Many Independence Day events held in Wellsburg
Trending
WELLSBURG -- For many Wellsburg residents, Independence Day is not only a time to celebrate America's birth but a time for reunions and homecomings, as families and friends gather for many of the events in its week-long observance.
The celebration continues this weekend with a free concert by Refugee at Central Park at 7 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday, the Oil Can Derby at 9 a.m., a parade on Charles Street at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Many view the latter from the city's 18th Street Park but they also can be seen from many homes in Wellsburg.
Organized by a volunteer committee with financial support from many businesses and the assistance of city officials and crews, the observance included fishing, horseshoe and corn hole tournaments and a free concert on each of six nights.
Added this year were two evening block parties, with music and food, in the city's downtown business district.
The Wellsburg 4th of July Committee has promoted a volleyball tournament held during the week by the Crooked Dock restaurant and crafts and activities for children led each morning at the 4th Ward Park by members of New Day Christian Center.
Started in June, the free activities are a community outreach of the church, which held a community worship service at Central Park on June 27.
In recent years local business owner Fred Marino revived the Oil Can Derby, a soapbox car-style race named for what was then the chief product of Eagle Manufacturing, a local industry that sponsored it.
Racers are expected to practice Saturday morning on Fourth Street, site of the competition, which will include a series of heats starting at 9 a.m.
Barb Yoder, who co-chairs the Wellsburg 4th of July Committee with Darin Pizer, said the Independence Day celebration is a tradition many current and former residents look forward to.
"It brings a lot of people. You get a lot of locals and former residents coming back to town," she said, adding it was sorely missed when the pandemic forced the group to cancel it last year.
Of the week's many events, only the Oil Can Derby was held, before a ban on community events was ordered, while Randy Hood, the late owner of Traubert's Pharmacy; and Rich Lucas, president of Main Street Bank, stepped forward to fund a fireworks display launched for viewing from residents' homes.
Yoder said as soon as they knew the festivities would be permitted this year, she and the other committee members set about organizing them.
She noted that as in the past, many local businesses have provided funds for concerts and other events while Wellsburg Council granted funds for the fireworks and city crews and police have aided with preparations and security.
Yoder said others have aided in various ways, noting students in Brooke High School's career technical department built the boards used in the group's corn hole tournament and refurbished them this year.
She said she's happy to have local youth involved, adding participants in the Wellsburg Junior Police Academy, a summer camp organized by Brooke County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Scott Adams and others, will appear in Sunday's parade in a color guard and on a float.
Yoder has been involved with the committee for at least 40 years and has seen it grow in recent years.
She recalled a time when it was limited to three days of activities held primarily around the city's Sixth Street Wharf, with local bands performing on the dock.
Fireworks were set off near the former Wellsburg High School and people gathered in the football stadium to watch, she noted.
Local resident Greg Hall was among those attending one of the concerts who shared good memories of past celebrations.
As a teen he was one of many youthful park supervisors hired to organize games for children at local parks throughout the summer under the direction of the late Betty Carr and in that role, was involved in creating floats for the Independence Day parade.
Asked what he enjoys most about the current observance, Hall said, "I like coming to see these bands bets. I come the parade every year, too."
"And they put on very good fireworks for the small town we have here. They don't skimp on them," he added.
Marc Carte, a younger attendee, also was asked his favorite event.
"These concerts. I'm here for every one. People you haven't seen for years are here. This is the best," said Carte.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)