From the Archives: Fireworks Permits

Nothing compares to the spectacle of fireworks on the Fourth of July. However, for all of their grandeur, they can be quite dangerous. In 1931, the city of Springfield went to great lengths to limit the use of fireworks on the Fourth of July, requiring prospective pyromaniacs to purchase a permit for $10 (over $200 in 2026) and for firefighters and police officers to be present for any fireworks displays. Learn more in the following article from the June 4, 1991 issue of the Springfield Leader:

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Require $10 Permit to Shoot Fireworks

Warning was issued today by Police Chief Ed Waddle that no one may observe the Fourth of July with fireworks here without paying $10 for a permit, and that holders of such permits will be allowed to shoot fireworks on July 4 only.

Waddle pointed out that the permits must be obtained from the commissioner of revenue. They require that a city fireman and policeman be on hand for the display so that a fire hazard may not be created.

From left, Danny Rice, Bud Van Hook, and Robert Appleby clutch fireworks on July 4, 1961. It appears that some of the restrictions on fireworks had been lifted since 1931. From the Springfield News-Leader Collection, Springfield-Greene County Library.

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Note

This blog article was originally published June 28, 2024 by Renee Glass. It was republished with edits June 26, 2026 by Brandon Broughton.

Resources

• "Require $10 Permit to Shoot Fireworks." The Springfield Leader, 4 June 1931.