From the July 1, 1932 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

How strange it is that the Fourth of July causes symptoms of anticipation in persons of all ages, yet the nature of the symptoms is utterly different! Your old codger likes to tell of the mischief he perpetrated when he was a boy, and some of his tales are apt to be tall. But when the Fourth approaches nowadays, he shivers with dread at the thought of the infernal din which is going to jar his nerves, ruin his sleep, give him indigestion and perhaps clip a couple of a couple of years from his life. Oh how human beings of middle age and more can dread the Fourth! And how the dauntless young creatures can delight in the thought of its horrible noises!

For our own good we have kept alive too much of the old tradition of mischief perpetuated on nights before that glorious holiday. This tradition is amusing. The stories which flow from it are amusing, in the past tense. But let the youth of the present day, aided by the ingenious machinations of inventors and distillers, start to emulate their fathers and grandfathers — then we perceive that there is nothing amusing in such destruction of peace and property. Years from now one may look back with a smile, but the only adjective which seems applicable just now is strong word damnable.

So the Fourth comes on, and there are special officers to help the cause of the old against the young, and for our part we hope that the night before will be tranquil, and that the tradition of mischief and noise will be confined to the past and not translated into action in the present.

The Island’s only public display of fireworks on July 4 will take place at Owen Park, Vineyard Haven, under the auspices of the park commissioners of Tisbury. The festivities at the park on the Glorious Fourth will begin at 8:30 with a concert by the Vineyard Haven town band. The program of fireworks will begin at 9:00. The duration of the display is uncertain but a generous period of entertainment is assured.

The official announcement says that the display will be at least as good as that of last year, and perhaps better. The display a year ago was highly successful and was enjoyed by a large gathering.

An invitation to the observance is extended to all the general public.

Oak Bluffs has no fireworks scheduled for the Fourth this year and neither has Edgartown. Tisbury, however, is to hold the torch aloft.

A quick, impressive job of bridge construction has brought the span over the Sengekontacket outlet to a point where the opening of the bridge to traffic tomorrow seems certain. The bridge has been timbered over and the top planking, of asphalt composition boards, has been applied as fast as the piles have been driven. As the work on the bulkhead on the Edgartown side of the bridge went ahead, only a short distance remained to be surfaced and the final drive will come today and tonight.

The contract calls for completion of the bridge July 2. The structure will not be fully finished by that date, but traffic will move across it and the necessity for detouring, a cause for general complaint on the Island, will be done away with.

Most observers are much impressed with the size of the timbers and the strength of the construction used in the new bridge. It has also been a subject of comment that the old bridge was unbelievable deteriorated under the surface, the old material pulled out of it showing the advance of the decomposition. To all casual appearances, before the work began, the old bridge was in good order except for the caving in of the approaches.

The county commissioners have kept after the construction work, and the state has had direct supervision.

Trinity M. E. Church was sponsor for the first Community Sing of the season, held at the Tabernacle on Wednesday evening and led by Horace F. Erwin, for the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. Mr. Erwin came to the Island a week earlier than usual in order to be present on Monday Evening and Wednesday evening. He was assisted on both occasions by Glenn Grace, Tabernacle pianist, and on Wednesday evening by members and faculty of Rhochusett Institute who were seated on the platform.

John Goss, president of the M.V.C.M.A. and Rev. J. Harlow Graham, pastor of the church, also were on the platform.

The large audience joined heartily in the singing, humming, whistling of favorite songs. By the usual test it was seen that a goodly number of the people were from New Jersey, almost as many from New York state, not quite as many from Connecticut; but as usual Massachusetts and Rhode Island headed the list in numbers, with a pretty good showing for Martha’s Vineyard. Quite a number owned to its being their fist visit to Martha’s Vineyard.

President Goss and Mr. Erwin expressed their pleasure at being back at Oak Bluffs for the summer and meeting so many old friends and the large audience showed great appreciation of the program.

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox

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