City - Vale OR - An annual tradition 1941 Postcard

Colorized photo from 1941, July 4th Original title: Parade. Fourth of July Photographer: Russel Lee Location: 100 A St W., Vale, Oregon This is Vale, Oregon, and this is their annual 4th of July parade, which they have been doing for over a 100 years. They started the tradition in 1906, though the event was founded two years earlier. After the flag ladened was over, evetyone would celebrate playing games, races, they would play ball, listen to bands, watch fireworks, dance, and then later on the rodeo. During WW2, 1943, they mostly held races and games and of course the greased-pig scramble. Prices often included defense stamps. In 1945, there was no celebration, businesses were closed, the post office opened for only an hour, and people went to other towns instead, most of the events were dropped. But in 1946 they brought back the rodeo, they also had saddle horse races, relays and novelty races. In 1957 they had issues with the grounds for the rodeo. There was a flood earlier in the year and the grounds were ruined, they had to rebuild all of it. In any case, history progressed and they still hold the parade every year. As you can see here they really love the flag. And best of all, most of these buildings still exist, the building on the right is a historic landmark and still called the Vale drug store.