This article was intended to address the Huntsville 4th of July Celebration, but because I believe that what has happened to our celebration is indicative of what has happened to our Town, I have to address both.
Some questions must be asked, the most important being, “What income does the town of Huntsville really need in order to run?” We have B&C road funds to fix our roads, water revenue as it is now, to maintain, preserve, and protect our water, sales and property tax revenue, and court revenue (which nets far more than you might think). These are just some of the ways our town is financed. Must we also put on a circus on the 4th of July to create more revenue? And for what purpose? To make more money to spend on things we really don’t need? Why are we advertising our festivities as far South and West Ogden? Who are we inviting to our town? Do we not have enough people in Huntsville, extended family, friends, and people who return yearly to fill our park?
At this point, I think we need to decide what direction our little town will take. Do we maintain our values in spite of the reasons we hear all of the time now, such as economic gain, progress, inevitability due to growth; or do we succumb to these pressures, all of which have a detrimental, deteriorating effect on our quality of life? I believe that some of the original town fathers had enough sense and foresight to make Huntsville a township, so that we could control our own destiny and not be at the mercy of those around us. Those same town fathers had a vision of communal well-being, and we, as stewards of that vision, have an obligation to enhance and improve a town spirit, an environment in posterity to be enjoyed by those who come after us. In order to achieve this, there must be community participation. It becomes easy to let someone else take care of things when we all are busy with work and family. But when we become apathetic and complacent, things start to run unchecked, and that is unhealthy in any community.
Asking questions of town leaders should never be construed as accusation of wrongdoing. Citizens should be comfortable asking for accountability of town leaders without fear of reprisal. The people who ask questions should be applauded, rather than criticized, because they care enough about the town to ask the questions. We have annexation, water, and budget issues that require everyone’s attention and input. We must also be willing to stand up and comment on issues, even at the risk of offending family, friends, and neighbors.
Which brings me back to the 4th of July. NOW . . . I have watched with sadness, as year by year, our little town celebration has dwindled into a commercial carnival. It has had little, if anything, to do with patriotism or town spirit. Don’t get me wrong, God bless the people who work so hard and give so much of their time in an effort to make things nice for the rest of us. This includes the folks who put on the breakfast, parade, melodrama, bake sale, and all of those that donate to the town auction. They deserve our appreciation (and probably a lot more help from their friends and neighbors. That being said, I remember when the whole community was involved in the 4th of July. Family, school, civic, and church groups took the time to decorate floats, which were not extravagant but thought provoking and fun. There used to be a theme, a master of ceremonies, prizes for best, originality, etc.
Now, people (not all, but most) slap a banner on the side of their vehicle, grab their squirt guns and bags of candy and drive down the road. Most of the kids didn’t even bother to decorate their bikes this year. Are we so busy that tradition has no value anymore? The Probasco family tractors, the kids that represent our schools, and the Civil War Platoon are almost the only traditional things left in our parade. Our own mayor wasn’t even present in our town parade.
There was also a time when we had activities that kept people in the park all day and they certainly didn’t include real estate pavilions or big blow-up things that cost $3.00 a shot. I have heard that the town makes $40,000 or so off of the 4th, and that this year, because it rained, we only made $20,000. I’m sorry, but I have to call B.S. on this even if the figures are wrong by double. It didn’t start raining until almost 4:30 pm. Most people have been leaving the park a couple of hours after the parade for the past several years (with the exception of those that stick around for the auction). There is nothing to keep them in the park and vendors take up most of the shaded areas. People don’t return until 8:00 or 9:00 pm, in time for the dance and fireworks (I don’t believe that we double our revenue on pop sales in the evening).
What happened to the miniature rodeo? It was mentioned that the insurance cost for this went up drastically. How is it then that smaller communities than ours still have rodeos? I’m sure that the rodeo made enough money to continue each year. Perhaps the people who put it on got tired of the money disappearing into the general fund instead of being put side for what it was intended. Vendors are the people who make the vast majority of the profit on the 4th (and I DON”T mean the town breakfast). When you charge a vendor say $150 for a booth and he nets $2,500, what sense does that make? I guess about the same as letting someone put together an auction of donated items and then letting him take 15% of the proceeds off the top (not this year, but for several years prior). Community spirit?
And if we are in fact making such a big profit on the 4th, why can’t we afford local musical talent throughout the day that appeals to all ages? We used to. I’ll bet we have older citizens that would be willing to tell stories about the early years in Huntsville. Maybe they would even do it for free if we provide the shade and lemonade. What about pie-eating contests, sack races, horseshoe tossing, auctioning picnic baskets, and things that appeal to all ages and promote family and neighbor competition? How about having local citizens donate time in food and fun booths, the proceeds of which go back to the town?
Sounds like a lot? If every family in Huntsville donated half an hour in booths and game stations we’d have the day covered. It seems to me that we would make enough money without having to advertise as far as South Ogden again next year and even more important, wouldn’t it bring our town closer together? The fireworks are spectacular, but they were just as wonderful when they were paid for by citizens and local businesses rather than by larger groups who may expect favors in return (not that this would ever happen?)
Again, what are our priorities? Sometimes, more and bigger are not necessarily best. Take our beautiful state-of-the-art park for instance. We have spent a lot of money refurbishing and adding facilities, to what end? The park is now being used almost exclusively by non-residents. (check the coming events)
I wrote this article because I love this town and would hate to see it turn into the very thing that people everywhere are trying to get away from. The value of our town and what we have here, can’t be measured in dollars. However it can change quickly, and if people in town don’t start becoming more involved, we may as well look for a couple of big money sponsors to build us a giant roller-coaster in our park and invite the world!
The strength of a vibrant community comes from the interaction and participation of all of its citizens. We do not have to be, nor should we try to be, anything but what we are:
A unique, uncomplicated, family oriented, little town.
On an end note, I’d like to say that what was put together on the 24th was far more patriotic and had more of a home town feeling than the 4th has had for several years. The park was filled with local people. The girls who sang did a beautiful job and the whole experience was wonderful and memorable! We need to take our 4th of July Celebration back!
I welcome your responses.
Thank you,
Carol Conway
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