Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Labor-Day-Parade-history

Full Text:

Labor Day Parade Started As A Little Late-Summer Diversion

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Thirty six years ago, during the month of May, a small group of residents

gathered at Dickinson Park to discuss ways to revive Newtown's community

spirit.

They considered putting on some sort of event for the Fourth of July, but

quickly scratched that idea once they realized they did not have enough time

to put it all together.

What about Labor Day, suggested one resident. We could have a Labor Day Parade

with a block party and other events that same weekend, she said. With four

months to prepare, the group went to work and on that sunny day in early

September 1962, Newtown put on its first-ever Labor Day Parade.

A Bee editorial said Labor Day in Newtown in 1962 will go down as a real

"red-letter day" and will be a harbinger of many similar Labor Day weekends.

"And here we are 36 years later," noted Kim Stendahl, who is busy organizing

her seventh straight Labor Day Parade.

These days, organizing Newtown's biggest community event is an especially

difficult task. Besides Kim Stendahl and Lisa Franze, there are only a handful

of others who take part in organizing the parade. Nevertheless, this year's

parade, with the theme "Newtown Celebrates the Flagpole," promises to be as

entertaining as ever.

Newtown Police Lt David Lydem, and Newtown's unofficial "keeper of the flag,"

is the parade marshal.

Because Newtown's Labor Day Parade is one of few in the state (most are held

on Memorial Day), some of Connecticut's most visible politicians are usually

on hand. And with this being an election year, they are already lining up,

according to Mrs Franze, who is in charge of the parade line of march.

"We are expecting a tremendous turnout of politicians," she noted.

Heading the list will be Gov John Rowland and Lt Gov Jodi Rell, US Rep Jim

Maloney (5th District) and his Republican challenger, Mark Nielsen. Also

expected to march are Julia Wasserman, Tom Ganim, John McKinney and others.

Republicans Ed Callo and Pat Shea are battling it out for their party's

nomination in the 112th state representative district. Both are expected to

march with a primary slated for September 15.

The parade committee is working with a budget of a little over $10,000, most

of which goes to pay certain bands, who charge a fee for travel expenses. The

remaining money is used to pay for trophies, printing, etc.

Once again, WRKI I-95 radio station will be broadcasting live along the parade

route.

This year's parade judges will be Joe Walsh, Nancy Kost, Kathy Jamison, Joan

Reynolds, Alice Walsh and Laura Lerman. Once again, master of ceremony duties

will be handled by Richard Coopersmith and Hank Gellert.

The parade still follows the same parade route followed back in 1962 --

starting at the top of Main Street (near Academy Lane), proceeding down Main

Street past the flagpole, up Glover Avenue, left on to Queen Street, and

ending at Church Hill Road.

Past Parade Marshals

Here is a list of past parade marshals:

1997 Ginny Lathrop

1996 Jim and Joan Crick

1995 Shirley Ferris

1994 Robert and Caroline Stokes

1993 Jim and Betty Lou Osborne

1992 Stu and Jean Smith

1991 The Men and Women of Desert Storm

1990 Merlin Fisk

1989 Marvi Fast

1988 Sarah Mannix

1987 Joseph Chase

1986 Sam and Arlene Eisenbach

1985 Harry and Ann Carey

1984 Art and Mary Scherer

1983 Gil and Ruth Collins

1982 Stan and Evelyn Verry

1981 Tom and Lilly Goosman

1980 Bill and Jane Honan

1979 Lee Davenson

1978 Bill and Irene Walker

1977 Dr Thomas Draper

1976 Mr and Mrs Edwin Storrs

1975 Herbert Cutler

1974 Mr and Mrs Richard Hibbard

1973 Mr and Mrs Paul Smith

1972 Arthur Bennett, Sr

1971 Chief Lee Glover

1970 Al Nichols

1969 Col Gilbert Teal

1968 Col Gilbert Teal

1967 Chiefs Lee Glover, Herb Lewis and James Cavanaugh

1966 Clifford Maddox

1965 Clifford Maddox

1964 Robert Reiner

1963 Lee Glover

1962 Lee Glover