Published: June 10, 2008 05:10 pm      

The heat is on across Four Seasons Country, and it’s not even summer yet

Although temperatures are slowly moderating following a sweltering weekend, it’s still somewhat muggy outside. And it’s hard to believe we didn’t hit the 90 degree mark over the weekend.

While thermometers across the region — and in downtown Bluefield and Bluefield, Va. — registered readings well above 90 degrees during the past couple of days, the stubborn little thermometer at the Mercer County Airport refused to budge past the 88 degree mark. Maybe it needs a good kick or something. But that’s OK. We still have plenty of time to hit the magic 90 degree mark, and to set a few new lemonade records this summer.

Our blistering weekend comes on the heels of the record-breaking summer of 2007. For those who may have forgotten, free lemonade was served 18 times during the summer of 2007 — shattering the old record of 17 days of 90-degree heat previously set during the summer of 1988.

Can we break the new summer of 2007 record of 18 days of excessive heat during the summer of 2008? It’s possible — considering our record-breaking start. And the summer solstice doesn’t officially begin until Friday, June 20. Whether or not we can tie or break the record set during the summer of 2007, another record still looks to fall this summer.

It will only take three more servings of free lemonade in Bluefield to reach another milestone — 200 days of 90 degree heat since 1939 in Nature’s Air-Conditioned City. Since the timeworn tradition of serving free lemonade when the mercury climbs above 90 degrees began in 1939, the Lemonade Lassies have been on the streets of both Bluefields only 197 times. That’s pretty remarkable when considering that we are talking about a span of 69 years.

We should have a good shot at hitting the 200 serving landmark this summer. Although we may have to give the thermometer at the airport a good kick or something first to get it working correctly.

Many people from outside of the region may wonder what is so unusual about hitting 90 degrees, but Bluefield’s unique geography has helped to earn its nickname of Nature’s Air-Conditioned City.

According to the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, there have been 33 summers in Bluefield where the temperature did not reach 90 degrees. That’s a pretty unique accomplishment. Yes, we must rely upon the thermometer at the Mercer County Airport for the city’s official reading. And yes, some will argue that the thermometer at the airport isn’t the best way to gauge the temperature in downtown Bluefield. After all, the thermometer at the airport isn’t even located in Bluefield or Bluefield, Va. And yes, the thermometer clearly wasn’t working correctly this past weekend. How could it have not reached 90 degrees at the airport? However, the thermometer in question has been the city’s official lemonade gauge since 1939, and is likely to remain the official thermometer for many years to come.

It’s also important to remember that the local folks look forward to the free lemonade each year. It’s kind of a tradition in the two Bluefields. It’s also a source of great national attention for Bluefield. Each year when the lemonade flows in Bluefield and Bluefield, Va., stories will pop up in newspapers across the country about the unique promotion, and television meteorologists across the country will often make comments about free lemonade being served in Bluefield. In fact, the campaign has garnered Bluefield national exposure ever since its humble beginnings in 1939.

According to the chamber’s website, the popular tradition has endured over the years — even surviving lemon and sugar shortages during World War II, a strike by the Lemonade Lassies and controversy over what constitutes an actual lemonade day.

Hopefully, we won’t see another strike by the Lemonade Lassies anytime soon. However, we did run out of Lemonade Lassies last summer as the heat wave extended well into the late summer and early September. I remember at least one instance last summer where the Baby Birds had to step in and substitute for the Lemonade Lassies who had all returned to school and college.

While controversy may certainly linger over whether we should have an official thermometer in downtown Bluefield as opposed to the timeworn and at times unreliable mercury at the airport, the unique promotion continues to endure summer after summer.

Will we hit the magic 200 servings of free lemonade in Bluefield and Bluefield, Va. this summer? Can we even come close to topping the record shattering 18 days of heat from the scorching summer of 2007? Will we see another lemon and sugar shortage as a result of the national economic downturn?

Will high gas prices bring more people out this summer to enjoy free lemonade close to home?

These and more questions will only be answered in the coming days, weeks and months. The summer of 2008 is unofficially underway in the two Bluefields. Let the free lemonade flow.

Charles Owens is the Daily Telegraph’s city editor.

Contact him at cowens@bdtonline.com.