The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-06-18
EARLY FOURTH OF
JULY CELEBRATIONS
Held IN BLACkFOOT

When Blackfoot and Idaho Falls
were young towns and had not so
many people, they used to take turns
celebrating, and people would visit
back and forth. Blackfoot had no
race track, but for long time they
used the road from Osborn's black
smith shop to the foot of the hill that
used to begin at the Rich lane, but
which has been leveled down. The
crowds would line up on the railroad
grade to witness the races. If there
was an excursion train ON the tracks
the train men would run it out to
a convenient place and permit people
to use it for an amphitheatre. If it
rained, as 1t usually did, the train
made good shelter for people to
get into during the passing shower.
On one such occasion well-known
lady wore white dress over some-
thing that was not fast color, and
after the shower her attire was a
queer mixture of red and white, like
a piece of bunting that had been
washed out. She did not look SO
primp as she did before the shower,
but everybody knew she was all right.
and everybody was out for good
time, and she staid the game out
Till three in the morning.
There was character here in those
days known as G. Bunting you may
have heard of him-and he always
gave generously to Fourth of July
funds and for Christmas and at all
times between, and the thing he was
always concerned about was that the
poor children should have good
time. He used to dub around at
the races, and he would rather bet
on boy rider than a man, because
heA would have chance to give the
boy whatever he won by betting on
him.
There was another man named Sis
sero Goggins-he always commenced
his name with an "S"-and he was
always on hand for the races. He
rode bay nag, and he always rode
jbarebacked and in his undress.
drawers and undershirt, nice and pink
were all he appeared in, and he would
parade up and down bareheaded and
smiling, his horse prancing and keen
for the sport. Sissero always had a
fine time, and contributed no mean
parts to the merriment of the day.
Mart Forbes was perhaps the most
important parsonage In town on the
Fourth of July, and certainly was
the first in action. He always fired
the salutes, and the small boys who
assembled the night before to sleep
in the yard or in some barn or tent
so they could bounce out quicker
at the firing of the big gun, would
get their jolt at the break of day.
IMr. Forbes was a soldier and black
smith, and he would plant his anvils
for action on the evening Of the third,
and delighted to explode powder In
the most bombastic charges he could
put into them.
The patriotic program was usually
conducted in Hopkins hall, which
stood where The Brown-Hart store is
now. r. H. Hopkins was a good
master of ceremonies, and on one oc-
Ecasion he got his wires crossed and
made this announcement, "The
chorus will now sing the Spar
Strangled Dammer."
August Dudenhousen receiver OF
the land office, was soldier and had
lost a limb in battle. He was in
troduced as one who had smelled
gun powder and would make few
remarks. He told about lapses Of
memory in battle and at other times,
and said he undertook to deliver a
Fourth of July Grafton at town in
Iowa. with the understanding that
they were going to fire cannon
when the beef was roasted enough
to close the program and open the
Continued on page four