History Blog: Alvarado and Decoto Celebrate the Centennial

On July 4, 1876, the country celebrated 100 years of being independent.

Residents of Alvarado and Decoto organized a 4^th of July celebration at Dry Creek picnic grounds in Decoto (near Whipple and Mission Blvd). Rev. W. F. B. Lynch read the Declaration of Independence and “Drake's Address to the American Flag.”

A few hundred were present, and the day was spent with dancing, lively discussions, and anvil firing. Anvil firing is where two anvils are placed on top of each other, gun power is placed in between and, when lit, there is a large bang and the top anvil is sent skyward.

James Cameron, of Alvarado, was careless in his use of the gun powder and while setting up the anvils, the gun powder went off early and burnt his hands and face. His injuries were thought to be serious, but by the next day, he was conscious and making a recovery.

After sundown, the celebration moved to Alvarado for a fireworks display. A large group of folks came to Alvarado in that “so large a number had ever been seen in the place before.”

The fireworks were set off at 9 p.m. and after the party moved into the Odd Fellows Hall, where dancing went on until 2:30 in the morning. The hall was “literally jammed with people” during the first two hours of the dance. Griffin and Lattin provided the music with violins.