Once again – what a great Fourth celebration here in Cherryville!

I have to say this again…in our 16 years of living in Cherryville the wife and I – as well as more than a few folks from near and far –have been treated every July 4th, or thereabouts, to one of the best fireworks displays for a town this size ever! I mean – EVAH!

By Michael Powell michael.cherryvilleeagle@gmail.com

This year –2023 – was absolutely NO exception and (again) my hat (if and when I ever wear one) is off to the Cherryville Fire Department’s crew of talented ‘pyro’ wizards. It’s also off to the Cherryville Police Department, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, the Gaston County PD, and the GEMS men and women who all made sure everyone was not only safe last week but had a great time.

You know… full disclosure here… back in the day (2007, 2008 etc.), when I wrote that we had many thousands attend our great little fireworks show, I confess it was hard to see them all at one time, right? Then, along came drones and that helped us all visualize the bigger picture of the BIG BOOM. Well, folks! Let me tell you what!

As my wife and I sat in

Letter To Editor

Dear Editor:

At this time, I feel it is time to speak on behalf of the old City Hall. This building has influenced the lives of all citizens and development of this city since 1911.

The city officials made it their purpose to ensure safety and protection of all citizens by working with the people to create laws, safety justice and security.

This remains their job today. Safety was insured by police who enforced the laws. Anyone disobeying the law could be taken straight to the jail in the lower level of the building. The crimes of the day were speeding, disturbing the peace, public drunk- enness and fighting. Since there was no test available, if you “appeared drunk,” it was accepted as fact. Any higher crimes were referred to Gastonia. If there was a questionable arrest, the person appeared before the judge in the courtroom in this old City Hall, who administered swift, balanced, and equal justice

Before 1922, the firemen used a wagon with a water tank that they pulled by hand. Many times, they arrived too late to save a building. In 1922 the city purchased “Granny,” the LaFrance fire truck. At this time, she sits in her home spot. The difference is that the Historical Society gave her a nice brick floor instead of the stands after strolling around Rudisill Stadium (the site of this year’s BIG BOOM) last week, we sat and watched as folks came in, and came in, and came in, and, well…came in!

I saw folks all over that field, having fun, listening to good music (The Tams), eating some good food, and setting up their lawn chairs as they got ready to watch our CFD pyro magicians (thanks to AFC Colby Heffner and Capt. Nathan Bowman and ALL the fire crew ladies and gents) work their fiery magic! Heck, from what I have heard, there was even a CFD marriage proposal thrown in for good measure! And, of course, so far as the fireworks were concerned, they didn’t disappoint as things got under way around 10 p.m.

But, before we get to the dirt floor. On one occasion, the building next door burned because the firetruck wouldn’t start.

At one time this building suffered some vandalism. Holes were punched in walls going to the lower level. The Society covered the holes with plexiglass. They also had written graffiti on the wall in the police section. The museum covered that graffiti with the police exhibit.

My hope is that this building will receive the Gaston County historic landmark designation it rightly deserves and that it will be used in a manner that will honor this designation.

Respectfully, Mrs. Pat C. Sherrill Cherryville