250th Birthday

[Murfreesboro]

Is anyone making special plans for the 4th of July this year? I've bought some home decor, but otherwise will probably be low key. However, I am thinking back to the Bicentennial fifty years ago. I can hardly believe it's been half a century since that time, and I'm wondering if the festivities this year will be anything like as big.

[TheHeadlessHorseman]

I was thinking about this earlier this year, but was going to mention it when we got closer to the anniversary. As you know, Phoebe's birthday is on the 5th and we usually have a American themed party for her, though last year we were on the cruise so we didn't do that, but she has already told us that she wants to have her party at the diner this year, but I know it's going to be almost impossible to top the party she had last year.

I just thought of this while sitting here, but I think the diner is the perfect place to celebrate the anniversary as well because it's a snapshot of a beautiful time in our country's history, so I'm going to be decorating the diner that week for the celebration.

You mentioned the Bicentennial 50 years ago, I'd like to hear any memories of the celebrations that you recall from back then. Andy was 9 at the time, but I wasn't born yet. I know that my older sister was almost a year old, but I'll ask my mother about her experience, and a few other people as well since I'm interested in the topic again.

As for the festivities this year, with the current state of the country, and the ignorance of the younger generation, among other factors, I doubt that the celebration will be as big as it deserves to be, though I'm sure that there will definitely be some traditionalists that will make it a anniversary to remember.

[Murfreesboro]

I think the diner will be a superb venue for Phoebe's party. As you say, it's really a slice of Americana.

I may have jumped the gun by bringing up the 4th, but I've already spent some $$s on decorations, so it was on my mind.

The Bicentennial came at an odd time. The country was pretty dispirited. Nixon had resigned in disgrace, and his elected VP, Spiro Agnew, had resigned ahead of him. So Gerald Ford, Nixon's appointed VP, was our president, and he hadn't been elected by anybody. People kind of wondered if there was going to be any excitement about the 4th at all, at least, I did. But then when the day came, it was an amazing nation wide celebration. It was almost as if people were so ready to celebrate something.

The tv stayed on various celebrations all day long, preempting regular programming. I was writing my master's thesis, which was due in August, so I had it on in the background. I recall there were tall sailing ships in Boston harbor. I remember seeing women in colonial dress in some kind of sewing circle, maybe quilting or something. Things were going on everywhere, in every corner of the country. I was in Nashville, and that evening a friend and I went to Centennial Park, about a block and a half from my apartment, and watched the fireworks. They were the biggest fireworks I'd ever seen, and they were bursting right over our heads. The whole sky was filled with them.

As I may have said elsewhere, the South had not been big on celebrating the 4th in my childhood. In my home state of Mississippi, nobody had celebrated it until the middle of WW2, since Vicksburg had fallen on the 4th during the Civil War. People were more likely to shoot off fireworks at Christmas than the 4th of July. But I think the Bicentennial changed that. Beginning in the mid 70s, every small Southern town started to do big fireworks displays on the 4th. I think that happened because everybody had enjoyed the Bicentennial so much.

There were all sorts of ancillary things leading up to it. The US mint issued special bicentennial quarters, which I sometimes see in circulation even now. TV. networks had "Bicentennial Minutes," where they would give little facts about the revolutionary period. And one magazine chased down as many descendants of the founders as they could find. I recall they found a tall, redheaded young man who was a direct descendant of Jefferson, and a lawyer in Massachusetts who was a direct descendant of Adams. He stood beside a bust of John Adams in his law office, and looked so much like that bust that it was spooky. One of the funniest was a Chinese woman who was a direct descendant of Franklin. Apparently his grandson or great-grandson had been a sea captain and had married a Chinese woman.

I also recall reading an essay about our national anthem in Newsweek magazine. The anthem had been under attack during the Vietnam era because it was so martial. Many people wanted it replaced by America the Beautiful. This writer was defending the Star Spangled Banner. I never forgot her remark that ours is the only national anthem on earth that ends with a question mark--" Oh, say, does that star spangled banner yet wave/ o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" She said it was the question that every generation of Americans needs to ask themselves.

[Murfreesboro]

Another thing I recall about the Bicentennial is that, when I moved to Nashville for grad school in fall '75, they played the national anthem.in the movie theaters before every movie, and the whole audience would pop up and stand for the anthem. Having just come from Mississippi, that seemed funny to me. I thought it was something they did all the time in Nashville. But I think it was just a Bicentennial thing up here.

[Andybev01]

A vividly remember the Bicentennial , and the years leading up to it.

Ironically , one of my favorite childhood cartoon shows was called the Funky Phantom, Which was a complete Scooby ripoff, But I did not care because it had a colonial american ghost as the main character.

In my mind , American history the Bicentennial and the Funky Phantom are inextricably intertwined.

Amtrak had a specially outfitted train dubbed the Freedom Train that went around the nation, a sort of rolling history lesson, and our school had a field trip to see it and very much like a simpsons episode, one of the cars was robotics and the future of science and I honestly don't remember what the other cars held.

The day itself was basically a neighborhood picnic and off to the local football stadium (go Ducks!) for fireworks and classical music.

I do remember that each neighborhood in our town had one of the old versions of a fire plug , and they were all painted like revolutionary soldiers!

As you well know, I collect random pieces of silver and knickknacks, but whenever I see a
Bicentennial item, I will snap it up, if it's within my budget..

I will now attempt to post some photos of a few of my favorite all time.Items.

These first 3 relate my historical spirit animal, Paul Revere Jr.

