Uncle Sam Selling Fireworks

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This fireworks store in a former gas station is in a rural area along US-30 in LaPorte County. I would not have noticed the small building surrounded by tall trees if Uncle Sam hadn't been standing on the roof!

I made this photograph on the rainy afternoon of June 15, as my son and I were driving to Chicago, where we were attending the annual Brickworld convention, which is a large gathering of Lego enthusiasts. Mack loves Legos, and had been looking forward to the trip for months, and it was a good excuse for me to get out of Fort Wayne and explore some areas of rural Indiana that I had not seen before.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Sigh. No fireworks here for July 4. We are in a severe drought and the sale or use of fireworks has been banned because of the fire danger.

Great photo, though! 🙂

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Sigh. No fireworks here for July 4. We are in a severe drought and the sale or use of fireworks has been banned because of the fire danger.

Great photo, though! 🙂

People here go nuts for them. There's a fireworks store in every empty storefront in Ft. wayne now. This one was in the middle of nowhere, and there are a lot of others in rural areas too.

Years ago, it was illegal in Indiana to sell or use fireworks except a few of the tamer ones like sparklers. Everyone drove to Ohio (Only a half-hour drive from Ft. Wayne) to buy them. All along the state line, there were massive fireworks stores right on the other side of the border. Of course, everyone brought them back to Indiana to use.

Later Indiana allowed selling fireworks but buyers had to sign a form saying they understood that actually USING them here was illegal and pledging them to take the stuff out of state to use. No one did. Finally, they legalized them.