Barnesville All Grad Parade Continues to Grow
During Barnesville’s alumni weekend, the fifth annual Barnesville All Grad Parade took place under hot, hazy skies. Nineteen different classes participated this year. Celebrating its 50th reunion, the Class of 1976 was the honorary class leading the parade behind the Barnesville High School marching band.
Parade organizer Sally Johnson shared that six years ago, she and her husband, Roger, went to Woodsfield to hear The Shuman Band play, and it happened to be alumni weekend in Woodsfield. After watching the alumni parade, Johnson said to her husband, “I think Barnesville should have a parade like this.”
For the first three years, the All Grad Parade was on Friday evening, but the Barnesville band and cheerleaders were always committed to the Quaker City parade. So switching the parade to Saturday afternoon has allowed the Shamrock band to march in the parade.
Clifford Collins, a graduate from the Class of 1949, celebrated his 95th birthday on July 11. His1949 red Ferguson tractor, driven by his son-in-law, Bruce Vannest, pulled his trailer decorated with birthday banners and balloons. Many people stopped to wish Collins a happy birthday, and they got a story or two about their family members.
Organizer Johnson had Collins draw the $100 parade class winner, which went to the Class of 1971. Through a generous donation from Collins, the Class of 1962 also won a $100 prize.
Before the parade, many classmates enjoyed catching up and decorating their entries, as well as touring the Barnesville Depot and caboose.
You can watch the complete parade as it leaves the depot, heading up to Arch Street and then down Main Street to the Barnesville Elementary gym.
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