When the Glorious Fourth Was a Rip-Snorter written by John Parris.
Joe L. Hartley, The 90-Year Old Apostle of Grandfather Mountain, remembers when the Glorious Fourth was celebrated in rip-snortin’ fashion in these parts.
“Back when I was a young fellow,” he recalled, “we had some Fourth-o’-July get-togethers that make the ones nowadays look like a Sunday School picnic and it a-raining.
This was primitive country then. A land of saddlebags and ox-teams and wagon roads, where folks took their jollification in a whole swarm of bees–corn-shucking’s, quiltin’s, bean-stringin’s, and houseraisin’s.
The Fourth of July was the only holiday observed in these parts with any sort of organized community jollification. Which wasn’t much. Folks just gathered and worked out their fun on the spot.
It wasn’t until the Linville Company started to develop a summer resort here that the occasion took on any real organized pattern.
I never will forget the Fourth of July celebration we had here in 1892. Eseeola Inn had just been opened and there was a slew of high class folks–some of the wealthiest in the United States–staying there.
Thomas F. Parker, who was the president of the Linville Company, organized the affair. He figured it would be something to entertain his guests, which included Charles Dudley Warner, the distinguished author, Talcott Williams of The Philadelphia Press, and E.G. Rathbone, fourth assistant postmaster general of the United States.
Parker had handbills printed advertising the celebration which was to include an ox race and a sack race, all to be performed by the natives around Grandfather Mountain.
Lured by the prospect of winning a handsome prize in the form of a handful of silver dollars, the men and boys hereabout started training weeks in advance for the races. One boy stole his mother’s soap and lathered his father’s old sow to practice on.
Harrison Calloway and Will Berry took the Calloway oxen laid’em off a lane at Linville Gap, and went into training for the ox race. Others did the same, including my brother Roy. I left the ox racing to the others and practiced up for the barrel race.
Come the morning of the Fourth and such a crowd as the county had never seen was gathered here. Folks had come from miles around. Come in by foot and by wagon and buggy and sled. I reckon there was more than a thousand folks, not countin’ the ones at the inn.
Just across what is now the highway, in front of the hotel was the race track that day. The folks at the inn crowded onto the porches in their finery and settled in for the races. There’s never been anything like that ox race. I reckon there was a dozen or so young fellows that lined up on their oxen at the starting place. And when the white handkerchief was dropped they set out in the wildest confusion you ever saw.
They were mean, wild oxen, and they leaped and bucked and kicked up their heels as the young fellows applied the switch. In no time at all there was busted saddles and riders rolling in the dust. Some of the fellows went flyin’ through the air like they was shot out of a gun. Oh, it was sight to see. My brother Roy got bucked off and thrown in a thicket. He went one way and his ox went the other. When Roy come walkin’ back in, a-limpin’ and his nose a-bleedin’, somebody asked him what happened to his ox and he said he reckoned it had gone to hell.
Harrison Calloway played a trick on some of the other fellows in the race by getting his girl friend to put chestnut burrs under the oxen’s tails which caused the oxen to go wild and then stop dead still. Harrison won the race, and I reckon there would have been some fists flyin’ if the guests at the hotel hadn’t made up a purse and awarded the other ox riders as well.
After the ox race, there was the barrel race. Don’t know if you ever saw a barrel race. I don’t know who thought it up, but it was a humdinger.
They took a dozen big barrels, open at both ends, and put’em on their side about 25 or 50 yards apart over a course that wound about the town. Each fellow was given three eggs. To win, you had to out run everybody, racin’ from one barrel to the next, crawlin through the barrels, without breakin’ the eggs. I was pretty fleet of foot and I figured I was goin’ to come off with the prize. In a foot-race, nobody had ever beaten me.
Well, I got off from the startin’ line ahead of the others and managed to get through three barrels before trouble caught up with me. Somebody had driven some nails into one of the barrels and the first thing I knew the nails grabbed my shirt and there I was flat on my face and with my hands full of broken eggs. Dave Stover, a waiter at the inn, who was slim as a fence rail and had hands big as hams, won the barrel race.
Just about all the men and boys got in the hog race. They had caught a wild hog and greased it with lard. It was a wild one, if ever there was.
