We Love a Parade!

For as far back as we can go in the history books and local newspapers, the Barrington community has participated in and been drawn to watch the parade passing by on Main Street.

Whether it is the solemnity of Memorial Day or the Welcome Home Parade for soldiers returning after service in the First World War; or whether it is the youthful exuberance of the High School’s Homecoming Parade, or the celebratory and patriotic enthusiasm of the Fourth of July Parade, the chances are you will find your neighbors on Main Street.

And where else would we find Fourth of July photos from 1922, but in the Arnett C. Lines albums at the Barrington Area Library? These two floats tell us that Barrington was a town where blacksmiths, harness and wagon makers, repair shops, and livery stables were part of the business community.

The Barrington Horseshoers float was Ed Wichman’s and a part of the July 4th celebration for many years. In the top photo is (from left) Bernard Christensen, Edmund F. Wichman, Jr., E. William Hatje, E.F. Wichman, Sr., Conrad W. Lockert, Tom Kreit, John Schwemm, and Judge Frye. The photo (below) was taken on East Main Street by Mother’s Place, Mother Nanny Atkins’ Restaurant, and in front of the original Wichman Blacksmith Shop on the northeast corner of East Main and North Cook Streets, until 1929. Then Ed Wichman opened his brand-new shop on West Station Street, later to become the first location of the Barrington Historical Society. Off to the right in the photo are Nanny Atkins and George Humphrey.

While the second photo is in the same place as the Horseshoers, the Hatje Blacksmith Shop was across the road on East Main Street. William Hatje had continued his
father’s blacksmithing business, first started in the 19th century, in partnership with George Stiefenhoefer. According to Arnett C. Lines, at this time the Hatje shop was the “only lathed and plastered blacksmith shop they had ever seen.”

Just as today, Barrington’s Fourth of July Parade represents all facets of community life, including businesses traditional and contemporary, so it was over a hundred years ago, as the world began to cast off, but not forget the terrible costs of the First World War, and start up the bands again, drawing citizens of all persuasions to Main Street. May it ever be so in our great country, from sea to shining sea!

Editor’s note: Special thanks to Kate Mills and Barrington Area Library staff for keeping these historic records and being so helpful with our research.