Richard's Poor Almanac by Richard Thompson for July 04, 2016

Transcript:

Richard's Poor Almanac Our Fireworks Heritage By Richard Thompson In 1776, the first roadside fireworks stand, Patriotic Illumination opens and South Carolina. It is later sold to South of the Border & renamed Pedro's Beeg Kaboom Room. In 1826, former Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are involved in a July 4th mishap. Huge cover up ensues. In 1889 the national July 4th celebration debuts on the mall. It is extremely low-key affair viewed by a group of invitation-only VIPs. The Park service angry about having to scrub out the black stains left on the sidewalk by those snakes later puts the official crowd count at 12.