While growing up in Richland Twp during the 50's, I spent many July 4th holidays there. Exciting? Well, it depends on how you look at it! At the 5 & 10 cent store, we bought sparklers, caps, smoke bombs and toys for 4th of July festivities. One toy was a rocket that was set off by banging the hammer-like rocket holder with a cap in it, and the feathered rocket would fly far in the air. There was the hand-held, red white 'n blue spinner that quickly twirled around when I rapidly pressed my index finger on it, over and over. Sparks seemed to fly, and a friction noise made it exciting!

In those days, fireworks such as fire crackers or sky rockets were not sold in PA, legally. My older brother Dave, the prankster, had a paper route and therefore had money to spend on out-of-state mail-order fireworks. I used to sneak into the cubby hole closet in his room, where I found cherry bombs and other fire crackers. I just looked though, but it was exciting to think about firecrackers and fireworks. My younger sister and I lit sparklers on July 4th night, which could be bought locally. Caps made a loud noise and there were many ways to bang them: cap guns plus other toys that were made for made for banging caps.

The summer holidays, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day were family times spent with Dad's side of the family. He had five brothers, four of whom lived in the Pittsburgh area. It was tradition to hold a picnic at our house or my Uncle Bill's place in Carnegie.

Before the day of a picnic that was hosted at our house, we scrambled around preparing the house for guests. Dad seemed to find last minute chores that were sooo important! We were enlisted to help. He always wanted to paint something! Sometimes he decided to paint the outdoor wooden furniture the day before the picnic! Mom was worried that it wouldn't dry in time! He had to prepare the mud around the horseshoe courts and set up a make shift picnic table out in our field. My two brothers did a lot to help, as well. Trimming shrubs, cutting grass plus other chores. We all knew how to work.

Meanwhile, our house was cleaned by my two sisters and I. Mom tended to cooking her special potato salad, fried chicken, baked beans and cookies or cake, tended the flower gardens, etc. We had a straw picnic basket with colorful plastic sectioned plates and cups and a nice tablecloth. I remember this so well since it was used mostly only for these picnics. We didn't go a lot of places but, we used the basket & plates for the school picnic at West View Park, as well. Mom knew how to make an event special. She was an artist, and it showed in everything she did for us.

The men played horseshoes and cards and the women sat and talked or played cards. Of course kids played: badmitten, bean bag toss, croquet, softball or did whatever mischief that could be found!

Food was not shared among everyone there, but each family ate separately within their family. Pot luck buffets were not the norm. As I look back though, it seems sort of peculiar! However, each family chipped-in to give the host a few dollars for the pop, beer, hamburgers and hotdogs.

There was always a big galvanized tub of bottled pop in ice which we children enjoyed so much! The men drank beer and when the four brothers got giddy, they joked around like the Marx brothers. They liked to use puns. That's just the way they were! Jokesters. By evening, everyone headed for home.

Fireworks were displayed a couple places in the area. The town of Mars had their fireman's fair some years, so we went there to see them. We would sit in our car and watch with Mom and Dad. There was Ranalli's Drive-in off Route 8 that also had displays.

In those days, some of the places people in our community liked to go for recreation were: Conneaut Lake, Geneva -on-the Lake, Lake Chattaqua, Cook's Forest, Ligonier, Pymatuming Lake, Kennywood Park, White Swan Park, West View Park, plus many others!

Other summer memories: We went to Bible school at a local church and they held their annual picnic at Eden Hall Farm. The grounds and picnic areas there were awesome! Is it still there?

How about NORTH PARK? What's happening now? We spent so many summers there swimming in the largest pool I've ever seen! So many picnics with family and friends were held there, spring thru fall. It was a good place to go on a date; riding around the lake and taking a bat, ball and glove and stopping at one of the ball fields to play. Ice skating in the winter was fun too. I hope that it is still hoppin'!!

Well, I guess we had some good times on July 4th in Richland Twp. For those of you living there now, I hope that you do too! Don't forget to create traditions that your family can carry on in some way! Have a happy 4th of July. Make it an event.