Talk:New Pekin, Indiana
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Removed this sentence from the New Pekin, Indiana page: "The town of New Pekin claims the distinction of having the oldest contiunous Independence Day celebration in the United States of America."
The town of Bristol, Rhode Island has been celebrating this continually since 1785.
Sources: The White House, United States, Preserve America http://www.preserveamerica.gov/3-18-04PAcommunity-bristolRI.html
U.S. State Department: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/holidays/july4/mccabe.htm (Note that New Pekin isn't mentioned).
Bristol Rhode Island's Independence Day Celebration page: http://www.july4thbristolri.com/
This debate has gone on for years and I'm sure we could continue it for years:
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/in/pekin_1
"If anyone can quell doubt it is MarjiAnn Souder, a local historian and, for that matter, a rider in a 1950 Plymouth in Monday's parade."
"Souder realizes the celebration in Bristol, R.I. — three weeks of events — is older. It first was held in 1785. She contends, however, that Bristol's own documents suggest gaps — years, particularly during wartimes, when parading apparently was put off. She has uncovered no such postponements here at home."
"Souder has scoured newspapers and documents, has talked with old-timers and has concluded her community's boast is believable."
"I'm convinced personally that we've never missed one since at least the 1830s," she said.
From http://www.fettes.com/history/ffcinc/Bristol%20Parade.htm:
"From the year 1785 to the present time, the anniversary of American Independence has, with few exceptions, been duly observed by military parades, orations, and public processions."
"Extensive research of public records yields no information for seven years (1827-1833), of names of Chief Marshals or anything else that would indicate there were official town-organized parades. But documentation reveals that, with only few exceptions since 1834, a parade has been part of the Bristol Fourth. Evidence exists to demonstrate that the several years since 1834 when there were no parades, were years when the country was experiencing hard economic times, or when a lack of funds may have been a reason to cancel the official parade. Another exception to the annual parade was in 1881. The elaborate celebration planned for the day was not held because of the shocking assassination of President Garfield. The resulting feeling of respect due the Chief Executive forced the town to cancel that year's festivities."
"Between 1815 and 1850, the Town Council did not always appoint an official committee for arrangements; sometimes, there were non-official celebrations and parades and at other times there were no celebrations. This may seem a contradiction to the statement about an annual observance since 1785; but, patriotic ceremonies with prayers of thanksgiving have always taken place."
