Williamsport offers 'Norman Rockwell Fourth of July celebration'

Willliamsport’s Independence Day is not just for town residents as some of Wednesday’s early arrivals proved.

Half an hour before the Rhythm Kings took the stage, Patty Shirbach, her son, Anthony, and grandson, Austin, had staked out a shady spot in Byron Memorial Park as the temperature was hitting 95 degrees.

The Hagerstown woman said they come every year.

“We’re here just to enjoy the music, and let the good times roll,” Shirbach said. “They put on a really good display of fireworks.”

Rose Martin said she drove in from Falling Waters, W.Va., to experience “a small town Fourth of July.”

She often goes to Frederick or Hagerstown on the Fourth of July, but decided to stay closer to home because of the heat.

Despite the heat, Roger Neff and Patsy Fiddler, both of Hagerstown, were sitting out in the sun.
“It ain’t any cooler any place else,” Neff said.

“We both grew up in Williamsport,” Fiddler said. “We come up here quite often, anytime they have anything.”

The Williamsport Fire Co. and EMS were selling pit-beef sandwiches, burgers, dogs and fries. Junior firefighters were helping with the event, and the Boy Scouts were lending a hand with senior citizens and any others in need of assistance, Mayor James McCleaf said.

Hundreds of people were expected to crowd into the park Wednesday night for the Williamsport Community Band concert and fireworks, McCleaf said.

“This is the best fireworks and the best community concert you’ll find in the area,” the mayor asserted.

McCleaf pointed to the recent expansion of the town’s gazebo, where the band would play.

The band, under the direction of Susie Kunkle, has expanded from 40 pieces to 82 in recent years, making the extension necessary, he said.

Town employees did the work about a week and a half ago, McCleaf said.

McCleaf echoed the description a resident once gave of the event:
“It is a Norman Rockwell Fourth of July celebration.”