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Centennial History Book
Good times and relaxation were provided by ENTERTAINMENT
FOURTH OF JULY
The Fourth of July was a holiday for the people of Farnam when Farnam was young. There was an independence celebration at Farnam on July 3rd, 1897 that was typical of those celebrated years ago. It was an all day affair. It began at nine o’clock in the morning with a parade that consisted of the band, different flags, the Grand Army boys, individuals and horses. Prizes were given for the best costume and the most comical costume. There was a program that included a prayer, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a speech, music, and a drill by the flag corps. There was time out for dinner. After dinner there were races with prizes given. Time out for supper and in the evening there was a fireworks display.
The Fourth of July was an important day for family and friends and picnics. The participants would select one of the several places where trees provided shade and would have their picnic there. One such spot was at the Circle Bar Ranch located west of Ingham. One closer to Farnam in the early 1900’s was on the Henry Beye place south of Farnam. There was a tree claim on the Dawson place north of Farnam that was used for picnics many times, too.
In the early 1900’s another way that the Fourth of July was celebrated was that the train would make a special run that day. They would pick up passengers along the route and take them as far as Curtis and then the train would bring the people back to their town on its return trip that same day.
Baseball games were common. Another event that took place on the Fourth of July in early Farnam when the windmill was still in the middle of town was the hanging of an Indian. He was a cloth dummy, of course, but men and boys on horses would bring him into town and hang him on the windmill tower. This was always especially exciting for the children who didn’t know quite what to expect. (The reason for this event seems to be lost with the ages.)
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