This faded photograph caught my attention at the museum yesterday in large part because someone 50 years ago had written the wrong accession number on it. So it took half an hour accompanied by considerable sputtering to track it down in the catalog and determine that it was donated during 1968 by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Johnson.
It depicts the June 23, 1920, parade that opened the four-day annual convention (southern division) of the Iowa Sunday School Assocation, held in Chariton. The northern division convention had been held in Charles City June 21-24. An estimated 800 regional delegates attended each.
The parade, held on Wednesday afternoon, June 23, is passing here along the east side of the Chariton square. Notice that the building that now houses Meyer Law Firm was home to the Star Bakery and the site of current Chamber-Main Street building was occupied by a frame lunch room.
The banner in the foreground reads, "Teacher - Training; Lucas Co. Sunday School Alumni." It's possible that the float behind this group was the Russell Baptist Sunday School's widely admired pantomime entry.
A majority of the parade entries were from Lucas County since delegates from elsewhere were just beginning to arrive in full force for registration at First Presbyterian Church, but keep in mind that rural churches at the time had a collective membership that far exceeded those of town and village congregations --- so there was no shortage of local Sunday school students and teachers. The remainder of the day's programming was held at First Methodist Church.
For the most part, out-of-county delegates were housed in private homes and fed dinner and supper in Chariton churches.
Here's a brief account of the parade, published in The Chariton Leader of Thursday, Jan. 24:
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Yesterday afternoon the big parade scheduled for the opening event of the Iowa State Sunday School convention, which is in session here this week, was witnessed by several thousand people. Plans had been made for the biggest thing of its kind ever seen in Chariton and at an early hour Wednesday everyone was willing to concede that those plans were seeing materiality.
The parade formed at the corner of Roland avenue and Grand street. Headed by the Osceola band of 25 pieces, among whose number were several local musicians, the line of march extended two blocks south of the square, west a block on Armory avenue, north down to that side of the square and to the Methodist church corner, where the line was broken.
The column was about a mile long and it was estimated that no less than 800 people marched in line. More than 50 automobiles were in the formation, including a number of floats which gave evidence of no little time and labor that the parade might be a success. Many banners were carried by the various delegations represented, all reflecting the enthusiasm that made such an opening feature possible. While many out of town Sunday schools were not fully represented because the delegates have not all arrived, there was much to impress the onlooker in the substantial showing that was made by all denominations that participated.
Among the several floats in line it is not possible to designate or point out any one of them as deserving mention above others. Several, however, represented the Cradle Roll departments of the Glenwood and Chariton Sunday schools, and the pantomime float of the Russell Baptist Sunday school was justly entitled to credit for the effectiveness which was accomplished in design.
In general charge of the parade were John P. Ream, who was marshal; Geo. H. Johnson, in charge of the department of the evolution of travel, Miss Alma Gray, of the Cradle Roll department, and Olin Ashby, who had command of the forces and delegates from a distance.
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