A historical look back at Maine’s Independence Day celebrations
Fireworks, parades, baseball, regattas — Americans have always loved celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To mark the country’s 250th birthday this July 4, we dove into our newspapers.com archives to see how we celebrated milestones from throughout our history.
1826
The July 11, 1826, edition of the Portland Argus reported celebrations of America’s 50th birthday from the prior week in communities like Freeport and Thomaston. It was also a solemn occasion, with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the respective second and third presidents and signers of the Declaration of Independence, dying hours apart on July 4, 1826, as mentioned elsewhere on this page. James Madison, the fourth president, would follow exactly 10 years later. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
1876
Portland planned to celebrate America’s 100th birthday with a “Grand Parade of Fantastics,” baseball, band concerts and a rowing regatta. From the Eastern Argus, July 4, 1876. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
1901
“Independence Day is hailed with joy by all, except perhaps by a few who are nervously inclined and had rather spend their time fishing than any other way,” proclaimed the Lewiston Daily Sun on July 4, 1901. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
1926
In marking America’s 150th birthday, Portland simultaneously celebrated its own 140th, with Gov. Ralph Brewster and his wife in attendance. From the Portland Press Herald, July 6, 1926. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
1951
Alongside headlines about war, drownings and arson, the Daily Kennebec Journal’s July 5, 1951, edition reported “a safe day of play” at the Augusta Country Club. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
1976
Some Portland residents lamented that the city’s bicentennial celebration had gotten off to a slower start than its centennial, the Portland Press Herald reported on July 5, 1976. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
… But things soon picked up in Portland and around Maine, as this gallery shows. From the Portland Press Herald, July 5, 1976. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
2001
Belgrade delivered “a festive fourth” for America’s 225th birthday with a barbeque, boat rides and a boat parade. From the Kennebec Journal, July 5, 2001. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
Meanwhile, Winslow served up an Air Force band, and West Athens a parade and “Apocalypse Cow” performance by the In Spite of Life Players. From the Morning Sentinel, July 5, 2001. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
2016
Lewiston-Auburn celebrated its 20th annual Liberty Festival alongside America’s 240th birthday. From the Sun Journal, July 5, 2016. (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)
Alex Lear is a digital producer for the Maine Trust for Local News.
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Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism - the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now. More by Alex Lear
