Odebolt's 75th Parade

 Thanks to Deb Reinhart for this photo of a parade back in the day. It is believed to be taken in very early 1950s and could be of Odebolt's 75th Birthday celebration in August of 1952. Although many of the cars appear to be older then the 1950s, not everyone had new cars!

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thursday, August 14, 1952, page 1
BIG PARADE HERE TUESDAY DRAWS 4,000
Seventy-One Major Entries Compete For Prizes In Local Fair's Largest Show

Approximately 4,000 people were on hand at 6:30 Tuesday night [August 12th] to watch the largest and most interesting parade in the history of the Community Fair. Crowds line the parade route from Fifth street through the center of town and part of the way back to the assembly area near the park.

This year's parade, considerably larger than in former years, consisted of 71 major entries in addition to dozens of children's entries and the local Saddle club which entered as a group. Many organizations and business houses entered large decorative floats along with numerous commercial displays.

The parade was led by a large group of residents of Odebolt who have lived here for 75 years or more, in observance of the town's 75th anniversary. The old-time residents rode at the front of the parade in open convertibles and received a nice hand from the thousands along the parade route. Those in the 75-year group were Mrs. Charles Smith, Mrs. W. Shaw, Mrs. Charles Kistler, Mrs. Frank Searight, L.L. Goreham, E.E. Goreham, A.S.Teaquist, John Gonnerman, Henry Buehler and Will Raasch.

Grand Prize for parade entries went to Iversen's square Dance kids who appeared in an old-time barn dance on the largest portable dance floor ever to enter a parade. The float, pulled by a large truck tractor, consisted of a dance floor complete with about 40 dancers, musicians, spectators and square dance caller.

(list of various categories of winners)