A Flag-Waving Good TimeBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Monday, July 04, 2005
 | | Williamstown's July 4 parade was flush with kids, kazoos, and American flags. |
Williamstown – It’s not uniformed marching bands, huge floats or a slick media blitz that draw onlookers to this town’s Fourth of July parade.
But it could be the number of smiling children who march while waving their hand-held American flags, the gloriously decked-out horses that prance along the pavement carrying proud riders, the good-for-a-chuckle sight of the traditional “pooper-scooper†tractor, or perhaps, the Images Cinema Precision Kazoo Marching Band.
The 10 a.m. July 4 parade stepped off right on time from the Williamstown Elementary School. Marchers made their way south along Southworth Street, west along Main Street, and then south on Spring Street to Weston Field as spectators applauded and, with the easy camaraderie found in many small New England communities, called out to familiar folks who paraded beneath a crystal-blue sky.
On Southworth Street, Erin Egan and Janette Dudley stood on the tree-shaded sidewalk and watched as a color guard and town police cruiser announced the parade’s approach.
“The kids love it,†said Egan of the parade. “They are always excited about it.â€
“There’s such a sense of community about this parade,†said Dudley.
Parade anticipation was strong among the participants. Olivia Kipp, 9, explained her parade duties.
“I’m going to be carrying a banner,†she said.
Her brother William Kipp, 6, said he, too, would be part of the parade.
“I’m riding the float,†he said, and after being told that his picture would appear on an Internet website, became even more enthusiastic.
“And I can’t wait to be on the Internet.â€
"Sparky the Fire Dog" rode on a town fire engine. |
William was among the children perched on a Williamstown House of Local History float. The parade line-up included marchers from the Caretaker Farm, the Berkshire Dance Theatre, the Overland Reading Camp, the All-Sports Camp, the Images Cinema float and kazoo band, the town’s League of Women Voters, horses and riders from the Bonnie Lea Farm, and a town fire truck carrying “Sparky the Fire Dog.†A group pf hybrid vehicle owners drove the route and encouraged spectators to find independence by reducing foreign oil use.
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute brought some of their 50th anniversary spirit to the parade through volunteers who passed out balloons and cupcakes along the parade route.
Eli Ostheimer, who emphasized his age as “four-and-a-half,†was among the cupcake bearers, under the watchful eye of his mother. Eli described his parade adventures, which included a brief moment of separation from his mom, and announced that he thoroughly enjoyed giving cupcakes to spectators.
“I liked it, it was fun and I want to do it again,†he said.
This year, the “pooper-scooper brigade†was the domain of
Lucas and Max Dupont were ready to ride an Images Cinema float. |
Richard “Dick†DeMayo and Tom Hazelton. DeMayo drove the small green tractor with space in the back; that space offered room for the “deposits†made by Hazelton, who cheerfully manned a shovel and cleared the streets of horse leavings.
From its’ first step to its’ last, the parade covered the route in about 45 minutes. Onlookers lingered along the streets and chatted with friends and neighbors.
Adly Templeton, 7, and Sabrina Templeton, 4, sat on a shaded bench after the parade and held firmly to their Clark Art balloons.
“We liked the parade,†Sabrina said.
“I liked the parade,†said Adly. “I liked the horses best.â€
The July 4 parade was revived as part of the town’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2003 through the efforts of a parade committee led by town resident Raymond Warner. Sandra Thomas and Leslie Reed-Evans served as co-chairwomen for this year’s event.
A multi-photograph Williamstown July 4 parade slideshow will be posted at www.iberkshires.com during the upcoming week.
Susan Bush can be reached at suebush123@adelphia.net or at 802-823-9367.
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