On the 4th of July we had CHERRY BOMBS and Dynamite Sticks. There things were powerful. It was a totally unregulated industry. They started toning down the power of these fireworks in the 60's.
In the 50's on Halloween night, you did not drive your car into town. The juvenile delinquents would "egg" passing cars and have water balloon fights. Parents did not chauffeur their kids while trick or treating. All the kids were just turned loose to face their fate in life.
In the 50's we had "reform schools" and "homes for wayward girls". Those sure went by the wayside as our morals deteriorated.
Wayne Harrison wrote: We used to lay bottle rockets down and launch them off the the beach into the lake and they'd blow up under water. I still don't understand how it worked. My guess is the rocket exhaust kept the water from coming in where it was burning.
We would always shoot them in the air then after it exploded, everyone would race to catch the stick before it hit the ground.
Wayne Harrison wrote: The thing I dreaded the most in my childhood:
Boy, did it sting.
I totally forgot about that! You always knew if you had a cut that it was going to be painted orange and burn like heck. I remember blowing on it before it even touched the cut. Didn't matter how hard you blew on it, it still burned.
