As the time for the Fourth of July parade drew near last Thursday morning, townspeople gathered along the Common. At first, people clumped in the few shady spots. By the time the parade began, however, spectators lined Massachusetts Avenue from Town Hall to Hildreth Elementary School, despite temperatures rising toward 90 degrees.
Among the first to arrive were the bike decorators. Children of all ages gathered on the Common at 10 a.m. to display their festive bikes, trikes, and even a scooter or two.
The parade itself began promptly at 11 a.m. Harvard Police cars led the way, followed by the color guard of veterans Thomas Callahan, Don Green, and Nelson Northern, with Commander Stephen Dakin, who is still on active duty. Grand Marshal Arline Marteney came soon after, waving from a convertible. Frank Coolidge and Larry Finnegan—as Harvard Conservation Trust founders, named Harvard’s “citizens of note” at last April’s Town Meeting—were likewise honored with a convertible ride.
“Do it again”
An impressive array of antique automobiles paraded past. A clear favorite was the Stanley Steamer, which let out a burst of steam and a whistle that made everyone nearby, including the dogs, jump. But quickly the crowd began to chant, “Do it again!” And owner David Nergaard of Littleton did just that.
Donald Spinney of Boxborough, who has been in every Harvard Fourth of July parade since 1969, drove his 1925 Model T roadster, while his grandson Bradley Spinney, also of Boxborough, drove a 1916 Model T touring car. The Tin Lizzies delighted the crowd with their “oogah” horns.
The heat of the day was hard on cars as well as spectators. The younger Spinney’s car stalled at one point, giving the audience a rare opportunity to see how cars were once started with hand cranks. Jack Spero’s 1936 blue Ford coupe had some heat problems as well, but Spero kept it moving.
A 1930 Packard, a Studebaker Golden Hawk from the late 1950s, a classic Ford Mustang, an old VW beetle, and many more added to the colorful procession, along with Donna Conklin’s very well-mannered horse and the Snowmobile Club’s trail grooming machine.
Scrambling for candy
Whenever there was a gap in the procession, children scrambled out to pick up handfuls of candy that parade participants tossed to them. The Nashoba Valley Concert Band provided music from the flatbed truck belonging to Moore’s Lumber. Carlson Orchard’s tractors pulled floats depicting a “Picnic on the Farm” and the peach festival. Hazel Realty’s float had a country-western theme, complete with music. And the Harvard Academy of Dance wowed spectators as their two lead marchers, Patrice Mitchell and Katie Seavy Walker, did cartwheels without ever dropping the banner they carried between them.
The hard-working Bare Hill Pond staff and lifeguards followed with a float titled “Steel Justice” and featuring foil-clad robots, perhaps designed to signify their “steely” determination to enforce safety rules at the beach this summer. The water theme continued with the Bare Hill Rowing float carried by the members of the Harvard-Acton-Boxborough crew team.
Harvard’s fire brigade, along with the ambulance and the forestry truck, provided a thrilling and deafening conclusion to the parade as they rolled through town center with sirens ablare. Children (and some adults) clapped their hands over their ears, while others simply clapped–in appreciation of another Fourth of July parade well done.
