Parade on Commercial Street at State Street, Salem 1886 [Photo: Salem Public Library Historic Photo Coll.] April 4, 2019 Episode.
When we've spoken with our Yesterday's Voices guests, they all mention the many parades and community celebrations they enjoyed during their earlier life in Salem. What kiddo doesn't love a parade? But these folks remember participating in many celebrations even as adults. Let's look at a few of the events that so many guests mentioned as part of their stories.
When we've spoken with our Yesterday's Voices guests, they all mention the many parades and community celebrations they enjoyed during their earlier life in Salem. What kiddo doesn't love a parade? But these folks remember participating in many celebrations even as adults. Let's look at a few of the events that so many guests mentioned as part of their stories.
The circus coming to town was a more frequent occurrence than one might suspect. Each circus was heralded with a parade of performers and animals down the main streets of Salem. Both well known circus troupes like Barnam & Bailey and Sells-Floto, as well as many lesser known companies visited Salem. In 1915, Buffalo Bill came to town as pat of the Sells-Floto Circus--quite a big deal for the times. Many of our guests told about being hired for the day by the circus to do simple tasks, allowing them an up-close and personal experience. The photos below from the archives at Willamette Heritage Center chronicle these exciting event through the years.
 Early circus parade passing Capitol building [Photo:Willamette Heritage Center]  Circus Parade & Elephants, 1920 [Photo: Salem Public Library Online Coll.] |  Sells-Floto Circus Parade, 1915 [Photo: WHC 1998.002.0004]  Barnum & Bailey Shetland Ponies Carriage, Salem c1910 [Photo:WHC] |
Cherry Festival Parade, 1908 [Photo: Salem Public Library Online Collection] As the Cherry Capital of the World, Salem hosted many cherry-themed events: Cherry Fairs, Cherry Festivals, Cherryland Festivals. We've found photographs going back as early as 1908. These events were much anticipated annual events put on by various business groups until the Salem Cherrians officially took over in 1913. The last festival was in the late 1950's. The events often included a baby parade, a performing band, and a queen's coronation. You can learn more about the Cherrians and their festivities by checking out this previous blogpost.
 Cherry Festival Baby Parade, c1910 [Photo:Taylor Ward, Facebook] |  Cherry Festival, 1911 [Photo: SPL] |
One of the largest and most encompassing celebrations in Salem's history is that which marked its Centennial in August 1940. The booster organization was called the Wiskerinoes, and the planning spread over several months. It was a multiple day affair, including such events as a contest to choose the official slogan, "From Wilderness to Wonderland," beard-growing contests, period costume seminars, and commemorative editions of the local newspapers. The event culminated with a Pioneer Parade and a large dramatic presentation at the Fairgrounds. The call was put out for 2500 folks to participate in the pageant: 1000 children, 500 dancers, 500 singers, and 500 general characters including Indians, guides pioneers, ox drivers, riders and others. Special stages were constructed to showcase the drama; one scene planned would feature 750 dancers. After all, you only celebrate your Centennial once--go large or go home.
 Centennial Pagent Scene, August 1940 [Photo:Salem Public Library Historic Photo Coll.]  Folks in Period Costumes, Salem Centennial, August 1940 [Photo: SPL] |  Horse-drawn Fire Wagon, Salem Centennial 1940 [Photo: SPL]  Salem Centernnial Parade, August 1940 [Photo: SPL] |
We would be so amiss if we did not mention one of the longest-running community events in our region, the Keizer Days/Keizerfest/Iris Festival. Beginning with children's parades organized in the 1940s by mothers in the Manbrin Gardens neighborhood of Keizer, the festive tradition evolved into the multiple-day event we know as the Iris Festival or Keizerfest. The first Keizer Days Parade down River Road was organized by the Keizer Commercial Club in June 1950. Over the years, festivities were added to complement the parade, becoming the Keizerfest in 1980. The parade today brings more than 25,000 folks to Keizer each year, and celebrates Keizer as the Iris Capital of the world! The Keizer Heritage Museum provided the following photographs from their collections.
 Manbrin Gardens Children's Parade c1945. [Photo: Keizer Heritage Mus.]  Keizer Days Parade, June 24, 1950 [Photo: KHM] |  Keizer Days Parade, June 24, 1950 [Photo: KHM]  Keizer Days Parade, June 24, 1950 [Photo: KHM] |
| There are many more celebrations and parades in Salem's past: Memorial Day and Veteran's/Armistice Day parades, parades for the visits of President Theodore Roosevelt in May 1903 and President William Howard Taft in October 1911, parades by fraternal organizations like the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) parade in May 1908 and those sponsored by the Cherrians from 1913-1950. We enjoyed children's Christmas parades on Thanksgiving weekend which always ushered in Santa, and the nighttime Festival of Lights Holiday Parade from 1990-2010 (redesigned as the Keizer Holiday Lights Parade in 2015 where it is once again an annual event). We even had parades to celebrate Rainmaker Day on July 12, the only rainless day in our modern recorded history. Why don't we have parades like this anymore, you might ask? Costs to close streets and police the event, liability issues, and traffic congestion probably all play a part in their absence. Corporate sponsorships seem to be the key for ongoing success, but those, too, seemed to have been lost to time. |  Memorial Day Parade on Commercial Street 1904 [Photo SPL]  President Theodore Roosevelt visits Salem in May 1903 [Photo: WHC 1998.010.0055]  President William H. Taft visits Salem in October 1911 [WHC 0086.003.0012.013] |
Fond memories of the celebratory events in Salem's past, as well as real sorrow over the lack of such community-connecting events now, are repeatedly expressed by our Yesterday's Voices guests. Perhaps it is time to resurrect citywide events like these that strengthened the character of Salem and bonded its residents together. We would certainly benefit from such unity, and creating such strong memories for the youth of our area would certainly be another effective avenue for preserving and sharing Salem's historic legacy for future generations.
~~ Posted by Deb Meaghers
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