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Historic Images of Our Parade

Provided by Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society 

Image Usage Notice
You must get prior authorization from RMWHS
to re-post, reproduce, or use the images below in any way. 
Contact RMWHS 

1909 image
1909 image
1909 image

1909

 

All three images in this series from the 1909 Independence Day Parade were taken by Philadelphia photographer Harry D. Richards. His local studio was located at 4371 Cresson St. in Manayunk and he was responsible for many of the iconic images of our area.

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The images were sold as postcards. A handwritten note on the reverse side of each card reads: ​

Lyceum Ave

4th of July Parade

property of  W. C. Levering.

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Additional handwritten notes on the back of the third postcard indicate the man on horseback (seen in the lower left corner of the image) is Capt. William C. Levering, the "First Grand Marshal of the combined* 4th of July parades in Roxborough" who is also indicated to be the "father of Mildred Levering McDermott." 

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*Sunday schools had been marching since 1831, but churches that did not have Sunday schools did not participate until 78 years later.  ​​​

1931 image

1931

 

Pint-sized pilots Elisa & Ida Schuler (twin daughters of Harry & Anna Schuler of Krams Street) take the parade in high spirits as they navigate the crowds in their whimsical nod to American History, showing off their patriotic spirit in grand style. 

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1951 image

1951

Church float celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley in the 1951 Independence Day Parade of Sunday Schools & Churches. 

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Movie 1
Movie 2

1960s

These 2 movies belong to the family of Bernard A. Strain, II. They were by his daughter Barb Strain on her YouTube Channel. 

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Barb's note with Movie 1 reads: 

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"I’m grateful to have filmed memories of growing up in the 1960s. We were lucky that my dad, Bernie Strain II was behind the camera, capturing those cherished days of the past. This collection of short films from 1960 to 1969 includes the July 4th celebrations in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The annual July 4th parade in Roxborough’s 21st Ward takes place on Lyceum Avenue and is one of the oldest in the United States. The 21st Ward Independence Day Parade of Sunday Schools and Churches was first held in 1831, started by Samuel Lawson." 

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Thank you, Barb for sharing your dad's movies and your family history with the community! 

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