Fourth of July

La Mott had a parade that marched around all the streets in the neighborhood. My mother recalls that it was held by the American Legion. Mom's family stood on the corner at Cedar Lane and Willow Avenue and watched all the pomp and circumstance of several bands going by. Many of the residents marched in the parade themselves.

Cousin Stelle echoes my mother’s memories about the parade on the Fourth of July. She added that people came from South Philly to see the bands march from street to street. One of the residents even sat in the back of a convertible waving to all her family, friends and neighbors.
After the parade, the families might have their own gathering or participate in one of the block parties with a full spread complete with ribs. At my mother's house several members of the family gathered together for a fare that included fried chicken, potato salad, string beans, sliced ham, spinach and a pie, possibly apple. Grandmom Adelaide Jones would 'put up' root beer as the beverage for the day; the drink was prepared in really big pot. She got root beer extract and bottles about the size of a ‘Pepsi Cola’ bottle from the store as well as other ingredients. My mother recalls it as a several day process from cleaning the bottles, making the drink, pouring it into the bottles and waiting until it was time to drink it. About 3 dozen bottles were filled. Grandmom Adelaide had some sort of 'contraption' which put a lid on the bottles. They would sit for about a week or two and then be ready to drink. She had a place in the kitchen or the shed where she kept the bottles until they were ready.

My concept of root beer is a drink purchased at the grocery store and enjoyed over ice or with vanilla ice cream. It's so cool to think that both my Grandmother and my Great-Aunt prepared root beer in their own home I hope your 4th was filled with plenty of family, friends and good eats!