My husband recently wished me a “happy Bum Walks Day,” reminding me that August 11, 1914 was the anniversary of the publication of my all-time favorite State Journal article, the city council meeting report in which Alderman Oscar McKinley accused Alderman McKale of having laid “a lot of ‘bum’ walk in the city.” It was McKinley’s accusation that McKale had “violated the ordinance, undoubtedly, and failed to put [his] name upon the walks” that led me to canonize McKinley as the patron saint of Capital City Sidewalks. It is his picture that currently serves as the banner image for the blog.

I like the idea of making “Bum Walks Day” the official holiday of the blog, but I want to choose the correct date. Since August 11, 1914 was a Tuesday, and the article refers to “Monday night’s session of the city council,” it seems somewhat ambiguous what the date of the Council meeting actually was. I tend to think it was August 10, though it seems odd to me not to write “yesterday” in that case. On the other hand, if it was a week ago from yesterday, wouldn’t it say “last week’s meeting”? Anyway, I’m going to tentatively set Bum Walks Day as August 10 unless I find information contradicting that.

How should one celebrate Bum Walks Day? My husband thinks it should be celebrated by pointing at sidewalks and declaring that someone’s name is not upon the walk. I was thinking it should be celebrated by casting disapproving looks at bum walks. Perhaps there are other celebratory traditions that will emerge organically over time.