FIREWORKS

During the 1960s Clare hosted a grand celebration for the 4th of July. The festivities started in the morning with a church breakfast and bake sale. There might have even been a contest for the best pie.

At some point in the day there would be the kiddie parade down Front Street (we always called it Main Street).  Kids of all ages would decorate their bikes with red, white and blue crepe paper strung through the spokes, and ride down the street.  Then there would be the big parade with the fire truck and the 4H queen riding on the back of a convertible. There would be several tractors pulling decorated hay wagons representing various businesses and organizations.  The people riding on the floats would throw candy (like Tootsie Rolls) to the kids lining the parade route.

I recall one year there was a greased pig contest. A small pig was slathered in grease and let loose.  The young boys chased it and the one who was able to catch and hold on long enough to turn it in would win a $5 bill.  There was also a greased pole (a short telephone pole) with a $10 bill tacked to the top.  I can’t remember if anyone was ever successful in getting to the top to claim the prize.

In the afternoon there would be a demolition derby where old junk cars would crash into each other until there was only one car running. There was an ambulance on standby to haul the contestants into Mercy Hospital if necessary. I remember one year my older brother Jim had entered the competition and there was some worry that he might crash and burn.  

Some years there was a tractor-pull contest to see which farmer had the most macho farm machine.  And some years there was a street dance in front of Donahue’s Store.

Finally, there was a fireworks display that was so large it attracted car-loads of people out from Fort Dodge to witness the spectacle.  Betty would make grocery bags full of popcorn and fill up a cooler with root beer, orange and strawberry-flavored pop. She and Steve and all of the kids would load into the Oldsmobile. We would drive the short distance to the edge of town where cars would line up in a freshly harvested hay field. There we would lie on the hood of the car and on blankets on the ground and ooh and aah at the fireworks display.  

Here is a picture of Don Miklo, Steve and Betty’s 8th child on the bicycle that he must have ridden in one of those kiddie parades.