Whiskey Saves the Day!

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is frequently celebrated with fireworks, sometimes accompanied by drinking. We have been warned repeatedly that combining the two is not wise. Fun, perhaps, but not wise.

Case in point: On July 4, 1862, things got out of hand in the little river town of Winona, Minnesota. During a raucous celebration, some downtown buildings caught fire. Hannibal Choate, saloon keeper and astute businessperson, supplied volunteer firefighters with whiskey, which kept most of them on his block all day. Choate's business was the only one saved.

Minnesota, despite the events in Winona, has a long history of modest, sober celebrations. Indeed, it was common for Minnesotans to cross the river into Wisconsin to buy fireworks that were outlawed in Minnesota. Thanks to Governor Jesse Ventura, fireworks restrictions were eased about 20 years ago. Jesse had a strong libertarian streak and argued that Minnesotans did not need the government telling them how to have fun. He also advocated Sunday liquor sales, a measure finally approved about six years ago. So Minnesotans no longer have to drive to Wisconsin, Iowa, or the Dakotas to buy booze on Sunday. Between fireworks and liquor sales, I believe we have just about crippled Wisconsin's economy.

Here's a wistful little Brautigan poem on the subject:

Feasting and drinking went on far into the night
but in the end we went home alone to console ourselves
which seems to be what so many things are all about
like the branches of a tree just after the wind
     stops blowing.