Clarksville parade brings out community

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Brady Haycraft skates his way down Eastern Boulevard in the Clarksville Parade Monday afternoon. The parade was sponsored by the Town of Clarksville and the Eastern Boulevard Business Association. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Mary Eddings, left, and Vada Leavitt enjoy the Clarksville Parade as it rolls down Eastern Boulevard Monday afternoon. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
The Clarksville High School marching band led the Clarksville Parade Monday afternoon. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts carry the American flag down Eastern Boulevard Monday in the Clarksville Parade. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

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September 3, 2012

Clarksville parade brings out community

Town residents spend labor day with first parade in three decades

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newandtribune.com The News and Tribune Mon Sep 03, 2012, 08:20 PM EDT

CLARKSVILLE — Gray skies and bouts of rain didn’t stop people from enjoying the first parade in Clarksville in nearly 30 years Monday.

Sponsored by the Eastern Boulevard Business Association, the parade began at the Value City parking lot and proceeded to Triangle Drive.

The colorful floats in the high-spirited procession included representation by local businesses, candidates vying for upcoming elections and the downright peculiar out for a bit of fun.

The Tri-County Hoosier Hillbillies traded jokes and laughter as they sat on their float made from an old pickup truck pulling a wooden-bed trailer carrying an outhouse pieced together by gnarly wooden planks. The old-style, country getup was topped off by a clothesline where oversized undergarments hung in the wind.

“We want to get out here and show people what we do and have fun,” the organization’s president, Jim Slack, said.

The group works throughout the year raising money to fund a service that takes children to and from their appointments at Shriners Hospital in Louisville.

Preparing for the start of the parade, the group of Hoosier Hillbillies loudly played from speakers on their float bluegrass music that was enjoyed by other parade participants.

Slack and the other “hillbillies” dressed the part, too, wearing fun outfits of overalls, muumuus and wide-brim hats.

“It is a good thing,” Slack said of the community parade. “They need to build it up and have it every year.”

Slack said a group of senior citizens from Riverview Village were some of the Hoosier Hillbillies’ biggest fans who had stopped by their float earlier in the day.

“They really enjoyed us,” he said. “The were laughing and having a ball. We cut up with them pretty good.”

Another eye-catching participant in the parade was that of the Vintage Fire Museum and Safety Education Center, of New Albany.

Jack Monohan and Curt Peters sat atop a 1937 Ahrens Fox fire engine. The men said they are grateful that Clarksville leaders organized the parade for them to promote the museum.

Monohan said old fire engines are always a parade favorite.

“It is always positive with a fire truck,” he said. “You could have a parade all by yourself.”

Monohan said the antiquated trucks are a surefire way to get the attention of a parade’s youngest patrons.

“Kids just love fire trucks,” he said.

Members of the Clarksville Historical Society offered another source of education in the day of fun.

The group’s float was manned by men dressed in handmade clothing popular in early 19th century.

“We want to remind people of the history of Clarksville,” historical society member Don McDonough said.

He said the organization wanted to take part in the parade to help kids understand the roles played by explorers George Rogers Clark and Meriweather Lewis in Clarksville as they discovered the Northwest Passage.

The historic-themed float included a smaller-scale version of the cabin built by Clark in 1803 that overlooked what would become the town of Clarksville.

Other participants in the parade included youth league athletic teams, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

The parade also gave community members the opportunity to see many area candidates running for office.

Individual candidates had their own float as well as the Clark County Democrats, Clark County Republicans, Clark County Libertarians and Tea Party of Clark County.

Parade organizer Cary Stemle, of Clarksville, said the event was the result of eight months of planning.

Stemle said the event was a natural next step following the redevelopment of Eastern Boulevard that took place two years ago when new sidewalks and street lights were added and road improvements were made.

Stemle said a big benefit of the parade is that it provides the people of Clarksville something to call their own.

He said surrounding towns and cities have their own celebrations and it was time to fill the void for the people who call Clarksville home.

“People in Clarksville have pride, too,” Stemle said.

He said the parade also has the bonus of getting town residents and visitors from surrounding communities to visit Eastern Boulevard and to see what the once major roadway has to offer.

Stemle said the Clarksville Town Board was very supportive of the event and that the town’s departments including police, fire, parks and recreation and street department all came together to make the parade possible.

Stemle said he was blown away by the turnout of the participants and the patrons.

“Absolutely it was a success,” Stemle said. “Given the uncertainty of the weather, I put an exclamation on that.”

Stemle said he would not only like the parade to become an annual event, but to grow into an all-day festival with food vendors and music.

“I am hoping the parade fosters connections in Clarksville that we can build on,” he said. “I think we will do it again. We have full intention of planning year two.”

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Clarksville parade brings out community

Town residents spend labor day with first parade in three decades

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