Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. As many of you know, I’ve been hard at work on my upcoming historical romance, The Heart of Honor, my contribution to our Petticoats and Patriots series. The story is set in 1876, a year that held special significance for Americans because it marked the nation’s one hundredth birthday.
While doing research for the book, I found myself paying particular attention to how people actually celebrated the Centennial. We all know about fireworks and Fourth of July picnics, but what did the celebration look like for ordinary folks living in small towns and rural communities far from the nation’s largest cities?
The Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia was one of the most visible parts of the national celebration. It was the first official World’s Fair held in the United States and drew visitors from around the globe. New inventions, technological marvels, and exhibits showcasing America’s progress filled the fairgrounds. For many people, attending the exposition was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But not everyone could travel to Philadelphia.
Across the country, both large and small communities found their own ways to celebrate. Towns organized parades, patriotic speeches, church services, brass band concerts, community picnics, and readings of the Declaration of Independence. Buildings were decorated with flags and bunting, and local newspapers often devoted special coverage to the occasion.
What I found especially interesting was that the celebrations often reflected the region where they took place.
In New England, many communities highlighted their connections to the Revolutionary War and the nation’s earliest history. In the South, the Centennial arrived just eleven years after the end of the Civil War, so the celebrations often carried a different tone as communities continued rebuilding and healing. Meanwhile, in the growing western states and territories, festivities frequently blended patriotic observances with the practical realities and traditions of frontier life.
One detail that especially caught my attention was how the Centennial encouraged Americans to look back as well as forward. While much attention was given to the nation’s progress and future possibilities, there was also a renewed appreciation for the people and events that had shaped the country’s first hundred years. Some communities and families reflected on their own histories, sharing stories and preserving memories of earlier generations.
In fact, this aspect of the Centennial helped inspire a key part of my story. My heroine, Mercy Owens, serves on her town’s Centennial Planning Committee and is responsible for collecting the stories and artifacts of the people who helped build the community. Like me, she believes that family stories are often what bring history to life. Dates and events have their place, but it is the people behind those events—their sacrifices, dreams, struggles, and triumphs—that make the past meaningful.
As I continue working on The Heart of Honor, I find myself thinking about that balance between remembering where we’ve been and looking ahead to where we’re going. Perhaps that’s one reason the Centennial captured the imagination of so many Americans in 1876.
So now I’m curious: If your hometown were celebrating its 100th anniversary, what story, keepsake, or piece of family history would you contribute to a community display? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.
Fun news! The first issue of Petticoats & Patriots Magazine is here! Filled with Revolutionary War features, inspiring articles, patriotic recipes, reader activities, and stories celebrating the courage that built a nation, this special collector’s edition is the perfect way to begin celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Available now! Get your FREE digital copy HERE!
If you haven’t had a chance to check out our Petticoats and Patriots series yet, you can read about the first 5 books on our series page HERE.
And don’t forget, the first book in the series, Shanna’s For Liberty and Love. releases on June 16th and is available now for PREORDER!
Thank you for this history.
I would give one of my books.
Hi Denise. That sounds like a lovely contribution. Thanks for stopping by
I’d tell the story of my paternal grandmother emigrating from Newfoundland to Boston after the influenza pandemic (1918-20) caused the death of her husband and child.
Thanks for running the giveaway.
Hi Mary. That sounds like a story I’d like to hear more about. Since you’re her grandchild she hopefully had a very happy ending to her story.
cookbook
Interesting, Is this a cookbook that has particular meaning to you?
I am not sure as my Dad’s side of the family was still in Illinois, before coming to Indiana in 1932!
Oh but 1932 was nearly a century ago! If nothing else you could tell the story of how your family came to move there.
Good Monday Morning, Winnie,
If my home town were celebrating its 100 anniversary: Not sure if there are any pictures, but I would tell them of my dad’s work (he was not a reporter/writer) on the local newspaper.
Love reading your books!
Thank you for that uplifting comment. And that sounds like a great contribution to the celebration – stories are always my favorite part of history
Good Monday Morning, Winnie,
If my home town were celebrating its 100 anniversary: Not sure if there are any pictures, but I would tell them of my dad’s work (he was not a reporter/writer) on the local newspaper.
