Two newspaper photographs of the Tremont Firemen’s Parade, as they appeared in the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald, Tremont, July 13, 1951.
Photo caption (above):
Hosts to over 1,000 visiting firemen last Saturday, members of the Tremont Fire Company, No. 1 led off the huge Firemen’s Parade that was one of the feature attractions of the last day of the Tremont Homecoming Week celebration. The parade was one of the biggest ever held in Tremont, requiring 30 minutes to pass the reviewing stand. Over $500 was given away in prizes to the visiting fire companies and bands.
Photo caption:
Prior to the beginning of the Firemen’s Parade on the final day of the Tremont Homecoming Week, celebration, the Tremont Fire Company truck was shined up and decorated for the parade. The “Welcome Firemen” sign was hanging over the doorway of the local fire house. Harry Long is in the driver’s seat of the truck. Over a thousand visiting firemen were entertained at the firehouse after the parade.
An accompanying article described the parade and named the participants and prize winners.
CROWD’S IN TOWN FOR BIG FIREMEN’S PARADE
Clear weather and a record registration of county fire companies were combined Saturday evening to give Tremont Homecoming visitors one of the finest firemen’s parades ever held in Tremont. The affair was sponsored by Tremont Fire Company No. 1.
The parade climaxed a week of gala homecoming celebration and saw a total of $545 in cash prizes awarded to 19 units which took part in the event. It is estimated that more than a thousand people took part, and about 10,000 persons crowded the sidewalks to view the colorful spectacle.
With a cool breeze blowing, spectators began to line the parade roiute at 5 p.m., and as each unit passed, hometown rooters applauded their favorites.
Rev. F. L. Hemmig, Ray D. Leidich, and Ralph M. Bashore, the judges, reviewed the marching units from the roof of the W. E. Minnig store, an ideal vantage point. The parade passed the judges twice.
Taking only a short time to reach their decision, the judges announced the winners shortly before 8 p.m. Cash awards were given out later at TCO Headquarters.
- Largest uniformed company with band, $75, Tower City Fire Company.
- Second largest uniformed company with band, $25, Liberty Hose Company, Lykens.
- Largest uniformed company without band, $50, West End Hose Company No. 7, Pottsville.
- Best appearing uniformed company, $50, Valley View Fire Company.
- Second best appearing uniformed company, $20, Yorkville Hose and Fire Company, Pottsville.
- Company coming furthers distance, $25, Wiconisco Fire Company.
- Best appearing apparatus in parade, $30, Rainbow Hose Company of Schuylkill Haven.
- Apparatus coming furthest distance, $30, Frackville Hose Company.
- Oldest apparatus in parade, $15, Citizens’ Fire Company of Branchdale.
- Judges awards $25 each to: Frank Brumm Drum and Bugle Corps, Minersville; Williamstown Military Band; Good Will Fife and Drum Corps, Pottsville.
- Judges awards, $15 each: Minersville Mountaineers and Drum Corps; Keystone Fire Company, Rehrersburg; Cressona Fire Company, No. 1.
- Judges awards, $10 each, to: Muir Vplunteer Fire Company No. 1; Sheridan Fire Company, Reinerton; Forrestville Citizens Fire Company No. 1; Community Fire Company of Suedberg; Ravine Fire Company, of Ravine; North End Fire Company, of Pine Grove.
- Judges award, $5 to Nancy Yoder, of Progress, Pennsylvania, the baton twirler.
Taking part in the parade were:
- Tremont Band;
- Tremont Fire Company;
- West End Fire Company, Pottsville;
- Liberty Hose Fire Company and Band, Lykens;
- Westwood Coal Company Float;
- Tower City Band;
- Tower City Fire Company;
- Ravine Fire Company;
- Nash Cars;
- Valley View Band;
- Valley View Fire Company;
- American Hose Company, Pottsville;
- Good Will Fife and Drum Corps, Pottsville;
- Minersville Mountaineers and Drum Corps;
- Ruppert’s Cars;
- Wiconisco Fire Company Band and Auxiliary;
- Williamstown Military Band; Pine Grove Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No.1;
- Hudson Cars.
Also included in the parade were trucks representing the following companies:
- Tremont Fire Company No. 1;
- American Hose Company, Pottsville;
- Muir Volunteer Fire Company No. 1;
- West End Fire Company No. 3, Porter Township;
- Reinerton Fire Company;
- Keystone Fire Company, Rehrsburg;
- Citizens Fire Company, Branchdale;
- West End Fire Company Nol 7, Pottsville;
- Cressona Fire Company No. 1;
- Citizens Fire Company No. 1, Pottsville;
- Pine Grove Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1;
- Rainbow Hose Company No. 1, Schuylkill Haven, two trucks;
- Community Fire Company, Suedburg;
- Yorkville Hose Company, Pottsville;
- Ravine Fire Company;
- Good Will Hose Company No. 1, Frackville;
- North End Fire Company;
- Mountaineer Fire Company.
_________________________________________
Note: If there are better copies available of the photos, they can be posted here.
News article and photos from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.