July 4, 1976, Jim Leonhirth, The Daily News Journal
Intermittent showers yesterday did not keep thousands of citizens from turning out for the Bicentennial parade and other July 4 activities in Murfreesboro.
Hundreds of cars lined the parade route in expectation of inclement weather, but the rains held back until after the parade of more than 100 units finished its route.
The rainy weather did force most of the craftsmen at the Middle Tennessee Crafts Show, being held at Central Middle School, to move inside the building. Show officials said the exhibits will move back outside today if the weather is clear.
Dedication ceremonies for the City Cemetery on Vine Street and two markers for Revolutionary War patriots held under cloudy skies, but there was no rain to mar the ceremonies.
The Bicentennial parade, coordinated by Mr. & Mrs. Earl Hinton, left the Greenland Drive parking lot on schedule at 10:00AM with floats, bands marching units antique cars and old farm equipment.
Winning top honors in the parade was the Senior Citizens Club which provided a float along with a group of dancers.
Members of the club danced on East main Street in front of the James K. Polk Hotel, foreshadowing the Bicentennial Gala which was held at the hotel last night.
Winners in the parade included the following entries:
Marching units: Stones River National Battlefield soldiers
Musical units: Oakland High School Band
Miniature floats: “Dove of Peace’ by Roy Garrett’s CeeBee
Large float: ‘Patriotic Float’ by State Farm
Antique cars: 1929 Packard owned by John Miller
Buggies, carriages and carts: Pony surrey owned by Forrest Paschal
Old machines and vehicles: Horse drawn hearse by Jennings and Ayers
Horse and rides: Rutherford Trail Riders
Wagons: World’s Largest Cedar Bucket’ of the City of Murfreesboro
Miscellaneous: Unicycle riders sponsored by the Campus School
Judges for the parade were Jean Coleman of the Metro School System, Jim Norton of the Tennessee Arts Commission and Lee Sikes of the MTSU History Department.
The parade units ended their March at about 11:45AM at the city parking lot on South Maple Street. Minor traffic jams resulted as people, horses and automobiles tried to move away from the parade terminus.