With July 4th just around the corner, let’s talk parades! The Museum is lucky to have some great images of Peabody parades going back to the late 1800s.
Peabody Square Parade, October 22nd, 1892 for Essex County celebration for Columbus Day.
The Salem Evening News, October 22, 1892
Parade preceding the “Topsfield” Fair, September 22, 1897 (then held in Peabody).
From June 14th to 16th, 1919, the City of Peabody formally welcomed home its servicemen following the end of the war. 500 servicemen paraded through the main streets of Peabody.
Film is courtesy of the Peabody Institute Library.
The Peabody Times, October 5, 1966
Peabody celebrated 50 years as a city on October 8th, 1966. According to The Peabody Times, “More than 150,000 people lined the four miles of the parade route and stayed for more than six hours to witness the program…At the height of the parade, Peabody square was a sea of humanity with about 5,000 in that section alone to see the more than 40 bands and 50 floats that made this the most unusual and spectacular parade in Essex County history.”
Image, “Golden Jubilee” Parade, Peabody Square, 1966; Courtesy of the Ray Wallman Collection.
Last, but not least, the Fourth of July Celebration in 1970 was filled with activities for everyone in the family!
These items were donated by Albert Cohen.
Do you have any photographs or home movies of Peabody parades? Do you have any memories from the “Golden Jubilee” or July 4th, 1970?
We’d love to hear from you!