Locals party for Independence Day on Fairview Farm and Cross Lake
What a day of celebration for Independence Day! Wave the American flag! Sing patriotic songs! Eat All-American cuisine - fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs.
To help toast the founding day, two local families invited friends to their second homes for separate gatherings.
Let's take a look:
- July 2. "Celebrate the Real Independence Day," said the invitations to John and Garland Guth's "July 2nd Lunch at Fairview Farm," Keithville. Garland inherited the two-story house-on-a hill from her Aunt Garland Bledsoe, "who ran a dairy there," said John.
(There's a history lesson here!)
John explained the date: "The first time we invited people to a July 4 party, they all already had plans."
Having the event early would solve that problem, but John wanted a historical reason to seal that deal. With research, he found that the colonies officially declared independence on July 2, 1776, in the Second Continental Congress.
"July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day because the Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 after two days of debate, " said John.
From his research, John discovered that "the founding fathers intended July 1 to be celebrated on Independence Day ... July 2. "The Declaration was just a formal statement and explanation of the split effected on July 2 and it seems the founding fathers intended July 2 to be celebrated on Independence day."
There's more. In a July 3 letter to his wife, Abigail, Founding Father John Adams predicted: "The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable (day) in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."
Adams thought it should be honored with pomp and circumstance and parades, guns, bells, bonfires .... from one end of this continent to the other ... forever more.."
And, so it is.
At the two-story Fairview Farmhouse, diners enjoyed an array of hors d'oeuvres, including Mary Wark's famous cheese ball and Dr. Seborn Woods' to-die-for cheese mold ring, the center filled with strawberry jelly. The main course: ribs, hot dogs, fried chicken, cole slaw and ice cream.
Among those who came to call was Ann Walke who just toasted her 90th birthday with a bash of a fete at the Shreveport Club, and Glenn Flournoy who waits in the wings to observe his 90th in August.
- July 4. Richard and Linda Biernacki's party started with a starry red, white and blue invitation asking friends to Camp "Bearnacki," their second and newly renovated home on the north shore of Cross Lake, for a 4th of July Celebration with a patriotic theme. ("Bearnacki" is , of course, a take on Biernacki.)
Partygoers chowed down on Silver Star's - ribs, cole slaw, beans, and downed wine, beer or margaritas.They swam, played games and, as the sun set, headed to the middle of the lake to watch fireworks shot from the Yacht Club.
Revelers Russ and Dr. Marsha Friedrich and Rob and Dee Cochran arrived by boat and left to watch the Yacht Club fireworks in the middle of the lake.
Maggie Martin is a Times reporter/Columnist. She can be reached by calling 820-7404. Email: mmartin@shreveporttimes.com.