He anticipated that it would be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival and will be solemnized with pomp and parade...bonfires and illuminations...from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore. Wow! Didn't take long before he had the chance to say, "Told you so!", since the following year saw many more fireworks, or illuminations as he stated, displays commemorating our new country's 1st anniversary, just as they have each one since. But, it wasn't more than 100 years later that rampant detonation of fireworks drove concerned citizens to form the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise, which lobbied for restrictions on fireworks. For many years the state of Pennsylvania, in which I reside, had stringent regulations on what type and how powerful public fireworks could me, but to the chagrin of many, that has changed this year. It led to quite a few commercials on television warning of the consequences of allowing children to use fireworks unsupervised. Only time will tell if removing regulations on fireworks was a good idea or not. Certainly was a bonus for those selling and manufacturing fireworks in the state as well as neighboring states.
Earliest "fireworks" in China. |
The celebration of the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable at New York. This is the illumination of City Hall with fireworks. |
Happy 4th of July! |
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