Fourth of July Parade in Small Town America

Lattimore is a small town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, and each year the town has an old-fashioned Fourth of July parade.  I'm partial to this little town, because that is where I attended school for twelve years.  Back then I'm pretty sure they didn't have a parade on the Fourth, but for some time now this has been a tradition.

PJ waiting for parade.

I happened to be in Cleveland County this year for the Fourth, and my friend PJ and I found us a shady spot along Main Street to view the parade.  Folks began lining up along the parade route early in the morning anticipating the 9:00 am event.

This pretty little miss is decked out in patriotic colors.

The Fites waiting for the parade in front of The Depot restaurant.

Many folks from the older to the very young were decked out in patriotic colors.  It was great for "people watching" even before the parade began.

I love this hat.

The youth from Lattimore Baptist Church were selling biscuits along Main Street before the parade began, and I had my opportunity to have a livermush biscuit.  So good!!!!!

My livermush biscuit.

And then a little after nine along came the parade.  

Here comes the parade.

There was the color guard and then vehicles of all kinds--- vintage cars, lawn mowers, tractors---, people walking and those on horseback.

Huge tractor from the Greene Farms.  (Photo by Peggy Rhyne.)

Fire truck. (Photo from Lattimore Historical Society.)

Vintage car. (Photo from Lattimore Historical Society.)

What's a parade without horses?

After the parade folks gathered over at the ball field for food, games, and more celebration.

Ginger.in red, white and blue. (She was one of Martha Mason's caretakers)

Ann, Steve and grandaughter Caroline.

Libby with her grands.

Mrs. Cooper the grand marshal of the parade. (Photo from Lattimore Historical Society.)

This is the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Lattimore Street Festival

Venue for the Festival.

What fun I had at the Lattimore Street Festival yesterday.  The proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Lattimore Historical Society and will be used toward the construction of the proposed Historical Museum. There were lots of good baked goods, interesting items for bidding at the Silent Auction, an antique car show, food prepared by The Depot Cafe, and music by a great local band.  The organizers put forth a Herculean effort, and a good crowd attended, so I hope a lot of money was raised for this worthwhile cause.  It's always nostalgic to go back to Lattimore for a visit.  That's where I went to high school and where a lot of my friends from school still live.

Polly at the Bake Sale table.

Beanie Babies on the Silent Auction Table.

Jim's (a former classmate) painting  at Silent Auction.

Lined up to buy food prepared by the Depot  Cafe.

Bluegrass music by local band. 

Libby at the Silent Auction Checkout Table.

Kristin packing up her winnings from the Silent Auction.

Sunset, time to go home.

Lattimore Historical Society

When I was in Cleveland County recently I attended the annual meeting of the Lattimore Historical Society.  The meeting was held in the little restaurant in town, The Depot Cafe.

The Depot Cafe Menu.

 

 

Board members who have been working on building plans for the Lattimore Museum presented these plans and a preliminary cost estimate for the building.

Drawing of proposed Lattimore Museum, designed to be reminiscent of a train depot.

Fund raising is continuing, but it looks as if the Lattimore Museum is indeed within reach of becoming a reality. 

Folks at the annual meeting of the LHS.

The LHS Newsletter.

The newsletter for the Society is The Cotton Gin.  This is an apropos name because during the 1940s and 50s cotton was a major crop in Cleveland County, and there was a cotton gin in Lattimore.