By 1812Blockhouse
Local New Year’s Eve revelers may have had a dry evening for planned festivities, which include a planned ball drop and fireworks on the Square in downtown Mansfield.
One hundred three years ago, on December 31, 1918, the scene was somewhat similar in Mansfield. According to the News Journal of, January 2, 1919, “Mansfield kicked off a year and a half of war restraint in giving 1919 a noisy welcome. New year’s eve was celebrated with more than ordinary noise and joyousness.
Although there was a steady downpour of rain during the evening, the streets in the business section were filled and the revelers were gay and happy despite the fact that many of them were drenched.”
In at least one aspect, however, celebrations were quite different. Later in the same story, the paper reported that across town could be heard bells, whistles, and “shooting of firearms, small cannon and bombs.”
It is doubtful that City leaders would condone the same type of celebration in 2021.
Additional details about this year’s event can be found here.
