Fourth of July Program - 1907

Parade of Horribles

Published July 4, 1907 - The Townsman

Fourth of July Program 1907

Transcription

   THE TOWNSMAN PROGRAM For July 4th, 1907. 

8.30 A. M. 
   PARADE OF HORRIBLES 
      All who desire to take part in the 
      procession will meet at the Town Hall 
      promptly at the hour named. New 
      Ipswich Cornet Band will lead. Line of 
      March: Town Hall to Henry Royce 
      place and countermarch. A prize of 
      $3.00 will be given for the most 
      horrible rig A prize of $2.00 for the 
      most horrible horrible.

10.00 A. М. 
   CIVIC PARADE 
      The parade will start from Town Hall; 
      it will consist of Town Organizations, 
      Fire Companies, Floats, Children's 
      Brigade and Advertising Wagons of 
      Business Houses. Opportunity will be 
      given all visitors to join in the parade. 
      A prize of $5.00 will be awarded to 
       the best float 

11.00 A. M. 
   FIRE COMPANIES 
      will have a test on Main Street 

12.00 to 2.00PM 
   DINNER-BASKET PICNIC 
      There will be opportunity to 
       purchase Dinner and Lunch in town. 

2.00 P. M. 
   FIELD SPORTS. 
      Tugs of War - Obstacle Race. 
      75 Yard Dash - Sack Race 
      Relay 

      Badges will be given for prizes: 
      1st Blue. 2nd Red. 3rd Yellow. 
       Judges: A. A. Woodward, A. C. 
       Chase, W. H. Wilson. 

3.00 P. M.. 
    BASE BALL. 
       Married Men vs. Single Men. 

5.00 P. M. 
   BAND CONCERT 

8.00 P. M. 
   FIREWORKS 
      A good assortment has been 
      purchased. 

8.00 P. M to 1.00 A. M. 
   DANCE-TOWN HALL 
      Wright's Orchestra, 7 pieces 
      Admission 25 cents. 
      Refreshments served.

Parade of Horribles (Wikipedia entry)

The phrase parade of horribles originally referred to a literal parade of people wearing comic and grotesque costumes, rather like the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. It was a traditional feature of Fourth of July parades in parts of the United States in the 19th century, and "Horribles Parades" continue to be part of the Independence Day celebration in several New England in communities like Gloucester, Massachusetts.^[1] A 1926 newspaper article about July the Fourth celebrations in the White Mountains of New Hampshire notes:

Old-time celebrations are to be held tomorrow at Littleton, Lancaster, Colebrook, and Conway, with all the usual features of street parades of horribles and grotesques, brass bands, decorated automobiles and vehicles, exhibitions by fire departments, basket picnics in convenient groves...^[2]

Founded in 1926, the Ancient and Horribles Parade in Chepachet, Rhode Island continues this tradition.

Other rural New England towns, such as Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and Mendon, Massachusetts, still hold annual Horribles Parades.^[3]

Obtundia Relief

The Thayer family donated some early medicines to the Society. Among the donations was a brochure for these helpful items.

James Roger diary entry

December 28, 1908 (Monday)

Frost 6 degrees, growing colder wind west.  David choring round in forenoon as Pete stubbed his foot in the woods on Saturday and is still too lame.  Daniel and him went to Greenville in afternoon and bought several things at Hartshorn’s sale. Got letter from Hamish today who has not got his grip yet.  Also paper from Scotland.