The Chronicles Of Grant County
Independence Day
2025
Fireworks over the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, The White House, and the Washington Monument on the Fourth of July. (The photograph was produced by Carlos Fyfe and provided courtesy of The White House, July 4, 2021.)
Today is the day that Americans celebrate Independence Day.
"By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the [Second] Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to [the Kingdom of] Great Britain," noted a statement from the United States Department of State. "The Declaration summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence."
"On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee [of Virginia] introduced a motion in [the Second Continental] Congress to declare independence," the statement from the U S Department of State continued. "Other members of Congress were amenable but thought some colonies not quite ready. However, Congress did form a committee to draft a declaration of independence...The committee presented the final draft before Congress on June 28, 1776..."
"On July 2, [1776,] Congress voted in favor of independence, and on July 4, [1776,] the Declaration of Independence was approved," noted a statement from the Library of Congress. "Copies were sent throughout the colonies to be read publicly."
While the physical fight for independence of what would become the United States of America began in 1775 and independence was declared by colonial leaders in 1776, formal recognition of the nation's independence did not come until 1783. In that year, the Kingdom of Great Britain officially recognized the United States of America as a sovereign nation.
In Southwest New Mexico, Independence Day has been noted through the years in a number of news articles. In some years, there appear to have been reports of large-scale observances of this day, though in other years, there appear to have been reports of more modest events recognizing the country's independence.
We look back today to review several of those news articles from more than 100 years ago. Please note that some words, abbreviations, and grammar techniques were different more than one hundred years ago.
On July 11, 1891, The Deming Headlight included a detailed report of activities on "The Fourth" celebration in Grant County. (Luna County had not yet been created – Deming was still a community in Grant County.)
"The celebration of Independence Day on Saturday last was the most notably successful event of the kind ever witnessed in Southwestern New Mexico," the news article stated. "The entire town turned out, and their number was augmented by visitors from the towns and ranches of Grant, Sierra, and Dona Ana counties. The rains of the previous few days had laid the dust and cooled the atmosphere, so that the weather was all that could be reasonably asked for at this time of the year."
"Early in the morning the streets seemed to have taken on the gorgeous aspect of a royal gala day," the news article continued. "The stores and business places especially, were draped from pave to cornice with the national colors, and from every building in town waved from one to a dozen national flags, big and little, all betokening that the day of all others in the year – the day of days in the national calendar – the day on which the Great Republic was born – had come, and that ample preparations for its due observance had been made."
The Deming Graphic on July 6, 1904, reported on its front page that Independence Day celebrations in this Luna County community (Luna County was created in 1901) took place over three days that year.
The first day, according to the news article, included a Sunday afternoon ball game – on July 3 – between teams from Deming and Silver City. The prize for winning the game – $50 – was awarded to the Silver City club.
Several races took place on the second day – July 4. A horse race was on Silver Avenue, "...followed by a wheelbarrow race and various foot races, which created considerable amusement while the potato race, sack race, three-legged race, and burro races made fun for all," noted the Deming Graphic.
The third day – July 5 – included a grand tournament. The newspaper reported that a grand closing ball was held in the evening "...and gayiety ensued until near morning [with] music of the highest order...furnished by Hollingsworth and Clifford's Orchestra..."
Independence Day was also celebrated over three days in Lordsburg in 1915.
According to a news article in the Western Liberal on June 11, 1915, "The biggest Independence Day Celebration in the history of Lordsburg is to be staged here on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th, during which time the keys of the town will be turned over to Arizona."
You read that correctly – "to Arizona."
A news article in the same newspaper on July 2, 1915, further reported that "Lordsburg and the fullness thereof will be turned over to the visitors. The keys of the town are their's. Let everyone have the best time in their lives celebrating the 4th of July of 1915."
May your Fourth of July celebrations this year – in 2025 – also be among the best times in your lives.
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© 2025 Richard McDonough
