The First Bunker Hill-Woodburn July 4th Celebration

Pictured: The Bunker Hill Band (circa 1905).  Left to right (Back row): Henry Cardell, Honas Fahrenkrog, Sam Lee, Pet Neil, Charles Hendricks, William Cardell, Joe Lee, Lute Jansen;

(Front Row): L. Pates, W. Wood, Albert Goodwin, Lemuel B. Smith.

     

    In 1839, the whole community turned out, some 60 people in all, for the town's first 4th of July celebration.  A liberty pole (flag pole) was raised, the Declaration of Independence was read, toasts were made, and much good food eaten.  This celebration took place on the ground in the area now occupied by United Community Bank.  On that same holiday in 1842, over 400 people participated in the celebration and listened to the Upper Alton Band.  On July 4th, 1844, 350 citizens, headed by the Bunker Hill Band, went to Woodburn, and there met the Alton Band.

Pictured: The Bunker Hill Drum Corps around 1900 at the Hotel (probably Monument House). Note McKinley's Picture at left.

    The paper below dated June 16, 1840, was found by carpenters when Dr. Hess remodeled his office in 1951.  The article was in preparation of the upcoming July 4th celebration.  June 16, 1840: There was said to be a crowd of 600 to 700 people in attendance.

Pictured: Bunker Hill - Woodburn July 4 Celebration Letter dated 1840 found in Dr. Hess's Office during remodeling in 1951.

    We, the citizens of Bunker Hill and vicinity, feeling desirous to join our friends of Woodburn in the celebration of the birthday of our national independence, do cordially, freely, and willing, contribute such sums or articles as are attached to each of our respective names, for the purpose of providing a dinner suitable for the occasion:

• James Phillips, $1.00
•  Francis W. Burham, $1.00
• Alexander Nys, .50
• C. Washburn, .50
• John C. ?
• Luke Knowlton, $1.00
• H.V. Hopper, $1.50
• Samuel B. ?, $1.00
• ? Squires, $1.00
• Moses True, $3.00
• Larkin Stark, eight dozen eggs, eight pounds of butter, 10 loaves of bread, and $1.75
• James Wood, one pig, $1.00
• Franklin Vaughn, one pig, $1.00
• Joseph Burton, cake, six chickens, $1.00
• Edward Burton, $1.00
• J.W. Richards, one pig, six chickens, $2.00
• Wm. Squires, six pounds of butter, bread, $1.50
• James Hamilton, six pies, five loaves bread, two punds of butter, cake, $1.50
• A. Chruch, provisins, $1.00
• Solomon Davis, $2.00
• Ebenezer Howell, $2.00
• G. Parmenter, $1.00
• A.W. Cummings, $1.00

The original document is on display at the museum.  Workers found the document in the wall at Dr. Hess's office in 1951 while they were remodeling.

...Read this and other Bunker Hill, IL historical stories at https://bunkerhillhistory.org/

--Cite this story: The Bunker Hill IL Historical Society. "A Look Back in Bunker Hill History." Bunker Hill Gazette-News, July 9, 2020.