![\"1940](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.archivingwheeling.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/scan0010-wm.jpg\")
<\/a>We thought this question, posed on Archiving Wheeling\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>, would be a difficult one to answer. But, thanks to a series of historic parade photographs from the Eddie Martin Collection at the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Archives, the mystery is solved.<\/p>\n The parade Martin photographed took place on Friday, November 22, 1940, before an estimated crowd of 100,000 people lined up along Main and Market.<\/p>\n But, although it had to be among the quirkiest, the 1940 version was, by no means, Wheeling\u2019s first parade.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the home to numerous fraternal and patriotic organizations, clubs, and groups from the early German singing societies to the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Pythias, and many others, Wheeling has always been a hard-parading town. Elaborate, decorative, ostentatious and often geographically extensive (one was calculated at more than six miles!) parades were organized to celebrate almost every occasion, from Christmas and other holidays, to German singing festivals, patriotism, \u201cAmericanism,\u201d anniversaries, grand openings, etc. In fact, a review of early newspaper accounts confirms that Wheelingites required very little excuse to stage a big, fat, loud parade at the drop of a bowler hat.<\/p>\n But newspaper accounts of the 1940 parade make it clear that the modern, annual, \u201cWheeling Christmas parade,\u201d as we know it, was first held in 1931, the 1940 version being the \u201ctenth annual parade\u201d organized by the Ohio Valley Board of Trade.<\/p>\n Weather for the 1940 parade seems familiar to those of us experiencing \u201cwinter,\u201d 75 years hence: \u201cWith spring-like weather prevailing,\u201d The Intelligencer reported, \u201cmany of the sightseers who lined the sidewalks and hung out windows, were in their [shirt] sleeves.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the newspaper, the parade was marked by many \u201cinnovations,\u201d including the first ever appearance in Wheeling of \u201cgiant inflated balloon characters\u2026supplied by Jean Gross, famous theatrical producer, who witnessed the parade and characterized it as, \u2018one of the finest , if not the finest parade I\u2019ve ever seen.'\u201d Gross claimed the Wheeling parade compared favorably to those held in New York, Boston, and Detroit.<\/p>\n Other highlights of the 1940 Wheeling parade included a Mother Goose fairy tale float, six white Arabian horses, and more than 30 high school bands, including the \u201chit of the parade,\u201d from Scio, whose \u201crhythmic playing, waltzing, and marching\u201d elicited continuous applause.<\/p>\n Apparently inspired by all the innovation and modernization, Santa ditched his flying reindeer in favor of a faster light pursuit plane dubbed the \u201cSpirit of Christmas,\u201d disappointing the traditional crowd while delighting the younger generation.<\/p>\n The parade started at 11 am at 26th Street, with businessman John V. Colvig as Grand Marshal. A troop of Boy Scouts with American flags followed the drum corps for American Legion Post No. 1 , featuring veterans of the First World War. And, with much of the world embroiled in yet another war that the United States was still a year away from joining, the Red Cross (and its nurses) was prominent among the marchers, while children held white doves on an \u201cAmerica at Peace float.\u201d The Wheeling Cycle Club, \u201call awheel,\u201d peddled by with two high-wheelers and a tandem. Oglebay Park\u2019s float depicting a picnic site was followed by a \u201cscore of mummers\u201d \u2014 elaborately costumed pantomimes (aka, scary clowns).<\/p>\n John Dieckmann and Sons (florists) sponsored a float depicting Cinderella with her glass slipper, behind which employees of the Martins Ferry works of the Wheeling Steel Corporation marched.<\/p>\n Isaly\u2019s float with the famous Cow jumping over the Moon, was followed by a 60-foot \u201cdinosaur,\u201d a giant fish, Felix the Cat, Donald Duck, the aforementioned airplane-flying Claus, and a gigantic horned dragon, with various high school bands and more mummers interspersed.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Cooey-Bentz float featured a \u201chigh tank, saluting the American home with a barrage of balloons.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional balloon characters included \u201cfunny big heads,\u201d a caterpillar, monkey, elephant, kangaroo, a musical pig, an alligator, and a three-headed serpent, of course. All of the city high schools, including Linsly, Wheeling, Wheeling Central, Triadelphia, Warwood, and Lincoln, participated.<\/p>\n While the Wheeling Fire Department, Board of Trade float, and a police car brought \u201cWheeling\u2019s biggest parade\u201d to an end, the annual Wheeling Christmas Parade tradition was really just beginning.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nWheeling, a Parade-Crazy Town<\/h2>\n
<\/a>
\nQ: When Was Wheeling\u2019s First Christmas Parade?
\nA: 1931!<\/h2>\n<\/a><\/h2>\n
\nQ: But Why Was It Quirky?<\/h2>\n
\nA (Part 1): Giant, Inexplicable Balloons\u2026<\/h2>\n
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\nA (Part 2): A Reindeer-Less Santa Claus!<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Please enjoy these additional\u00a0photos featuring
\nWheeling Parades of Christmas Past and Present.
\nHappy Holidays from Archiving Wheeling!<\/h2>\n
\nWheeling Christmas Parade, 1958.<\/h2>\n