DetroitOld Newspaper StoriesWindsor

The First Fireworks – 1959

After a few years away due to COVID the annual fireworks returned to the riverfront this year in spectacular fashion. However it got me thinking about the history of the fireworks, and exactly how the first ones were handled in the media… I decided to go back through old newspapers and see how that first fireworks display was handled back in 1959. From July 4, 1959, 63 years ago today….

The Detroit Free Press led with a photograph of the fireworks above the fold, along with reports of over half a million people being downtown to watch them.

The Windsor Star makes no comment of it, with the Queen’s visit taking front page news that day.

The third page, which back then used to be the local news page had a photo of the traffic jam following the fireworks, but you had to turn towards the back of the paper before any shots of the show appeared for Windsor readers…

It’s great to see the claims of a million people watching the fireworks from both sides of the river were there from the start.

While the first year didn’t quite get treated as a very big deal, by the next year, it was front page news. By 1961, it was as big a deal as it is today:

1961

I hope everyone had a great long Weekend, and happy 4th of July to our American friends and neighbours.

Related posts
going, going, gone...Old Newspaper StoriesOld Photographs

New Simpson-Sears Store - 1970

DemolitionLost WindsorOld Newspaper StoriesOld Photographs

Marcon Home Demolition - Russell Street - 1978

Old Newspaper StoriesOld Photographs

Proposed Howard Avenue Subway - 1930

Buildings of WindsorWindsor

Jackson Park Bandshell

Recent Comments:

  • RobS on Sprawltastic: “I’m revisiting this post from the future. I saw a number of comments asking how this subdivision would hold up…Oct 8, 15:38
  • Kevin Bishop on John Ross School – 2715 Bernard: “Christine: Your message is totally flooring me. Thought I’d check my old grade school – John Ross – and found…Sep 6, 18:04
  • Christine Hermann on John Ross School – 2715 Bernard: “wow, it was so good to see my old public school. And Miss Sternbauer, your comments were so great. You…Sep 5, 11:39
  • CatholicTrad on Windsor’s Biggest Architectural Loss: “What a crime that this was demolished. The city has gone downhill ever since. You take out Catholic religious, and…Aug 2, 21:30
  • Paul B. Priest on 435 Mill Street – 1957: “I remember this building. The bus would stop and the driver would get off, taking the coin dispenser with him.…Jul 22, 12:54

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *