4th of July in days gone by

Around the turn of the 20th century, 4th of July celebrations were held in every town site. Even with limited resources, early settlers found a way to decorate everything in red, white and blue. Then, the Independence Day holiday wasn’t about getting a day off from work to go to a lake or attend a music concert; it was about celebrating freedom in a free country. In towns as small as Grygla, Gatzke, Fourtown and Skime, all the residents joined in celebrating the big event. Programs were given that included at least one political speech. Parades were held, races, games and dances were held, and good food and drinks were shared at a picnic style potluck. It wasn’t a money-making event for anyone; it was simply a time to get together with friends and neighbors to celebrate their American Heritage. Flags were flying everywhere.

Photo: A photo from the 1992 Grygla History book shows a 4th of July parade held in 1920. The photographer, a Mr. Moses, must have taken the photo from a ladder or roof top, as it shows the entire parade on State Street (Highway 89) about two blocks long. My grandfather, Melvin Sorenson, is leading the parade on his horse. He earned the honor of leading the parade by winning a horse race held that morning in one of the first events of the celebration. My Sorenson grandparents came to Grygla from Montana in 1917 with four small children, one of whom was my mother, Myra, then 3 years old. Grandpa was known at first as “the cowboy”. They traded horses for cattle and settled on a grain and livestock farm in Espelie Township.

Behind grandpa in the photo are soldiers from World War 1; behind them is the Grygla marching band, followed by the Royal Neighbors of America. The parade is moving from west to east, past the Co-op Store, which was in the same place then as it is now.

Stories and photos about early pioneer days will all be included in the new Grygla History book which will be available for the 2017 centennial.