The teapot is famously a subject in a portrait of Revere done by noted American painter, John Singleton Copley. It was somewhat of a Slap in the face to the british because the teapot was made from colonial silver, not British.

The inscriptions on the silver bowl are from the Sons of Liberty owl that was commissioned by the group of men who were incensed over the tax act which led to the Boston tea party , etc.

Many, many silver companies have reproduced it.Mine is a slightly smaller version, but it is also an authorized reproduction.That was only sold through the MFA , Boston.

[Andybev01]

This image of the Revere coffee and tea set is not the one that I own , which is unfortunately in storage and i'm too tired to coo and get it , but I do plan on having it out very soon.

The original is at the museum of fine arts, Boston.

I bought my first piece without knowing what it was, at a friend's second hand shop for twenty four dollars. My copy is silver plate , and when I purchased it a used copy was going for about nine hundred dollars.

I bought the other pot , the sugar and the creamer over the years , but there are several pieces I still need two track down.

I forgot to attach the Copley portrait of revere , so here it is.

[Andybev01]

I love 3D anything, and I found this book at a used bookstore.

It's a pop up book of the american revolution that was produced in nineteen fifty eight , but certainly fits the bill.

[Andybev01]

I found a set of four collectors , spoons and display plaque also stamped 1776, and released for the bicentennial.

The boxed set of thirteen pewter spoons , one for each of the thirteen original colonies , I picked up for a song a couple of years ago.

I have highlighted the version for Virginia especially for you, Murf.

[Andybev01]

The mirror Is a trumeau mirror sold only at Mount Vernon and is approximately a one hundred years old.

The company that produced it is still in business and works out of new york city.

This example has a pristine reverse painted and gilt image of Mount Vernon. Several versions were made and this was the smallest.

A brand new version runs about $6000, and mine, being used, is only worth between two and three thousand dollars...woe is me.

The cheap gold painted, pot metal sconces aren't old at all and were made in india , but work with the mirror quite well.

[Andybev01]

It's very difficult to get a clear photo of the painted glass , but here goes...

[Andybev01]

In reference to the painted fire plugs , I found this online , apparently they did it all over the country.

[TheHeadlessHorseman]

The memories you both shared definitely sounds the way I imagined it would have been like to be there, even though it was only 5 years before I was born, I'm glad that generation knew how to celebrate the anniversary appropriately. I honestly hope that there's a similar nationwide celebration when the day arrives later this year, but even if there isn't, I'm going to make sure that my kids will have a memorable day.

You have a awesome collection there Andy, do you have a cabinet to display the items, or do you have them packed up? By the way, the fire hydrants were very interesting, the sad look on the Red Coat's face is hilarious! It makes you wonder how long it was before they repainted them.

Regarding the national anthem, I remember when I was a kid they were still trying to change the anthem to America the Beautiful, I've always thought that song was better than the current anthem, but I also appreciate the original, and think that it should always be the anthem because of tradition. Also, when I was a kid they would play the anthem every single morning before we started our day at school, as far as I know they don't do that anymore, at least not around here.

When I visit Millie next month I'll ask her what she remembers about the Bicentennial, the funny thing is that she was a year old for the 150th anniversary, 51 when the Bicentennial happened, and hopefully, if she makes it that long, she will be 101 for the 250th anniversary. Man, what a journey!

It makes me wonder what this country will be like when the Tricentennial happens 50 years from now, I'll probably be in the ground by then, but Phoebe will be 59 and Sam will be 62, and I can only hope that the world will be a better place for everybody by then.

[Murfreesboro]

What a fabous collection, Andy! Thanks for the close up of the VA spoon. And those fire hydrants! I don't think they did that around here. I'd have remembered that.

IDK about this year. I don't think there's been the media hype in the run-up that we experienced back in the 70s. And then, the country is so polarized right now. The mood reminds me much more of the 60s than the 70s. Back in the 60s everybody seemed to hate everybody else, and assassinations were rampant. By the 70s people were just exhausted with all that. They were ready for a party.

How astonishing that your aunt's lifespan promises to embrace three of these significant anniversaries! That ought to be featured on tv or something.

[Andybev01]

I realize that I have posted about my family history in North America ad nauseum however, it is where I get my Love of country and (most) kin.

Although my paternal line got into the game late, the 1820s , they were the most ambitious and prosperous.

Dad's dad owned the town general store and of corse The majority of the population a century or so ago had something to do with agriculture, and Gramdad had a small timber business.

After high school , my father joined what would eventually become the state Dept of Conservation, and his ashes were scattered in the first park that he had a significant hand in establishing on lake Michigan.

I share his love of art, antiques and history so when he passed away, and my mother who didn't have a sentimental bone in her body, began to sell off all of the furniture and contents of, and eventually, our house, I was heartbroken.

My oldest siblings did manage to collect a few things before it was all gone but for the most part , it's all memories to me.

[Andybev01]

A couple of more items.

Although waaaaay out of my price range I have always been a fan of Colonial Williamsburg , and their quality reproductions.

I picked up this 1970 edition of their product catalog that still retains all of its paint chips, fabric and wallpaper samples.

The beauty of timeless design and construction is that no matter when it's printed a catalog never really goes out of fashion.

The dinnerware I completely forgot about because I use it and see it every day.

The Johnson brothers potters were acquired by Wedgwood in the 1960s, and for the Bicentennial produced this service of colonial American revolution scenes.if you look closely the dinner plate is a scene of Mt. Vernon. The bowl is of Revere's ride and the salad plate is the Boston tea party.

It's a service for 12 and there are many, many serving pieces that I could track down but honestly I don't even know twelve people total to have for dinner or the space to accommodate them!