fourth each year by firing an anvil in front of his shop on Main street. (The present site of the Medical center.) Watercott carried a long iron rod with the point heated to a red glow. He would insert this in the touch-hole of the anvil, igniting the black powder, and setting off a mighty explosion that shook the windows of the neighborhood. The youth of Ossian were awakened, knowing that the fourth of July had again been officially ushered in by the Smith.

In 1901, G. H. Blanchaine displayed an enormous firecracker in the window of his drug store. It was described as "large as a stovepipe and containing 5 1/2 lbs. of powder." The indicated scenario called for the cannon cracker to be exploded at dawn on Independence Day.

The celebration of 1891 featured a parade headed by Marshal Beardmore astride a large grey horse. Next came the Ossian Silver Cornet Band, followed by a carriage conveying the President of the Day, Hon. Austin Pegg; Reader, Miss Molly Toomey Orators, Wm. H. Hughes and Mayor James Malloy. Then a gaily decorated wagon carrying little girls representing all of the states. The next feature of the procession was a caravan of business floats sponsored by Frank Figge, G. H. Blanchaine, Mrs. A. Kaupel, J. J. Smitch, Figge & Webster, Frudden Lumber Go., Theo. Fleischer, J. Becker, the Ossian Bank, John Heinan, Ossian Creamery, H. T. Klisart, plus an Easterly mower and Champion binder, both in full operation. Uncle Sam, elegantly garbed in red, white and blue and tall white hat, led a brigade of comically dressed ragamuffins. They were followed by the Fort Atkinson band and Charles Green with a small covered wagon drawn by his dog. Citizens in carriages finished the procession; it was over a half mile in length.

A crowd of over a thousand attended the services with even more joining the afternoon and evening activities. The baseball game was won by Calmar, 23 to 8.

Alarmed citizens rushed to Main street to extinguish what appeared to be a fire on the 4th of July in 1910. The conflagation proved to be red lights ignited by Mrs. Chas. McGary and Nell Cahill in celebration of the holiday.

Likely there were unrecorded celebrations most every year during the late 1800s and early 1900s. A pity that the youth of today shall never know the joys of an old-fashioned fourth of July.

1938

There are now 182 elderly in Winneshiek county who receive old age assistance of $19.63 a month.

The municipal election resulted in these men being selected for office: H. P. Nicholson, mayor; A. S. Andresen, treasurer; John Moe, assessor; Will Helwig, Lloyd Sampson, C. R. Nicholson, H. A. Dessel and Gus Klisart—councilmen. For the first time in the history of the town, the ballots were counted behind locked doors by the election judges, all of whom were incumbent members of the council. "SHADES OF HITLER!" cries the Bee in righteous wrath.

Two slates of candidates filed for the three available seats on the schoolboard. Louis Dvorak, Glen Mundt and Glen Oyloe were elected. The new board voted to abolish the office of principal. All faculty members were rehired for the coming year, but two resigned and were replaced by Jud Miller and Beth Cole.

The graduates from the public school were: Kathreen Gunderson, Betty Joyce Gilbert, Donald Aslakson, Robert. Montague, Alvin Huether, Jeanette Egeland, Joseph Imoehl, Sivert Valland, Gerhard Tinderholt, Leora Bloxham, Elsa Tinderholt and Leo Bodensteiner.

The following students received diplomas from De Sales; Clara Collins, Philo-mena Gerleman, Irene Hanken, Vivien Holder, Vendolin Holder, Raymond Hemesath, Richard Scheidel, Cornelius Schissel and Peter Barthelme.

Laura Marie Riveland was awarded first place in the dramatic division of the sub-county declamatory contest. Laura and Iva Nell Ginapp advanced to pre-sub district competition.

The American Legion Auxiliary presented "Community Follies", with a cast of