When the time come to turn it loose, there was about three hundred of us gathered about in a big circle. We were pushin’ and jostlin’ each other for position when the judge opened the pen and let the pig loose.
That hog was like lightnin’–greased lightnin’. It was all over the place and so were we fellows. Pretty soon the hog broke out of the circle of milling men and boys and headed toward the woods with all of us in pursuit.
Unbeknowin’ to the rest of, Harrison Calloway had sanded his hands. Coated’em good and heavy. He layed back in the beginnin’, which none of us realized until it was all over, and let us run that hog till it was tired out. I run it for three miles, had my hands on it a dozen times and couldn’t hold it. Well, right at the last when I thought the hog was goin’ to fall in its tracks and I could get it, here come Harrison and he latched on to it and it was all over.
It was some Fourth of July. Besides the races there was a big picnic dinner and speech-makin’, a heap of whoopin’ and hollerin’ and nippin’ of the jug. The late Shepherd M. Dugger, who wrote a couple books about the Linville country, was the speaker that day and his subject was Wild Oxen, Wild Hogs, and Tame Men.”
The old man paused and shook his head.
“Folks,” he said, “just don’t celebrate the Fourth of July any more like we did when I was a young fellow.”
I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July memories shared by way of John Parris.
I love the language throughout the story. I’ve heard Pap use the word jollification but no one else that I can remember.
What about that Harrison Calloway and his sneaky girlfriend—good grief they meant to win no matter what 🙂
Happy 4th of July from all of us here at Blind Pig & The Acorn. I’m thankful to be an American!!
Last night’s video: How To Make a Postum Frappe – So Easy & So Good and Nostalgia for the Old Days.
Tipper
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Happy Independence day to everyone!! May the Good Lord bless each of your with a safe and Happy Holiday
Happy 4th of July to each and everyone of you. We use to have cookouts but the kids are grown and got grandkids. They do their thang and my husband and I go and watch the fireworks by ourselves.
Tipper,
Have a blessed 4 th of July to you and the Wilson family. H H
What a wonderful story! I could picture the whole thing in my mind! A town just 9 miles away is celebrating their bicentennial over this 4th of July. I’m sure it will be well attended, but as I get older I tend to avoid crowds. I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday!
Independence Day in Bell County, Texas, always includes the Belton 4th of July Parade and Rodeo. The parade is touted as the oldest continuously held such parade in the nation going back over a hundred years with nary a miss. It is a big enough parade to last a couple of hours from start to finish. Legend has it that it has never rained on the parade, and I can attest that it has not happened in the 30 years I’ve lived here. This year the parade theme is to celebrate 100 years of the rodeo event. For many years it was the only rodeo held on the 4th in an air conditioned arena, but that might have changed. During that time a small town of 15,000 or so hosted the top rodeo contestants for 3 days of all things rodeo.
In 1999, George Bush, who was to become POTUS #43, spoke at festivities. I got to shake his hand in a greeting line.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July.
Randy, for the most part I am a silent viewer, who really enjoys your posts because of age and location.
Grew up in Western NC but now reside in Oconee County, SC.
I heard a song recently I thought you may enjoy if you haven’t already heard it. The lyrics are how I mostly feel anymore.
Take Care- God Bless!
Betsy, I live in southern Greenville County, I have spent many happy days in Oconee County, camping with family and friends, some times as many 25, at the state park and fishing at Burrel’s Ford and the fish hatchery. I would take my Daddy with me when fishing and always stop at Moody Springs and let him get some jugs of water. I never went to one but I wonder if they still have any type of July Fourth celebration at Mountain Rest at intersection of Hwy 28 and 107. I think they had a grease pole climb and a greased pig chase. I won’t mention his name but there is another member raised at Walhalla. There is now only a few of the ones left that we camped with and the ones left are in declining health, so I am no longer able to do any of these things, just memories now.
Love reading these kind of old stories. Our Fourth of July celebrations are usually pretty simple with a cookout with our family, and maybe a little fire at night to roast hotdogs and marshmallows. Sometimes we go somewhere to watch fireworks, but usually someone in our neighborhood is putting them off and we get a free show at home! I am about to make some macaroni salad and baked beans for our meal later today. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day! And may God Bless America!
