Ambridge loved parades and used to have several every year for all sorts of reasons. But the Golden Jubilee's was the parade that outdid them all, the biggest parade Ambridge ever had. "A mammoth spectacle," said The Daily Citizen.
The parade was long in distance marched, about two miles. It started at 1st and Merchant Sts., traveled north through town on Merchant, up the 14th St. hill to Duss Ave., then turned left, ending at Anthony Wayne School at 21st St. and Lenz Ave. But the distance ended up being even longer for some marchers. Butch O'Keefe remembers marching in the parade as a cub scout, getting to the end of the parade, then after the group disbanded near 24th St., having to walk back to his home at 4th St. and Maplewood Avenue!
The parade was also long in the sheer number of marchers--150 "marching units" and 17 "musical organizations"--enough so it took two to three hours for the parade to pass a point along the route. That, plus the enormous crowd of an estimated 75,000 - 100,000 spectators, may have contributed to some of the bands arriving late, delaying the beginning of the parade some two hours after its scheduled start at 2:30 P.M.
Merchants along the parade route were irritated because the parade delay killed the anticipated big crowds during the final day of their Old Fashioned Bargain Days sales event. Traffic was a mess for miles. The July 4 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that traffic was backed up from Ambridge to Freedom, so five to six miles. And the parade was further delayed at times while lines of waiting traffic was allowed to cross Merchant at 8th St.*
The poor marchers in their full dress or heavy wool band uniforms! The heat and length of the parade caused some marchers to drop out along the parade route. Others passed out. At least 65 people, both marchers and spectators, reportedly were "overcome by the heat."
Here are some photos from the parade. Thanks to Maria Notarianni for sending me some of these from the Good Samaritan archives:
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| Golden Jubilee flag presentation Beaver Valley Times July 5, 1955 |
Original text:
FLAG PRESENTATION -- Mrs. Joseph Bucka, John Bauder, Ambridge Golden Jubilee chairman, and Walter Kasper, jubilee parade chairman, present the jubilee flag to Burgess Walter Panek. Mrs. Bucka made the flag, which was carried in the parade by Alvin (Mote) Bergman, long distance walker, who walked at the parade's head. The flag will be turned over to Lawrence Thurman, curator of Old Economy, who will place it in the Great House museum.Bergman had been scheduled to walk 50 miles circling Ambridge's business area before the parade, but I didn't find any confirmation that he did that.
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| Ambridge High School Band Golden Jubilee parade Beaver Valley Times July 5, 1955 |
Original text:
PASS IN REVIEW -- Ambridge High School Band passes the reviewing stand at the intersection of Sixth and Merchant Streets, Ambridge, during the Ambridge Golden Jubilee parade Saturday afternoon. Approximately 75,000 persons witnessed the spectacle. At least 65 watchers and parade participants passed out from the intense heat. The parade lasted three hours.
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| "Ambridge High Band with Leader" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Aliquippa High Band Color Guard" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Ambridge I.O.O.F. Float" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
Davy Crockett was a really popular character in the mid-50s thanks to Disney's Davy Crockett TV show, so it's no surprise that he made an appearance in the parade. But it's young Davy, since it looks like the boy in the front of the wagon is the one wearing Davy's trademark coonskin hat.
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| "Old Dobbin with Davy Crockett" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "George Washington Carver Band" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Fraternal Order of Eagles and '49ers Float" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| Pioneer Fife and Drum Corps Golden Jubilee parade Beaver Valley Times July 5, 1955 |
Original text:
FIFE AND DRUMMERS -- Members of the Pioneer Fife and Drum Corps, Pittsburgh, march past the reviewing stand in the Ambridge Golden Jubilee parade Saturday. Band members are nearly all over 65 years of age. Several of this group passed out from the heat. Survivors played a concert at the intersection of Fourth and Merchant Streets after the parade.
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| Old Economy float Golden Jubilee parade Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 4, 1955 |
Original text:
Float showing how the Harmonites lived at Old Economy, Ambridge's historical shrine, passes in review during the borough's Golden Jubilee parade on Saturday.
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| Clan Grant Scottish Kilt Bagpipe Band Golden Jubilee parade Beaver Valley Times July 5, 1955 |
Original text:
THE KILTIES ARE COMING -- Clan Grant Scottish Kilt Bagpipe Band, Donora, struts its stuff in the Ambridge Golden Jubilee parade Saturday. There were two kiltie bands in the parade. The other was the Clan Douglas Band of Turtle Creek.
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| "Scottish Kilt Band from Donora" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Italian Federation Societies Float" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Polish Army Veterans and Auxiliary" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Spang Chalfant Sponsored Float" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Ambridge Turners Float and Gymnasts" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "United Daily Company Float and Owner" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
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| "Thirty Ton Tank Gets Attention" Golden Jubilee parade Daily Citizen July 5, 1955 |
Although the parade may have been the highlight of the Golden Jubilee, it was not the final event. More to come on the "Frontiers of Freedom" historical pageant and the events that closed out the celebration including "All Nations" Day at Borough Park and the high school, plus the rather exciting mock battle in Borough Park on "Armed Forces" Day.
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* At the time of the parade, Ohio River Blvd., then part of Route 88, ended at 8th Street in Ambridge. Route 88 was once the primary route on the east side of the Ohio River from Pittsburgh through Beaver County. After Ohio River Blvd. ended at 8th St., Route 88 continued up the 8th St. hill, then north on Duss Ave. to Baden and northern Beaver County.
Must have been wonderful to be there and see this.
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