Looking for a gift for someone who loves Brattleboro? There’s a new book celebrating all the various types of parades that have marched through town.
“Brattleboro On Parade” by Kevin O’Connor, featuring photos from the Brattleboro Historical Society is now available at most bookstores in town and at the BHS offices on the third floor of the Municipal Center. It is hot off the presses.
The book looks deceiving – it is a small format of about 100 pages without much text but filled with photos. Each photo, of course, is worth a thousand words and that is where this book actually gets rather deep. You’ll find yourself returning over and over to study the details of each image, spotting new things and noticing people, please, and businesses that you may have forgotten.
The Marching Band in 1957 on Western Ave in the snow could have been marching there last week. The neighborhood hasn’t changed much. Brattleboro is fun that way. The downtown buildings haven’t changed much since the late 1800s, so old photos look familiar.
The book features every type of parade, from the early days of Valley Fair and firemen, to historical events such as World War II and the bicentennial of Vermont. There are the high school alumni parades, Strolling of the Heifers, Winter carnivals and more. The accompanying text is informative and light.
If you grew up here, you will recognize friends and family. If you are transplant, you’ll see that Brattleboro had a life before you arrived! In either case, you will have fun seeing the old traditions and looking at the people and stores that have come before.
I’m thrilled with this book. As you know, I’m a big fan of parades and have always been amazed at just how many circumstances in town called forth people to take up instruments, make banners, decorate floats, and march around in the streets. Kevin has done a great job collecting all of these various celebrations and occasions and putting them together.
I’m hoping this book encourages and inspires people to put real effort into future parades. Brattleboro has a reputation to keep up! (Who will make us a giant dragon this year?)
Printed locally at Howard Printing. Get yourself a copy, or buy one as a gift.
