Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-07-07
THOUSANDS DRAWN
TO CELEBRATION
First Observance of Fourth Here
in Several Years
Childrens Parade Beautiful Spectacle
Followed by Vaudeville at Island Park
and Fireworks at Night.

TO watch the children's parade, which
was the biggest and unqucstionaby the
most interesting feature of the Fourth
of July celebration in Bratteboro. Large
crowds also witnessed sports on Island
Park in the afternoon and the pageantry
of fireworks in the evening.
Weather conditions, however, were
not ideal, for the sun shone only at in
tervals, while ut other intervals from
early morning until late at night rain
fell in small quantities.
A brief shower in the morning, how
ever did not interfere with the parade,
which started from the common shortly
after o o'clock and in which hundreds OF
children took part. The line of march
was down Linden and Main streets, out
Elliot street to the Princess theater,
thence back to Main street and then to
the plaza, where ribbon prizes were
awarded
The parade and fireworks were under
the management of Brattleboro Commun-
ity Service, Frederic X. Brown director.
while the afternoon events were put on
by Manager T.. j. Fenton of Island
Park. They worked in conjunction with
each other and the result was very sat
isfactory. This was the first public
Fourth of July celebration in Brattle-
boro in a long time, and while there
were one or two spots which did not
effect was pleasing and the experience
showed where to make improvements
next time. 1t is estimated that 0,OOO
persons saw the children's parade. Ger
tainly the streets never were so crowded
with persons and automobiles on any
previous Independence day celebration
Shortly after 9 o'clock the children
were given their positions in the parade
which was headed by the Brattleboro
Military band with Fred II. Harris as
marshal. and it was but few minutes
more before the order was given to start
The band was followed by a boy on a
in which were ROSTERS, ducks, baby tur-
their prettiy decorated doll carriages
children's decorated express wagons,
group representing the Oak Grove ave.
nue. school, a group of children dressed
as farmers, japanese costumed chlldren
more express carts, group OF sailors
leading the junior Red Cross group. OF
girls, all of whom were dressed in white
and wore Red Cross caps. They car
red above their heads large red crepe
paper cross, which was laid horizontally
Next were several horriblcs in varying
costumes, group of boys and girls as
Indians, "frecracker', clipped collie
dog in cage to represent a lion, the cage
bearing the words ''the king of beasts :;
it never reigns but it paws: A large
number of the girls from Miss Grace
Holbrooks Green Mountain camp in
West Dummerston were in the line in
their khaki uniforms Charlie Chaplin
and his wife also were represented.
Perhaps the greatest variety IN any
group was that of the Windham County
Farm Bureau club boys and girls. All
the participants came from some OF the
county towns and brought with them
some of the things in which they were
most interested. There was sheep a
goat. calf, collie puppy and cage
Incl =
key, rabbit, guinea hen and dove:
The donkey which was at the head OF
tbe parade also belonged in the club
group. The members are specially to be
commended for the interest manifested
which necessitated several miles of travel
for each.
prominent in the line. The children man
Tested much interest in the parade, dec
Grating their doll carriages, tricycles, Dl
cycles or express carts prettlly, usin!
largely the red, white and blue in various
forms Some of the vehicles bore pla
cards. one of these reading "Ain't we go
fun. 1t was apparent that the chlldrei
were really having lot of fun.
Altogether it was one of the most In
teresting parades ever passing alon'
Main street. and none but pleasing com
ments were heard from the spectators
The Judges, however, had difficult tas
in deciding to whom the awards sho gu
he made and several times remarked ina
they would like to give ribbon to ever
boy and girl
roe which consisted of Mrs. Frank l.
Barber. chairman, Mrs. w. NJ. Rider
Mrs. A. w. George. Mrs. c.. >; Ham
ton. and Mrs Fred Wilder and Mrs. Jon
Atkinson of West Brattleboro.
Ribbon prizes We're awarded as 10
lows. blue for first, red for second an
white for third: Largest ana Des
marching group, Green Mountain cam
girls; best organization group, juno
FED Cross: second organization groul
sailor boys leading Red Cross; best on
Of-town group, Windham County FAR
Bureau club boys and girls most artist
crOup, Oak Grove school; unique groul
several West Brattleboro children. repir
scnting family second, Fred Coomb
Francis Coombs and Richard Hamllto
as farmers; best miscellaneous groul
children CARRIED as Indians; best dec
rated wagon and group, Raymond ski
ner. drawing Virginia Skinner in pin
and green decorated wagon, Merrill Ha
ris and Wendell HARDWOOD; second. Ere
Farwell drawing Marjorie Goddard
best decorated doll carriage, Theln
Field; ID, Harriet Newell; I'd, Ellie
Biorklund; most antique doll and ca
riage Keziah Hamilton; most antiq'
doll (67 years old, Edith Kent; best dc
in arms, Marion Graves; 3D. Dorotl
Graves most artistic small group, Robe
Haskell and Helene Sparks as Japanes
best decorated tricycle., Edith Kali al
Robert Straw; I'd, Morrison Rider al
Rowland Rider as twin clowns in o.
Grove school group; best decorated
cycle. Lawrence Shaw, with rabbit COZ
and baby rabbits; I'd, Charlotte Thorn
son: most popular pet, Sophie Latch
kitten in basket smallest pet, Frank a.
Merle Smith, rabbit in cage best dec
rated pet with wagon, Merrill Barbe
unique pet, Reginald Gale and HerbC
Post, with clipped collie dog to represe
lion; unique individual, William Br'
lin. as scarecrow I'd, tied Fred Tier
frecracker. and Evelyn Perry as frog.
The judges were Mrs. G. 5. HamiltC
Mrs NJ. Nj. Tucker, Mrs. John Atkins
of West Brattleboro, and O. B. Hugh
The water sports which We're to +
low the parade did not materiaize,
only event being canoe race with TIN
entries. 1t took place just north of
Connecticut river bridge and was won
Henry Lawton and Harold Lawren
Eugene McGarrigle and Merrill Goa
were second and George Daley and q
don Ulmer third. Many persons tC
occasion to INSPECT the new swimm