Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Reception parade for Company A, August 25, 1917

Description

"Thousands of Wakefield residents, business owners and their employees turned out for the welcome parade for the boys of the Richardson Light Guard Company A who returned home from training in Ayer on Saturday, August 25, 1917. Less than 24 hours later, the soldiers were on their way back to Ayer where they would soon be off to war. After their arrival at the Center Station on Water Street was heralded by the 'old Military call on the fire alarm,' Company A disembarked from the train on the factory field side and formed in line with the Special Committee on Public Safety. Led by the committee president Charles E. Walton and a platoon of police under the Chief Pollard as escort, the parade was greeted by cheering crowds as they marched up Water Street to the square, up Main Street to Avon Street, where they turned and proceeded to the Armory. They disbanded only to return to the State Armory for an informal reception for the soldiers and their 'lady friends' later that evening. The following day, 'long before 10 a.m.,' crowds again began to gather in Wakefield square for the 10:30 a.m. sendoff parade which left from the Armory and proceeded to the Common, down Chestnut Street and to the Upper Station where the 'wives, parents, sisters, brothers, sweethearts and friends bid tearful farewell to the boys in khaki.' The expenses associated with bringing Company A to Wakefield and entertaining them was borne by the members of the Fine Members Association of the Richardson Light Guard, an association comprised of civilians who each paid annual membership dues of $3. The association decided to fund the reception rather than hold its annual banquet." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2004

Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Date

08-25-1917

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Massachusetts Infantry. Richardson Light Guard

Parades

Soldiers

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture : b&w

Extent

20 x 27 cm.