The real story of Theodosia’s first (and almost last) fireworks show


Theodosia Marina Resort owner Bill Cook remembers Theodosia’s first public fireworks display, 1980-81.

Reprinted from the June 27, 2012 edition of the Times.

I will start by saying that the story I’m about to tell you will not use [many] names, and the reason is to protect all of us. This is a story of how Theodosia got its start with a fireworks show over the water and just how close we came to a one-year-only event.

Many years ago when Fort Cook was new (mid-1970s), Nadine thought it would be a good thing to set off a few fireworks for our kids, and we would do it on the new tennis courts so the guests’ kids could enjoy them too. In the beginning, we bought small, safe firecrackers, which worked great for a few years. But as the kids got older and Fort Cook’s numbers grew, more people got involved, and it became obvious the location had to be changed. The tennis courts were not the idea place as the fireworks got bigger. 

We tried options but felt sure somebody was going to get hurt. That’s when Bob Matiska came to Nadine and Jan Bajner, who worked with Nadine at Fort Cook, and told them about a guest at the resort (he and wife Jenny owned Lone Pine Resort) who was in the fireworks business. Bob told how each year the guest would bring a few commercial-type fireworks, the kind that required a mortar tube to be fired. They would gather on their lawn and set them off. 

He talked to his guest about buying a small amount to see if we could start a small fireworks show in Theodosia. 

But where would it be safe and also provide good visibility? 

After much discussion, it was decided the best place was on the bluff across the lake [from the campground and Fort Cook]. 

Now the only problem was to find someone who would let us use their land. Bob Ashley had the perfect location, and he agreed to let the new Theodosia Chamber (now in charge) use his land. The first thing to do was collect money because these fireworks were expensive, but we were able to borrow the mortar tubes for the first year. This was in 1980 or 81, and we were able to collect somewhere around $500. 

We made our purchase and were ready for our first fireworks show over the water. On the day of our first show, some employees and volunteers moved the fireworks and the mortar tubes to the location below Bob Ashley’s home, and shortly after noon they started digging the holes for the tubes.

What you have to understand is this was July, and it was hot and dry. The digging was hard, dry work, so sometime in mid-afternoon it was decided some cold beer would help. By evening the job required more beer. All this time those of us who collected the money and came up with the idea were unaware of just how big a job it was or how much beer was required to complete it. We were busy telling everybody about our big show. 

By dark the crowd had gathered on land and water. Those of us on the marina side did our part, and all was ready. But we had no contact with our crew, so it was just a matter of waiting until the show started. The first shot of the first-ever fireworks show was fired, and the crowd was ready for more. 

That was when we heard a loud rumble and then, a split second later, there was total confusion as one large explosion occurred. And with that, our first-ever fireworks show over the water was over. 

Our crew had set off the entire stockpile of fireworks. We were lucky nobody was hurt.

 

P.S. Red Coons, then the fire chief of the Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department, took over operations, and the next year the show went off without a problem. I’m sorry to report that Red died last week on June 20 (2012).

By Bill Cook, owner

Theodosia Marine Resort

 

Reprinted from the June 27, 2012 edition of the Times.

 

I will start by saying that the story I’m about to tell you will not use [many] names, and the reason is to protect all of us. This is a story of how Theodosia got its start with a fireworks show over the water and just how close we came to a one-year-only event.

Many years ago when Fort Cook was new (mid-1970s), Nadine thought it would be a good thing to set off a few fireworks for our kids, and we would do it on the new tennis courts so the guests’ kids could enjoy them too. In the beginning, we bought small, safe firecrackers, which worked great for a few years. But as the kids got older and Fort Cook’s numbers grew, more people got involved, and it became obvious the location had to be changed. The tennis courts were not the idea place as the fireworks got bigger. 

We tried options but felt sure somebody was going to get hurt. That’s when Bob Matiska came to Nadine and Jan Bajner, who worked with Nadine at Fort Cook, and told them about a guest at the resort (he and wife Jenny owned Lone Pine Resort) who was in the fireworks business. Bob told how each year the guest would bring a few commercial-type fireworks, the kind that required a mortar tube to be fired. They would gather on their lawn and set them off. 

He talked to his guest about buying a small amount to see if we could start a small fireworks show in Theodosia. 

But where would it be safe and also provide good visibility? 

After much discussion, it was decided the best place was on the bluff across the lake [from the campground and Fort Cook]. 

Ozark County Times

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