of neighborhood parade, contests

By Kelli Teno and

Jessica Anderson

Iowa State Daily

Since Ames does not have a major Fourth of July celebration, the residents of Hodge Avenue have taken the task of honoring the nation’s independence into their own hands.

In the 1960s, the City of Ames made plans to renovate the area into rental housing.

But the neighborhood did not want that. Their united efforts to prevent this from occurring resulted in an Independence Day celebration that became a time-honored tradition.

The main event is the parade, put on mostly by the children in the area. Bikes, wagons and strollers are decorated with crepe paper, streamers and American flags. The kids participating wear red, white and blue, with even babies dressed up. In the past, children have dressed up as the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam.

The parade opens with a truck – decorated July 3 in elaborate red, white and blue paint – carrying The One and Only Hodge Avenue Riding Band.

The band begins practicing about two weeks before the event. They gather the kids in the neighborhood who play instruments and learn a few patriotic songs to perform for the parade.

Nearly 60 children are involved in the parade, with the occasional parent pulling wagons or pushing strollers.

Everyone who participates in the parade recieves a medallion for participation. “Everyone wins,” said Mark Redmond, associate professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism. Redmond serves as the master of ceremonies for the day’s events.

A newsletter is put out every year to highlight the street. It tells about the newcomers to the neighborhood as well as those students who have graduated.

A majority of the neighborhood helps organize and plan the event, and on July Fourth, residents gather with friends and family to join the festivities.

“We have a Hodge Avenue equivalent of a birthday cake for America,” Redmond said.

Each year, they drive a silver nail into a large, round piece of wood to represent another candle on the birthday cake of the United States. “It is a very filled piece of wood,” Redmond said.

Included in the celebration is the ringing of the bell.

“It’s supposed to represent the Liberty Bell,” said Tom Courneya, Hodge Avenue resident. “Everyone gets in line and rings the bell.”

Between 80 and 100 people attend the potluck dinner.

Entertainment ranges from the neighborhood talent show to games in the street.

Amy Svec, Hodge Avenue resident, enjoys watching the talent show. “You don’t even need to have talent to participate,” she said.

Two other highlights include the water balloon toss and watermelon seed spitting contest.

The watermelon seed spitting contest is for people of all ages. The neighborhood holds competitions for men, women, boys over 10-years-old, girls over 10-years-old, boys under 10-years-old and girls under 10-years-old.

The all time record holder for the seed spitting contest is William Chieves with 41 feet, 7 inches. However, Courneya has won the most competitions – about 10 in the last 16 years.

“It has pretty much been the same over the years, but the waterballoon throw was added in the last four or five years,” Redmond said.