By Steven Fletcher
Staff Writer
—
GLOUCESTER — The blasts from the engine horns and sirens of the Gloucester Fire Department trucks Saturday evening weren't sounded to warn those on the street of an emergency.
Instead, they signaled the approach of Gloucester's 66th Fishtown Horribles Parade, with floats, musical units, classic cars and marchers all winding their way through the streets of America's Oldest Seaport to help ring in Independence Day.
The "Horribles" drew a crowd that filled the city center, with local residents and visitors lining the Boulevard, Rogers Street, parts of Washington Street and more.
As always, while thousands of spectators lined the sidewalks, hundreds also joined the parade on foot.
Dwayne and Ralph Strong, Gloucester residents, brought two "Doodlebug" tractors to the Horribles parade. Their tractors, made of salvaged machinery, participate in pulling events once a month. They came to spend time with the family.
"All my kids live around here," said Strong.
Three of his grandchildren, Cassie, Skyler and Danielle, road on his bug.
Strong joined a collection of parade floats that included anything and everything up to a large pink elephant.
Carl Silva, a 45-year veteran of stock car racing, brought his fourth vehicle, a standard stock car, on a trailer to the parade. Silva said he has attended the parade for nearly 30 years.
"I like to have the young kids see and get people to help on the car," he said. Last year, he said, he added a member to his pit crew from the parade.
Local politicians joined the parade as well, with state Sen. Bruce Tarr, state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Congressman John Tierney among those who marched with residents.
John, "Gus" Foote, a retired city councilor who represented Ward 2 for more than 30 years, and former state Rep. Anthony "Tony" Verga, who served Gloucester, Rockport and Essex in the state's House of Representatives for 14 years, shared the title of Grand Marshal for the event.
In all, the parade included more than 50 floats and vehicles of all colors and sizes, sponsored and presented by local businesses and organizations from Cape Ann Animal Aid to All Season Septic.
They were joined by five marching bands, including the Boston Firemen's band and the New Hampshire Pipe and Drum band.
While parade participants and spectators reveled in this year's celebration, however, others were already looking to next year — with some city officials looking into whether the parade should follow a new route that would cut out its run down Rogers Street, and use Main Street instead.
Al Kipp, chairman of the Horribles Parade committee, campaigned Saturday night to keep the parade on the same route — and the crowd repeatedly responded with cheers for maintaining the status quo.
"It's the best straightaway," Claire Tebl, a Gloucester resident and longtime Horribles watcher, said of the Rogers Street stretch.
Tebl said she's concerned that if the city moves the parade to other, narrower streets — including Main — there will not be enough room for the people, or for some elements of the march itself. And her sentiments were echoed by several parade attendees.
She attends the parade because of all that it involves.
"It's a tradition in Gloucester," she said.
Maria and Antonia Grillo also attended the parade as part of Gloucester's Fourth of July celebration — which culminated with fireworks lighting up the sky over Gloucester Harbor Saturday night.
"It's fun, it's beautiful," said Grillo.
Steven Fletcher can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
