The Daily Star
For nearly a century in
Otsego County, the place to
be on Independence Day
has been the town of
Springfield, home to the
area’s largest parade.
This year should be no
exception, according to
Maureen Culbert, who
heads the parade’s publicity
committee.
``This will be our 95th
year,’’ she said.
And if the weather cooperates,
a good time will be
had by all.
Nearly every year, thousands
of people turn out in
this town of about 1,400
residents to see and hear
military veterans, school
bands, local dignitaries and
others march down state
Route 80 on the nation’s
birthday.
``People go to celebrate
the Fourth and meet friends
they haven’t seen in a long
time,’’ said Keith McCarty,
former highway superintendent,
who represents
the town on the Otsego
County Board of Representatives.
``I never miss it. I meet
people I haven’t seen in 30
years,’’ he said. ``A lot of
them come back to the area
in the summer, and they
know that’s where everyone’s
going to be.’’
The parade starts at 11
a.m.
After the marching ends,
friends and neighbors will
share a chicken barbecue
on the grounds of the
Springfield Community
Center.
``It’s big while it’s going
on, but if you got there a
few hours late, you might
not even know there’d been
a crowd,’’ said McCarty.
Every year, a town resident
is honored as the parade’s
grand marshal. In
2008, Irene Fassett served
in this position, and next
Saturday it will be David
Smith, said Culbert.
Announcing the parade
as floats and contingents
pass the reviewing stand
will be Maureen’s husband,
Fred Culbert, whose voice
has become a tradition.
``I’ve been doing it since
’91 or ’92,’’ Culbert said Friday.
He was called into service
by Jeannette Smith,
former town clerk, when
the late Tom Goodyear was
not feeling up to par and
asked for a substitute announcer.
Culbert was in good
voice, and Goodyear, a driving
force behind the town’s
Glimmerglass Opera, asked
him to stay on.
When the first July
Fourth parade queued up
in Springfield in about
1914, the United States
was still at peace, but an
assassination had already
triggered World War I, ``the
war to end all wars.’’ Horses,
buggies and trains were
the preferred modes of
travel, money was backed
by gold and Woodrow Wilson
was president.
Nearly a century later,
in a world of virtual reality,
smart screens and nanotechnology,
some things
have changed beyond recognition,
but the parade
and picnic in Springfield
are still going strong.
McCarty said the secret
to the parade’s longevity
may be it’s simplicity in an
age of extravaganzas.
``The parade is big, but it
has that small-town feeling,’’
he said.
inactive
July 3, 2009
Springfield tradition continues on July 4
- inactive
-
- Olympic rower launches program A two-time Olympic rower and head coach of Cooperstown Crew will be starting a new indoor rowing program in partnership with the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club.
- Autism walk to be held Saturday at Glimmerglass State Park Cooperstown will be among five sites kicking off Autism Awareness Month this Saturday.
- Shooting leaves residents dismayed Village residents are expressing shock about Friday’s shooting incident and are eager to reach an understanding of why it happened in a small, close-knit community like Cooperstown.
- Earth Festival is Saturday at MCS The Earth Festival, now in its fifth year, is an environmentally focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, workshops, vendors, food and entertainment, all with a fun, earthfriendly twist.
- Booan takes the helm as new C’town leader Joe Booan was sworn in at noon Monday and later that evening set an aggressive agenda for the village during the board of trustees’ annual reorganizational meeting.
- Shooting leaves residents dismayed: New mayor’s statement After canceling a press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon, new Mayor Joe Booan made the following statement during the village’s reorganizational meeting Monday night concerning Friday’s shooting incident.
- Hage appointed village trustee Mayor Joe Booan appointed Charles Hage to the board of trustees to fill the vacancy created when he was elected mayor.
- CCS makes more cuts to lower tax levy Last-minute changes have been made to the Cooperstown Central School proposed 2010-11 budget.
- Cuts likely at CV-S Cherry Valley-Springfield Superintendent Robert Miller says he has been losing sleep during his time preparing for the 2010-11 school budget.
- Relay for Life has new name, location The countdown is on; there are only 50 more days until this year’s local Relay for Life cancer fundraiser.
- More inactive Headlines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
