50 floats on parade at Avening Centennial

Imagine a large crowd one weekend this summer in Avening watching a mile-long parade with 50 floats. The usual Airport Road traffic would be backed up as far as Cashtown to the north and as far as Banda on the townline to the south. Imagine the honking and the angry drivers.

But it was different in 1960. Airport Road was away in the future. On July 21-23 Avening celebrated its centennial. Festivities started Friday night with an old time flavoured dance in Avening Hall. Prizes were awarded. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Noble won the prize for the best costume. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rhodes received the award for the best dancers of several old time dances.

Saturday was the busiest day. The parade began at 2 p.m. with a 30-piece RCAF band. The star of the 50-float parade was a self propelled steam engine moving at a snail’s pace, sparks flying and every once in a while, a loud whistle. Dalton Lowe, of Stayner, recalls that Howard Noble had him go to get a steam engine that was in Wasaga Beach with a float and his truck. Dalton remarked that it was a really good parade and there were a lot of people there to watch. Once Dalton loaded the engine and got on the road the whistle blew. He thought it was from the train whistle but it was from the steam engine.

The Creemore Star reported that there were displays of old and modern machinery. One intriguing float showed a dog churn with a dog providing the power to churn butter. Another imaginative group in the parade demonstrated that early families had many children. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Patton walked with a dozen children and twins in a baby carriage.

The Saturday events make me think that the people of 1960 had tremendous stamina. People could view items of interest and old photographs in Avening Church. Four hundred people watched the girls’ ball game competition. Refreshments and lunches were available in the hall. In the evening a crowd went to the hall for a viewing of a slide show and to hear a children’s choir. At dark, Saturday’s events came to a close with a display of fireworks.

At the Sunday church service all faiths assembled in the hall. Former rector at Banda, Rev. Walter Dyer, and Rev. Frank Sullivan, previously at Avening Church, addressed the crowd. Community and children’s choirs provided music. These were directed by Peter Coates.

One wonders how long it took for everyone to recover from the Avening Centennial, particularly Wallace Timmons, head of all the committees, who did it all with a cast-bound foot.

Helen Blackburn is a retired teacher, avid gardener and a long-time contributor to The Creemore Echo. She writes about local history.