Today, July 14 is Bastille Day. The day marks the storming of the fortress in Paris that held political prisoners and turning point in the French Revolution.
Scranton, not one to miss an opportunity to celebrate, held a massive Bastille Day celebration on 1918. The event took place at Nay Aug Park with some 8,000 people in attendance. The guest speaker was John Grier Hibben, President of Princeton University.
Here is copy of the article detailing the event –
And if you were in need of the Tricolour (the French Flag), you were in luck. Scranton Dry Goods was well stocked. Here is ad for the flag from the store –
The Scranton Times – July 11, 1918
Also if want to see some fireworks on this Bastille Day just google Bastille Day.
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
