Celebrating the Fourth of July last week got me thinking about the fun we had as kids on the holiday. We lived in Lawrence but had a camp in Georgetown (about 12 miles) where we spent time during the summer. The neighborhood was summer camps and year-round homes built around Rock Pond where we spent most of our time boating, swimming and fishing.
Most of the residents were belonged to the Association, the money paid to the Association maintained a private beach and provided activities during the summer at the Hall. The Hall was a small function room with a bar in the back, on weekend afternoons the men would play bocce for beers (losers pay) and the evenings there would be a dance or bingo for the kids.
The Fourth was the day we waited for early in the morning we would start getting ready for the first event of the day was the races. We would line up by age when the starter gave us the go, we would charge to the finish line the winner would receive a ribbon everyone else – nothing.
Next, the watermelon-eating contest, tables of ice cold melon triangles laid out; pick your wedge, hands behind your back, go! No manners needed here, three or four bites and it was over, you looked around the table and your friends and competition had cheeks full of fruit and juice running out of their mouths.
Then hot dogs, hamburgers, Orange Crush and Coca-Cola, a quick swim, and off to the center of town for the parade. Back for more swimming and hanging with your friends, after supper, it would be time to go to the carnival at the schoolyard and a giant bonfire would finish the day.
