Pictured above, Tom and Chuck Feldman stand in front of the long rows of fireworks they set up to be set off at the 2010 Bristol Homecoming. Samples of this year’s fireworks are pictured at top left and inset above. (Photos by Laurie Eads)

Every year since 1971 Bristol residents Chuck and Helen Feldman and their son, Tom, have been involved in planning and carrying out the fireworks display at the Bristol Homecoming. Tom was only 12 years old when he started helping out with the preparations.

The Feldmans took over the fireworks show after Bud Hermance ended his many years of performing this service, even making his own fireworks. The annual display is now launched from Hermance Park, which is named in honor of Bud.
From 1971 to 1985 the Feldmans worked with Frank Perry of Princess Fireworks in Mishawaka in putting on the annual July presentation. Since 1988 they have teamed up with Mike Cartolano, president of Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc. in Kingsbury, Indiana. (Website: www.melrosepyro.com.)

Tom says that Melrose is “an unbelievably great company,” which does 2,000 fireworks shows around the country each year. Working basically as contract employees of Melrose allows the Feldmans to be a part of the Homecoming fireworks without the hassles of licenses, permits, insurance, and other requirements that have come into being since they started almost 40 years ago.

Another thing that has changed is the manner of shooting off the fireworks. Instead of hands-on involvement in close proximity, the operators now use switches to ignite the fireworks electronically from 60 feet away. Several hours of loading and preparation are required for the 20-minute show.

In all their years of doing the Bristol fireworks, the Feldmans have only had one serious accident, when an explosion injured Bud’s leg, putting him in the hospital for three days. However, the next year he was right back on the job, not missing a Homecoming since then.

When not involved in their annual fireworks show, Chuck and Helen keep busy as owners and operators of Rainbo Lanes Bowling in Elkhart. Tom works for C & E Excavating. Tom has also helped Melrose Pyrotechnics with fireworks shows on New Year’s Day, and for the past nine years with the July 4 show at nearby Long Lake.

Both Chuck and Tom talk on occasion about retiring from their involvement with fireworks, but the allure and excitement keep drawing them back, just as their colorful shows do for so many spectators of all ages.