Love the story. I remember when we were little, a Fourth of July celebration. There was a greased pole, and sack races. I won a stuffed toy pig and Mama won a pretty quilt from raffle drawings. That was Whitsett in the early 1970’s.
Happy Fourth of July to you all!
Happy 4th of July to all!!!! I am very nostalgic – just seeing you pop up on my computer screen with an apron on that is the same material that Mother had in her cobbler apron sure brought back sweet memories! I mowed the yard yesterday and put on my Grandmother’s wide straw hat. I have snapshot pictures in my mind of my people as I was growing up. Yesterday, as I put on that hat, in my mind I could clearly see my Grandmother with that hat on walking into their garden where a man with a mule was plowing it up the year being 1955 NE MS. Thank the Lord for precious memories! In your reading where you talked about churns, I have memories of seeing my Daddy make them and I also have some made from my Grandmother’s father, who was a potter.
Mercy me, I read the title of your post wrong…I thought it said Possum Frappe. LOL
Having long thoughts today and in several directions, particularly on the two words “raised up”. Was America “raised up” for a particular time and particular purpose(s)? Is there, even now, any raising up happening and if so to what purpose(s)? These are “glass darkly” questions. What, I wonder, were the thoughts of the 56 Signers of the Declaration? One thing their history afterwards shows us, they meant that about pledging “their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor”. By signing, they put a target on their back.
Happy Fourth of July to all of the Blind Pig gang! God Bless America!!!
HAPPY FOURTH of JULY to you all!! We just had our Canada Day here on July first.
Great story, Tipper. Thank you for sharing it with us.
May God bless America.
May today, the day we celebrate Independence Day, remind us all that our personal freedom and the freedom we enjoy as a nation requires dependence upon God. The U.S. documents intended to justify breaking away from one government to establish another government – the Declaration of independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights – have no power unless God supports them. And God will only support a people who depend upon Him. Therefore, let us celebrate dependence as the foundation of Independence Day:
– “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” ( The Bible, 2 Chronicles 7:14, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%207%3A1…)
– “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” ( The Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2%3A1-4&… )
– “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (The Bible, Galatians 5:1, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205%3A1&…)
I loved the story by John Parris. Sounds like lots of fun, harmless pranks happening on that day. Wouldn’t it be fun to go back in time! I’d like to wish all the American Blind Pig and the Acorn bunch a Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! May we always be thankful to be Americans!
Like John Parris I have so many good memories celebrating the 4th of July. We would go to the ball field in Lake City where all the local organizations had their booth set up, play bingo, softball and horseshoe tournaments all day long. One of my prizes playing bingo (for a dime) was a big green ceramic frog. Mommy was so proud of that frog she used it as a door stop. Tonight I will be going back to the ball field to see old friends and watch the fireworks. John Parris was right in saying celebrating the 4th of July it’s not like it used to be. Fireworks don’t last..they’re pretty in the sky for a minute but dust at your feet in the end! I doubt if I see that big green ceramic frog!
Everyone have wonderful day celebrating our great country. I’m proud to be an American!
I’ve been to Linville, Grandfather and the Eseeola Inn several times. I know the way GPS sends you. I’ve never been that way. GPS says it’s a little over an hour and right at 50 miles. The map I follow makes it way longer on both counts. My route includes attractions like Tuttle State Park, Wilson’s Creek and the Beaches, Playmore and Brown Mountain. I pass through places like Adako, Mortimer and Globe. Places brought down to almost nothing by tremendous floods in 1916 and 1940 where at one point Wilson’s Creek crested at 94 feet. Imagine almost 100 feet of water coursing down a valley where children often play in the cool mountain stream. It took out houses, barns, kilns, mills, roads and railways never to return (railways is a bit of hyperbole, it was only one railroad if that isn’t bad enough).
I’ll hush now before I really get cranked up!
Happy 4th, everyone! What a great story!
I would have been right in the middle of that old-time July 4th celebration. So glad Parris recorded it for us. Thanks, Tipper, for sending this story out for our own “jollification.” Something else to ponder: Since our country is only 248 years old, all of us who have attained the age of at least 78 are one-third as old as the nation. Our preacher reminded us of that yesterday. Yes, the USA is a young nation! I’m proud to be here and not under some godless dictator’s thumb.
