Early Fourth of July’s

The early settlers of Grand Ledge were always patriotic and willing and ready to show it.

We can even see this in our street names. They chose names from Presidents and Founding Fathers, as well as Liberty and Union.

July Fourth celebrations of the 1850s often took place at the Fair. The early settlers created a fair ground on Edmund Lampson’s land in what we consider downtown today. The Grounds ran along West Scott Street from Spring to Harrison, then over to Lincoln Street and back up to Spring and West Jefferson. The Fair Grounds included a one-third mile race track and horse racing was a common sight. The Grounds lasted a dozen or so years before the area was carved up into building lots for the growing town.

We may think war re-enactment is new, but for the July Fourth celebration of 1875 a re-enactment of the Revolutionary Battle of Bunker Hill was planned by the town. The men were divided into Colonial and British forces. A fort was constructed at the intersection of Madison and Front streets and this was base for the Colonial Force. The British Force gathered near our Masonic Temple today and marched over the wooden foot bridges that connected the islands to the Northside, then up the hill to Front Street. Once the battle began, our Colonial Boys drove the Red Coats to the fort and captured the whole bunch. Once the battle was won, both forces joined together and marched over the downtown bridge to women waiting on the Southside. Refreshments of lemonade, candy and peanuts were served.

For the Fourth of July 1899, it was decided a big show was in order. They held a re-enactment of the Cuban Navel Battle of Santiago from the Spanish-American War of the previous year. Men were divided into the Spanish Forces and the American Forces. Each side gathered boats launched into the river below the Opera House. With hundreds of spectators cheering on from the banks and the bridge, a glorious battle was fought with our American Boys winning the day!