Joanne Williams
Editor
(Courtesy photo – History will be celebrated in Nashville July 11-12.)
There is a big celebration in Nashville, July 10 and 11.
How is this news? Nashville is the southern country-music mecca of the United States. There is always a party going on.
We are talking Nashville, Michigan, here.
The schedule for celebrating America’s 250th anniversary offers music and much more.
Supporters of the event include the Nashville Michigan Historical Society (NMHS), just 10-years in existence itself, but busy keeping Nashville memories and events alive.
From historical markers to celebrations, park restoration to cemetery maintenance, the historical society has been at work keeping Nashville history alive.
The village of Nashville was incorporated in 1869, named for one of its early surveyors, Garaudus Nash.
Since then, Nashville has taken advantage of the Thornapple River for mills, and the railroad, as a stop between Jackson and Grand Rapids.
Today, NMHS members work to preserve memories and are happy to help organize the two-day event.
Kermit Douse, society president, mentioned they were not going to advertise the celebration, as it was planned as a community-centered party. But the word got out, and the activities grew. Nashville has a population of about 1,600.
The schedule is packed:
Friday, July 10 – Food trucks starting at 5 p.m., youth bicycling for the parade; 6 p.m. a hymn sing at the Assembly of God, followed by a cornhole tournament, refreshments and music.
Saturday , July 11 – The parade kicks off at noon, and the day opens patriotically at Parade Park at 9 a.m. There will be activities and music all day.
With history in mind, the NMHS has scheduled a Saturday 3 p.m. special rededication of John Quick’s grave in the Quaker Cemetery. Quick was a young Revolutionary War veteran who rode across the Delaware River with General George Washington. He also fought at Valley Forge.
To top the afternoon off, at 6:15 p.m. there will be a flyover of The Holligans, a vintage aircraft group.
And did somebody say fireworks? They are on Friday, July 10, at dusk in Riverside Park.