Math correction: Make that 82.6, not 78. Let’s round off to 83 and say that age equals a third of the country’s age. Never was a math whiz.
I loved John story from Joe’s memories of a young man on the 4th of July. It was so descriptive I could just visualize the entire event in my mind. Great story of community celebration and having fun together from days gone by. A few small towns around my area have fun celebrations with a few races, but long gone are the days of ox and hog races. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Happy 4th of July to you, your family and all that read your blog! I’m proud to be an American living in the USA!
Wishing you and all your loved ones a happy and safe 4th! Thank you for sharing all you do!
Happy 4th of July!
Always enjoy the writings of John Parris that you share. Happy Independence Day to you and the family. Have fun and stay safe.
Happy Independence Day to you and your family! We sure don’t celebrate like that anymore! We have a neighbor who is always stocked on big fireworks and puts on a show every year. He also always leaves a bag full of firecrackers, sparklers, and smoke bombs in our driveway for the kids. He’s like Independence Day fairy 😀 We always like to listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence as well. I want this day to mean something more than parties and firework to my children. It’s no hog chase but we do enjoy our day!
Really enjoyed the story and thanks for providing these great posts every day to brighten our morning. Happy 4th of July and I hope everyone will enjoy family and friends.
Back in the day, we kept Belgian horses and on the 4th of July did horse pulling. Many kept draft horses for the purpose of cutting tree bolts and using teams to drag the bolts out of the woods, long standing family traditions that continues in northern rural counties where wood is still cut and sold for pulp. And most with large breed work horses also participated in horse pulling contests, always on the 4th of July and during annual county fairs. It always was special to see everyone’s teams in their work harnesses and medallions and fancy mane braids.
A very Happy 4th to all!!!
Very interesting, entertaining post this morning. What are Granny’s early memories of the 4th celebrations?
I really enjoyed reading the story of John Parris. So interesting. Happy Fourth of July to all the Blind Pig & the Acorn gang. God bless.
Hope ya’ll have a very happy 4th.
Happy 4th! God bless America!
God bless America!
happy Independence Day, watch out for the other guy, lots of drugs and alcohol, driving up and down the roads, God bless you
Norman, I have read your comments where you told about your past and I just want to tell you I am both happy and proud of you for putting the drugs and alcohol behind you. Everyday on the news, there will be stories about wrecks and other problems caused by drugs or alcohol. Many times it is the innocent person that gets hurt. I am grateful that I and my family along with my wife’s family never had a need for either of them.
Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I have been awake since 2 o’clock thinking about the past days of my life and waiting on 4 o’clock to see what the post would be today. I remember when there would be small town or community celebrations. We did not go to them, I do remember going one time to Broadway Lake near Anderson, SC and watching a boat/ski show from a distance. I also remember going and taking my Granddaddy after Grandmother had died to Oconee State Park for a couple of years on the Fourth and having a picnic lunch at the first picnic shed you came to after entering the park. As a child of the south during the 50 and 60’s, I remember when the week of the Fourth was called vacation week and the cotton/textile mills and most other manufacturing plants (many related to the cotton mills) would all shut down for the week. For the families that were better off, going to Myrtle Beach, SC was the thing to do. Beside of my Daddy being off, July the Fourth week was the same as any other week, we just stayed home and worked.
Randy, I enjoy your comments and after reading them I believe you would enjoy this song if you have never heard it. “Come, Jesus, Come” with CeCe Winans. The lyrics especially.
Betty, I listened to the song and liked it, especially the lyrics. Thank you. I was raised in a Christian home but like a lot of my neighbors we were poor and had to do without a lot of our wants, God and Daddy managed to supply our necessities. When I say I think of the past days, I am not only referring to my married life but I am talking about my entire life. I have been blessed with good family, friends, co workers, fellow church members and others and I wish it was possible to go back and relive some of those good times. I often lay awake and think of the good times spent with these people. There has not been many people in my life that I absolutely didn’t want to be around.
Randy, find Stephen McWhirter, he wrote Come Jesus Come. He sings the words of his own heart!