Outside Looking In

Fourth of July
When perusing the back issues of the Mascot from time to time in search of historical background for a story I am working on, I often come across stories about the big Fourth of July parades and festivities in Minneota to celebrate our independence.
The townspeople went "all out" for the Fourth of July beginning in the early 1900s and extending into the early 1970s.
Beginning around 1910, Minneota always had a well-attended parade that went along First Street. People would line each side of the street and cheer as each horse, and later on, automobile, passed by.
The vintage automobiles in the parade were all decorated in patriotic colors and drive would honk the old "Ahooga" horns, much to the delight of the children.
One issue of the Mascot told that in 1915, Geiwitz and Company, one of the town's two automobile dealers (Jacobson Brothers was the other), sold 61 Ford cars and 10 Overlands. Lyon County reported selling 1,403 automobiles that year and 75 percent of them were owned by farmers.
The Minneota Fire Brigade decorated its fire engines in red, white and blue wheels. Some of the firemen rode on the engines holding flags, while others walked behind with flags. They were all dressed in white shirts with black neckties, and white pants.
Banners would hang from one side of the street to the other, often accompanied by U.S. and Belgian flags, and affixed to telephone poles. One banner in 1910 read " THE CITY IS YOURS".
The women would watch the parade together, as most of the men were involved in the parade. The women wore long dresses and hats. Many held umbrellas to keep the sun out. The men all wore hats, which was considered proper when being outdoors in public at that time.
Following the parade, there was always a huge picnic at the park (where Veterans Park now stands). Many tables were set out to accompany all the food people brought to share. There were usually hundreds of pies on the tables.
There were games and contests throughout the day for all ages. By evening, everyone gathered for the fireworks show.
Even as late as the 1960s, various businesses participated in the parade with large decorated floats that were impressive looking.
It's sad to think that we have gone away from those types of celebrations in which the whole town got involved, not just in Minneota, but across the country.

No name
One of the biggest pet peeves developed from my longtime career in print media isn't when someone has a complaint about something. That's to be expected. It's when someone complains about something anonymously.
I had one of these lately. It wasn't horrible and there was no cursing or name calling, but it's frustrating when you don't get a chance to explain or give your side of the matter.
Hearing complaints about something happens at every newspaper in the country, regardless of size of the community, or circulation size. It's the same with nearly everything in current times such as politics, sports, religion, economics, etc. There are two sides to every story, but we don't always want to hear both sides, only the one we feel is right.
One of the things that I have always done against the wishes of many of my co-workers, editors and publishers, is to allow easy access to my personal cell phone number. My feeling is that if someone wants to give me a news story, make a correction, give a suggestion, or just plain vent about something, I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth.
I've had some nasty phone calls over the years. Some actually were legit and some were so rude and over the top that I had to go outside and take a walk once the conversation ended. I don't always end a conversation the way I would have liked and sometime I have regrets for handling it a little better.
To this caller, your request was already in the works but was on hold until the completion of the project, as I was politely requested to do, and it appears in this week's paper.
When I was a large daily newspaper for over 25 years, the complaint calls to all departments were 25-to-1 over those of praise. Since I've been with the Mascot, it's the opposite ratio, and to show my appreciation that's why I am still working here from long distance.