Miles Jr., orator of the day

Music by the Band

Recess of one hour.

Procession of the Knights of Pythias in full regalia and mounted at 2 o'clock

The entire Fire Department will parade at 3 o'clock p.m.

Acrobatic performers in the public square at 4 o'clock p.m. by Professor Schneider.

At 8 oclock p.m. the Reading Room Association will give an entertainment at Mallory's Opera Hall called "Rural Felicity," to conclude with a farce entitled "Tompkins, the Troubadour"

Immediately after the exhibition at Mallory's Hall, a grand exhibition

 of fire works will take place on the public square.

+++

The weather being propitious, Chariton was visited by the largest crowd that ever congregated in one day within the limits of the city (on July 4, 1879). The business men with the military and other organizations having decided to celebrate America's greatest holiday on a scale of unusual magnitude. Thousands of people from all parts of the country came pouring into town from early dawn until long after the hour for the commencement of the exercises of the day.

The ladies turned out en masse and their attendant cavaliers were equally numerous, trying their utmost to win the smiles of the myriad of lovely girls who crowded our streets, the Loan Exhibition and the other places of amusement. It is a great day, not only for the native born citizen, but also for those who are taking their first lessons in Republicanism. It also has the tendency to show that the Declaration of Independence was not adopted for Americans alone, but for all liberty loving people.

Everybody was prepared for the great national holiday, every one came to enjoy the great jubilee. We never saw so large a crowd so perfectly good humored, so well conducted, not the slightest disturbance occurred during the entire day to mar the harmony which prevailed. The boys were out in full force, the small boys and the big boys. The snap of the cracker and the whiz of the rocket caused the air to vibrate from 9 o'clock until after midnight.

The day opened auspiciously with the booming of cannon at early dawn. Vast numbers of people visited the Loan Exhibition where a very extensive collection of articles, both ancient and modern, were on show, which could not fail to interest the curious and the lover of antique works of art. Our space will not permit us to enumerate the numberless curiosities which are collected together and on view, we must, therefore, content ourselves with referring our readers to the printed catalogue.

The first thing in order was the procession of veteran soldiers, who had served in the late war, both cavalry and infantry. They were under the command of Col. A.U. McCormick, who was the Colonel of the day. After which came a procession of the trades and manufactures of Chariton. The most noticeable was the very fine display made by C.O. Perry's broom factory, a number of hands being employed in making brooms, showing the difference between the old and new styles of manufacturing. The display was much admired.

The Hon. Lewis Miles was the orator of the day. He delivered a very able and eloquent address, which was listened to attentively and received with great approbation by a very large audience.

After dinner the fire department made a magnificent display with their fire engine, and some members of the hook and ladder did some tall climbing, standing on the ball of the Court House cupola, placing their caps on the summit of the lighting rod.

Among other attractions was the parade by the Knights of Pythias, who made a fine soldierly appearance. Gymnastics claimed the attention of a large number of spectators. The Presbyterian workers fed the hungry at Mallory's Hall, a large number of persons dining there, making the enterprise a great success.

The attraction of the day closed with a theatrical performance at the Opera Hall. Dancing on the platform in the Court House yard, and a grand display of fireworks.