Nooksack Valley Nostalgia: June 2015

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Sumas Community Days - August 30th, 1958 Part 2 of 2

In the last posting about Sumas Community Days - August 30th, 1958, we looked at the grand floats that passed along the parade route down Cherry Street. The amount of work and pride that the communities put into their displays were amazing. The young ladies were dressed in their very stylish and formal gowns and were truly beautiful.

In viewing the upcoming pictures please be aware that the some photos would be considered racist or demeaning in our current views. In 1958 it was not considered so. Please do not judge by our current standards.

Picture 1

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

The young ladies on the float are heading south in Sumas on Cherry Street pass the Christian Science Society . The building was at the southwest corner of Cherry and First Street facing east. The building is now the 24/7 Shipping business.

Picture 2

Posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

A clever parade entry! It looks like a young man enjoying a magic carpet ride! Notice the Ivy covered City Hall in the background.

Picture 3

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

These gentlemen would never be able to parade in such a fashion today. What an interesting look into attitudes and humor of the times. Certainly not acceptable with our current standards.

Picture 4

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

Boys dressed like hobos and a unicycle.

Picture 5

Posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

An unique way of dressing like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. This picture is in front of the Grand Hotel on the east side of Cherry Street just south of Garfield Street.

Picture 6

Posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

Girls costumed in their renditions of Native American dress. The photo is labeled, Bev Wells and Nonie.

Picture 7

Posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

Ardis McWilliams on horseback ready for the Sumas Community Day Parade!

Tomorrow will be another installment about the Sumas Community Days - August 30th, 1958. I hope you find these retro photos as delightful as I do.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sumas Community Day - August 30, 1958 Part 1 of 2

This upcoming Saturday, June 27th, 2015, our fine town of Sumas will gather and share a bit of community spirit on Sumas Days. The park will be filled with festive venders, games and of course the annual Car Show which brings vintage car collectors in with their classics with pride. Of course there will be the Sumas Days Parade in which the families will line the street watching for the bands, floats and fire engines to go by. In the evening will be the firework show which is always a big crowd pleaser. Sumas Community Days has been a yearly tradition for years!

However, Sumas Community Days have not always been a June tradition. August 30, 1958, a photographer captured the parade in all of its glory. As you will notice in the pictures the huge amount of work that went into the Sumas Day Parade!

Picture 1

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

This is looking north from the center of the block on Cherry Street. The ivy covered City Hall on the left is on the northwest corner of Cherry and First Street. The flags are up and people are gathering to see the upcoming parade.

Picture 2

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

The Nooksack Valley High School making it proud march heading south on Cherry Street. They are crossing the intersection of Cherry Street and First Street.

Picture 3

The Sumas Legion float with the lovely Sumas Royalty. The ladies are shown in picture 4. This is looking north on Garfield Street. The Grand Hotel in the background is facing onto Cherry Street.

Picture 4

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

According to the labeling of the photograph, "Queens Vicki, Judy and Annette."

Picture 5

Posted with permission from the Crouse family collection

Queen Judy from the Sumas Legion Float.

Photograph 6

Photograph posted with permission from the Crouse family collection.

Everson Float headed south on Cherry Street in front of the Grand Hotel. This was on the southeast corner of Cherry and Garfield Street.

Picture 7

Janis Fisher in the Sumas Community Parade, August 30, 1958.

I hope you enjoyed this wonderful peek into Sumas Community Days past. Tomorrow, I will post more delightful pictures of the parade of August 30th, 1958.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Spring Fishing Derby - 1972

As most people in Sumas are aware, last weekend, the Sumas American Legion held the 26th Annual Howard Bowen Memorial Fishing Derby on June 6th. I was unable to attend as I was working, however, I am hearing that it was a success. In previous years, the derby was held at the park down on Johnson Creek. The city workers would place barriers across the creek on each side of the park under the bridges. The fish would be released into the contained area for the children's fishing derby. When the derby was over the barriers were removed. Any surviving fish were free to swim away.

This year however the Fish and Wildlife officials determined that the creekside park was a sensitive habitat of an endangered frog. So in order to protect the habitat the fishing derby was cancelled in the park after many years. After much debate and consternation it was decided to clean up a pond over by the baseball field on the Hovel Road and the festivities were up and running again .

picture 1

Official poster advertising this year's fishing derby.

Although the poster announces it to be the 26th Annual Fishing Derby in actual fact the Derby has been part of our community for much longer. The following pictures were taken at the Spring Fishing Derby in 1972. I was either 11 or 12 years old and proudly walked around the Fishing Derby with my camera 43 years ago snapping shots of friends and community members.

Picture 2