Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Sons of Italy, Water Street, July 4, 1922

Description

"Members of the Sons of Italy, Lodge 359, were among the representatives of fraternal groups that participated in the annual Fourth of July Parade sponsored by a special committee of the Chamber of Commerce. The two mile parade began at 10 a.m. and was held despite threatening skies that later postponed the highly anticipated $1,000 fireworks display. The parade divisions included military, fraternal, industrial, automobile, and horribles. Musical accompaniment was provided by Gallo's Band, Teel's Band, Waltham Watch Company Band, Chapman's Band, St. Joseph's Band, and the Wakefield Fife and Drum Corps. In addition to the Sons of Italy, fraternal organizations included the Holy Mary del Carmine Society, The Moose, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Hibernians, Eagles, and the Elks, all of whom wore 'special effects.' The Italian societies turned out in large numbers, wearing regalia and carrying banners. The money for the 1922 parade was raised by popular subscription. Because there were showers in the early morning, the parade committee was able to collect $1,000 in insurance, even though the parade went on as planned. The Executive Committee of the 4th of July parade committee of 1922 voted in May 1930 to give the surplus money to the Tercentenary committee and 4th of July parade committee of 1930." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.

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

Photo courtesy of 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

07-04-1922

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

[Wakefield, Mass.] : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Order of Sons of Italy in America (Wakefield, Mass.)

Fraternal organizations

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture : b&w

Extent

16 x 32 cm.