Posted July 4, 200717 yr The 4th of July reminds me of my teenage years growing up in NEO. This is from the Freedom Festival aka FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM at Edgewater Park. I think this photo is from 1986. This is about one quarter of the 250,000 people that would pack the park for the festival and fireworks. The Hanna Fountains were one of the most picturesque spots downtown. The Silver Chisel looking all shiny and new. Columbus Cincy Pittsburgh
July 4, 200717 yr I remember when Edgewater was like that, before they moved the fireworks to points east a few years ago. Didn't they have 300,000+ for Fourth of July at Edgewater the year before they moved the fireworks to a barge near Voinovich Park? And were the huge crowds the reason for moving it? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 4, 200717 yr I remember the crowds, too. I thought there were two reasons for the move, although somebody could have just made it up. One was the traffic afterwards was creating a problem for emergency vehicles trying to address "problems" in the adjacent neighborhood. The second was keep residents from the burbs downtown spending money.
July 4, 200717 yr The shore way was shutdown to traffic from W25th and thousands would walk along it to Edgewater for the Festival of Freedom. The 1986 estimate of 250k is a conservative one. The Festival has been a Cleveland tradition from as far back as the 1930’s.
July 4, 200717 yr i must be hungover, because i was expecting pictures of the Buffalo Wild Wings across ohio still, i'm not disappointed.
July 13, 200717 yr the hanna fountains. I forgot they existed! Here you go. This should help your memory: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=13435.msg199206#msg199206
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