One Family's Fourth of July Tradition 'Boils Over' From Past to Present

While our nation’s independence is special to all Americans, there’s just something about celebrating the Fourth of July in New England, particularly Aquidneck Island.

I’m not sure if it’s because Rhode Island was the first colony to declare its independence from England, because we are proud home to the First Rhode Island Regiment or because we (with the help of the French) successfully held back the British troops from seizing Narragansett Bay during The Battle of Rhode Island. 

We are also one short bridge from the oldest continuous Fourth of July parade in the country. From the moment those lines on Hope Street are re-painted, everyone knows it’s just a few short weeks away. 

Whether it’s parking yourself on the beach or lining up on Middle Road to watch the Louis Escobar’s fireworks, every family I know has some Fourth of July tradition. 

Our family is no different. What started out almost a half century ago as a family reunion has been revived by the next generation as a day to gather with family and close friends, and to spend the day relaxing in each other’s company. 

Many years ago, my husband’s grandmother used the Fourth of July as a means to gather both sides of the family for an impromptu reunion.  Since everyone knew where her house was and it was centrally located, the family gathered here. Much of the family lived in places like Attleboro or Rumford, so it was a great chance to come down and get cool, soaking up a little island breeze. 

The menu originally consisted of my grandfather-in-law’s Rhode Island clam chowder (clear broth) and homemade clam cakes. In other years, there was barbecue chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, and a few clamboils. The traditional dessert was always watermelon. 

One year, they switched it up and gathered at the house of my husband’s aunt in Island Park. They kept the watermelon in the cove near Teddy’s Beach to keep it cool. With 10-plus kids to watch in the water, there was always someone there to make sure it didn’t float away! 

As the years went on (imagine calendar pages flipping by), and family members grew up and moved, got too old to make the trip, or simply passed away, the numbers dwindled until finally by the mid-1990’s, the Lantz/Pierce Fourth of July get- togethers were a thing of the past. 

Flash forward to the summer of 2000. My husband and I had moved in with his grandmother and he says it’s as if something in him just clicked.

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