DOVE FESTIVAL PARADE

Across the Fence

By Arvord Abernethy

“I love a parade”. Isn’t that the way a song goes? If that is your song and you were in Hamilton Friday afternoon, you were treated to a real colorful parade that set the mood for a successful Dove festival.

There were floats, fire engines, horses, bands, clowns, bicycles, army vehicles and everything to make an interesting parade. A few years back it looked like the horse might become one of the endangered species, but now there are a lot of riding clubs over the country. Wasn’t that Appaloosa that led the parade a beautiful thing? It had such delicate shading of colors.

Those fine fire trucks of the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department not only helped make a colorful parade, but they give one a greater feeling of security to know that such a group is ready to help in time of need. That new Rescue Unit Ambulance looked mighty good to me, but hope it doesn’t have to be used very often.

It is great to see such a spirit of cooperation between neighboring towns. Several of them sent their festival floats, and the large group of the Sheriff’s Posse from Brownwood added greatly to the parade.

If you are one of those persons who are greatly concerned about energy conservation, you could find a good example in the parade. Those boys on those bicycles demonstrated that a person can get along on just one tire, and the power is direct to the wheel without any loss. Your accident insurance rate may be up a little.

The weather and the spirit was just right for an entertaining gospel singing on the east side of the courthouse that evening. The cool breeze blowing across a crowd of happy people seated on the green lawn and the concrete railing, made the occasion seem like a big family picnic. By the applause, you could see that everyone was enjoying the singing.

The courthouse, with its new coat of paint on those tall columns and front, makes an excellent stage for such a performance. Mrs. Wesley Jones was heard to say that she had never taken time to take a good look at the courthouse and see what a nice building we had.

We had a little extra entertainment over our way. The J. A. Edwards from out Lanham way had their little year old granddaughter, Misty Dawn Kirkland, with them, and she with her bottle, unconsciously entertained us between songs. She thought that Judge Betty Jenkins’ petunias were so pretty and that they should be plucked and distributed.

I just had to come back Saturday morning and hear the First Cavalry Division Band’s concert, and I’m glad I did. An army band has a snap and a balance that can produce music that sends thrills down your spine. The crowd was very responsive in their applause, and that was just like “sic-em” to a dog in getting the very best out of the boys.

After the band concert, it was not long until time for the Barbershop Quartet to sing, so I stayed over for that. Say, we have some real good entertainers right here in Hamilton in that group. We should hear from them more often. Those boys have harmony and quality that everyone can enjoy. I could understand the mustache that each was wearing, but I never did figure out what part the old fashioned police hats had to do with a barbershop quartet.

I didn’t get to hear the old fiddler’s contest, but am sure it was as good as the rest. All in all it was a great Dove Festival.

Already some are asking about where the festival is best, on the square or on the fair grounds. I can only speak for one, I enjoyed it more on the square. The large trees, the lawn, the courthouse as a stage, all seemed to create the feeling of a large community picnic. If the Pecan Creek Park ever becomes a reality, it would be nice if a section is planned where such functions could be held.

Speaking of petunias a few minutes ago, hope that you have been able to see those beautiful flowers and plants at the telephone office this year.  Bobby Thompson is great at raising new exotic plants each year.  This year those tall orangey red plants in the corner are Amaranthus.  That beautiful Bougainvillea just to the north of the office entrance does not have as many blooms on it as it did, but it is still pretty.  Go by and see how beautiful the entire grounds are.

Shared by Roy Ables

ACROSS THE FENCE