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Document - Historical information/data - 7/4/1994 - 7/4/1994EAGAN'S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION In the early 1960's, a local convenience store owner on the west side of town invited children to form a parade through the neighborhood and finish up at his store for an ice cream treat. About a dozen children decorated their bikes, trikes, and wagons that first year and started a tradition which continues today. The Eagan Jaycees took over the 4th of July festivities in the late 1960's. They added games, fireworks and a carnival. The celebration stretched into 3 — 4 days and was held at Rahn Park with the parade along Rahn Road. The Eagan Lions joined in the sponsorship and added a few more activities. In 1995 construction of more households in the Rahn Park area necessitated a change in location of the 4th of July festivities. 1996 was a transition year with the parade and games at Cedarvale, and fireworks at Skyhill Park. This year, 1997, the parade will move along Blackhawk Road and end at Skyhill Park where games, a carnival and fireworks will be featured. Orig.typed 1997 Re -typed 6/11/03/vk The following is an excerpt from the Minutes of the Eagan Town Board Meeting of July 2nd, 1963: "Mr. William Malone appeared representing a group proposing to have a fireworks display on Beau de Rue on July 4th. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors be and it hereby is on record, granting the promoters of the project permission to block Beau de Rue Road to regular traffic between the hours of 8 o'clock P.M. and 12 o'clock P.M. on July 4th, 1963, for purposes of a fireworks display. "Dated: July 2nd, 1963 /s/ Alyce Bolke Clerk" I don't remember the exact year but the first parade was sponsored by Harold's Store on Beau D'Rue Drive. It was a Kiddie's Parade down on Beau D' Rue. At the end of the parade the kids were treated to ice cream and balloons all donated by Harold's Store. The next year the event was given to the Fire Department as a co-sponsor. This was when I became involved. We kept the theme of a kiddie's parade and tried to encourage neighborhoods to build floats to add to the parade. The first attempt at a float was an entry by Marble Lane. This consisted of a kiddie's wadding pool with an umbrella and Jerry Adam sitting in it on a trailer. The following years other neighborhoods built floats also and we could always depend on Marble Lane for an entry. The parade also moved on top of the hill and ended by Cedar Pond. Cedar Avenue was a two-lane highway and Rahn Road was a dirt road coming up the hill. A lot of small kids were getting involved and the hills were too tough for them on their trikes and walking. We also added fireworks in the evening. This turned into a big event in later years. This is basically what I remember of the beginning of the celebration. Jerry Adam Retired Eagan Fire Department July 2003