It was kind of fun yesterday afternoon to compare the way the Hotel Charitone looked during this year's big 4th of July parade (above) and the way it looked shortly before the parade began last year (below).
Then, restoration was moving along; this year, it's complete --- and those who wished to could watch the parade from bar/restaurant windows --- or from apartments upstairs. Quite a contrast in any case.
I wish that I'd taken a similar photo during the 2012 parade --- but at that time the Chariton landmark looked so bad that the usual goal was to avoid including it in photographs.
This is rural Iowa, keep in mind, so numerically the largest number of parade entries on Thursday --- tractors. I watch Antiques Roadshow, so understand the importance of not disturbing patina. So I'm assuming this guy's apparent rust-bucket is worth far more than its highly polished (and obviously refinished) companions.
Lots of fire trucks, too. Here's the obligatory photo of Old Betsy (above), then another of the Chariton Volunteer Fire Department's vintage vehicles --- this one dating from the 1920s, the same era as the hotel. The vehicle was stopped here, by the way. When in motion, the driver kept his hands on the steering wheel.
I'm glad to report that the Shriners still are with us, although Lucas County's Shrine Club rides big-boy toys rather than driving the diminutive vehicles sometimes seen in Chariton and other parades.
Little boys had their toys, too --- but these were along the sidelines and carnival-related, just before the parade began.
The 4th of July celebration continues today with a variety of entertainment events, food and carnival rides on the square commencing at 10 a.m. It concludes at 10 a.m. Sunday with an ecumenical church service at 10 a.m., on the square weather permitting, in Johnson Auditorium if not.
This is rural Iowa, keep in mind, so numerically the largest number of parade entries on Thursday --- tractors. I watch Antiques Roadshow, so understand the importance of not disturbing patina. So I'm assuming this guy's apparent rust-bucket is worth far more than its highly polished (and obviously refinished) companions.
Lots of fire trucks, too. Here's the obligatory photo of Old Betsy (above), then another of the Chariton Volunteer Fire Department's vintage vehicles --- this one dating from the 1920s, the same era as the hotel. The vehicle was stopped here, by the way. When in motion, the driver kept his hands on the steering wheel.
I'm glad to report that the Shriners still are with us, although Lucas County's Shrine Club rides big-boy toys rather than driving the diminutive vehicles sometimes seen in Chariton and other parades.
Little boys had their toys, too --- but these were along the sidelines and carnival-related, just before the parade began.
The 4th of July celebration continues today with a variety of entertainment events, food and carnival rides on the square commencing at 10 a.m. It concludes at 10 a.m. Sunday with an ecumenical church service at 10 a.m., on the square weather permitting, in Johnson Auditorium if not.
1 comment:
Sorry commented on wrong post, James Crosby in straw hat, on hand crank John Deere, resident of Chariton for over 20 years.
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