A photograph of a 4th of July parade float, year unknown, at Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The float was sponsored by Lykens Supply Company, which was located at the corner of 2nd and Pine Streets, Lykens, owned by Cornelius E. “Cornie” Rettinger.
Note that there are two men in the middle of the float, both dressed as women, and one in “black-face.” This was part of the so-called “minstrel” tradition that took root in many of the Lykens Valley communities in the 19th century and continued through the 20th century. Although the group had long abandoned the “blackface” routines, a minstrel organization existed in Lykens, putting on annual shows until about ten years ago, when it finally disbanded.
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Photo provided by Debby Rabold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from a family collection.
This may have been part of the 1913 Diamond Jubilee parade. My grandmother’s father Walter Bowman is shown second from left on the float. I have no idea what he was supposed to be.