Fourth of July 'is a blast'
Dixon Hennick works at the FireworksSMT stand in Superior while visiting with friends Cameron, Tyler and Brittlynn. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
July 4 is an American favorite holiday, full of family gatherings, barbecue dinners, apple pie and fireworks, lots and lots of fireworks.
From firecrackers like Black Cats and M80s, smoke bombs, sparklers and spinners to fountains, firework cakes and artillery shells. All designed to shoot, sparkle and go “boom” at ground-shaking speeds, or with just a thin “pop” in the summer air.
In Superior, the place to stop and load up on this holiday splendor is “FireworksSMT,” stationed outside Durangos restaurant. There, 13-year-old Dixon Hennick is available to sell patrons everything they will need to make their holiday show a success. He explains the “Frogman Shells,” “Rock the House” cake fireworks, “Flawless,” “Majestic Night,” and “Cheap Thrills.”
The costs can range from $25 to more than $100 for one giant firework or there are also pre-packaged deals designed to take the guesswork out of what to buy to put on a show. “People sometimes spend $200 to $400 on fireworks,” Hennick said.
This is his second year of working for Andy and Tia Swank, who own the stand and live in Superior. Usually the busiest days are the second through the fourth, and sales this year have been good. A self-proclaimed “pyro,” Hennick said last year his entire paycheck went to buying fireworks. This year, he’s working more days and hopes to save some of his earning. But he still plans on spending a good portion of it is on the explosive delights that he’s been peddling since June 26, when the stand opened.
Selling alongside co-worker Tiffany Amberson, he goes through the shelves of bright packages and explains what each one does. Some friends stop by and talk about what they like and don’t like when selecting the optimum blast power.
“I like the Navy Seal firecrackers,” said Tyler, a 13-year-old fireworks enthusiast. “They are great for throwing and are the best deal.”
Ten-year-old Cameron was partial to the Swat Smoke, which creates a cloud of smoke for three minutes. “They are great for playing Army with,” he said.
Hennick also points out the Signal Flares for two dollars. “These are good for taking when you backpack because they shoot up a signal if you get lost or something, and they can scare bears,” he explained, making fireworks not only fun, but also practical.