Local parade sparks holiday cheer
Holiday cheer warmed up a cold day as the Town of Somerville presented its third Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday morning.
Many of the townspeople who rode in the parade and watched it unfold arrived early at the old courthouse, ate pancakes and drank hot coffee while the outside temperature hovered around freezing.
Sponsored by the Courthouse Restoration Committee, the pancake breakfast generated funds for the continuing restoration of the historic courthouse building. It also served as a welcome refuge from 10 to 15 mph north wind gusts and a wind chill below freezing.
The decor of the courthouse also added to the Christmas season’s festivities.
Each of four mantels was decorated by different community organizations, including the Civitan Club, town library and senior citizens center. Windows also featured holiday decorations.
The parade consisted of 25 units. They included floats sponsored by Somerville Baptist Church, Civitan Club, library, Morgan County Commission and Truss Electric Co. Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted onlookers from a special sled sitting on a flatbed trailer and pulled by a pickup truck.
Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin and members of the Mounted Posse brought up the rear of the parade as riders on horses.
In a brief ceremony at the town library following the parade, a reading room was dedicated in honor of library volunteer Peggy Griffith. She also served as parade grand marshal.