Love reading your books!
Thank you for the opportunity to win your book!
Julie Bullock
I don’t have anything to bring
I bet if you thought hard enough, you’d have a family story to contribute
Thanks for the great post! I would contribute a family story as I am sure we would have one.
So glad you enjoyed the post! And that is a great xontributiom
I would share some of the stories of my grandparents first few years of their marriage especially when they were sharecroppers.
Sounds like it would be a great story
My parents both celebrated our hometown’s 100th celebration. My mother wore a long dress with petticoats and my father grew a beard! LOL When my brothers and I saw that picture we couldn’t believe it! My father never had a mustache or beard all the time we knew him. I love that picture! What would I give? Probably a drawing of my hometown at that time.
I can not wait for this series! I considered myself a patriotic person. And have been pretty much of my life! Best wishes on your book Winnie!
Thanks Tracy! And it sounds like your folks were really fun people 🙂
I would probably pick an old family recipe
that would be delightful!
This series is a beautiful way for we readers to familiarize ourselves with the history of our nation. With the absence of the younger generation having the desire to know about the world before they came along, it leaves them bereft of a good many important and consequential happenings which shaped our nation. Your documentary here today was very heartwarming.
I’m so happy you’re looking forward – we’re all veery excited about the series!
My dad helped found a small Christian college in the late 1950’s in my town so I’d send some photos from that time along with what the property looked like before they bought it when it was a dude ranch. It’s grown from the original 50 students to having several thousand now.
Oh wow, what an interesting story that would make
I would send a picture of the first school for the town. It was Kindergarten through 12th. But when I went there, it was just grade school. It isn’t even that any more.
Oh how the times do change!
Wow! I just looked at the Petticoats & Patriots magazine and how beautiful it is. Especially loved the excerpts. You guys did an awesome job. Can’t wait to read Shanna’s on the 16th. Yippee! All of them look really good. Sending many kudos and much love!
Hi Linda. Isn’t it great! I think Shanna did a fabulous job pulling it all together
Thank you so much for sharing all this great history with us, Winnie! And thanks for the mention of the magazine and my book. I’m so grateful! Best wishes!
Shanna you’re quite welcome. And I think the magazine looks FABULOUS! Can’t wait until your book comes out on the 16th!
Our family was not living in this town 100 years ago so don’t have anything that I could contribute. Love all the information you shared with us and looking forward to reading all the books.
So happy you enjoyed the post. And a celebration like that includes the whole hundred years so I’m sure you WOULD have something to contribute
I would share photos and stories of my family and their standing in my small hometown. And stories of my three uncles who served in WWII, one of whom was a prisoner and was in a German prisoner of war camp for several years.
Oh my, those would all be great things to share
My mother was an antique dealer. She purchased a Centennial chair at an auction in the 1960s. She gave it to me. It is a mahogany Chippendale armchair from a dining room set that was custom made for a large gentleman in the year 1876 to commemorate 1776.
Can’t seem to add a picture of it.
oh what a treasure!
Really cool to have that chair to commemorate the Centennial as well as to think about your mom!
Thank You for this amazing post I would share a story with my family and grandchildren The Books sound amazing my oldest Son was born in 1976
glad you enjoyed the post and sharing stories is a beautiful legacy to share
I would share stories about my family and a traditional family recipe.
sounds lovely!
Thanks for a really interesting post. Maybe a family recipe.
Thank you ladies for the Petticoats & Patriots Magazine. What a nice idea and perfect timing.
If my hometown had a display, I would contribute the information on my Uncle Pat. He was a medic in the army during the Korean War. He was killed on my 5th birthday while giving aid to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. The local Reserve Center is named after him, PFC Harold P. Lynch United States Army Reserve Center. Even as young as I was, I remember him as a nice guy who played with us nieces and nephews. He was young himself, only about 18 or 19. I have the letter submitted nominating him for the honor of having the center named after him and the letter announcing the naming, as well as the dedication pictures, etc at the dedication.
oh what a precious family keepsake!
We have a few saw blades that my uncle painted scenes on, a lighthouse, black bears, and deer. Also my grandpa made the shape of Maine out of wood and I’m not sure if he or my uncle(but one of them) painted a Maine scenery on it.