An old fashion march and Blessing of the Fleet

An old fashion march and Blessing of the Fleet

By: Helen A. Jankoski
06/10/2004

Festive harbor atmosphere and community spirit on parade

Area residents will be treated June 19 to two parades for the price of one in picturesque Southport. The first is an old-fashioned street parade that steps off at 11 a.m.; the second a boat parade scheduled to get under way at noon.
The quaint, little street parade began four years ago to commemorate the purchase of an exquisite piece of property at the mouth of Southport Harbor as a public park, known as the Lower Wharf. The parade was so well received that it's become an annual happening.
Town officials, police, firefighters, politicians and several fife and drum corps will march the mile from Trinity Episcopal Church along Pequot Avenue through the village to Main Street and down Harbor Road, past Ye Yacht Yard, to the Lower Wharf.
When the street parade has finished, four members of the clergy will bless a parade of boats as it passes Ye Yacht Yard under an arc of chilly water sprayed across the channel by a fire department pumper. All area boats are invited to attend; many dress ship with colorful signal flags displayed from the tops of their masts to bow and stern.
The harbor side atmosphere is festive as people munch free hot dogs and burgers provided by the Southport Volunteer Fire Department and ice cream from the Southport Congregational Church, listen to the Westport Community Band, hear politicians say a few words, and mill about with friends and neighbors.
"It's like a big block party," said Tim Russell, chairman. His dad, Harris Russell, founded the "adult" parade in 2000, patterning it after a Southport Firemen's parade that took place in the late 1800s. The elder Russell, who died last year, will be honored that day with placement of a plaque at the Wharf area. As original and longtime chairman of the Fairfield Harbor Management Commission, he led a campaign to acquire the Lower Wharf-the site of one of Southport's four early shipyards and later a place for docking, repair and service of vessels.
Tim Russell is quick to share the credit for the successful parade with his 18-member committee and other volunteers. "It's a big community effort," he said, explaining that Southport residents and businesses donate the $6,000 the event costs to put on.
"It's a feel-good event. People who come to watch become part of the parade as they follow it to the wharf area," he said, adding, "There are probably close to 1,000 people there at the end.
"It all takes place in a nice amount of time," commented Southporter Marian Stone. "It's not too short and not too long.
"Our harbor is such a gorgeous thing. This is a way to remind people that there is a wonderful, free-to-the-public view of the water," she added.
Members of Southport-based Sea Scout Ship 84 will form the parade's lead color guard and Grand Marshal will be Southport historian V. Louise Higgins, who'll ride in one of three participating 1972 vintage VW convertibles.
Police chief Joseph Sambrook drives his 1937 two-door Chevrolet police car, this year sporting Early American "FPD" plates. "In 1937, our police department had a car just like this one, but not painted like this," Chief Sambrook said.
Fairfielder Ken Dalling has lined up seven fife and drum corps including the returning Branford-based Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion in which he plays the fife and Jack Sullivan, also of Fairfield, is the drum major. "We should have 17 or 18 members of the corps there," Dalling said.
Straw-hatted farmers, the Sons fought whiskey taxation in the late 1700s in Pennsylvania.
The well-traveled Spirit of Black Rock Fife & Drum will march in the uniform of the 1st Connecticut Calvary from the Civil War: dark blue coats with yellow piping and lighter blue pants with a yellow stripe. The group's The Essex-based Sailing Masters of 1812 will again march in the uniform of the third officer or "sailing maser" on board U. S. Naval ships from 1810-1815, wearing boots, white pants and dark, tailed jackets.
Also returning to the street parade is the Lancraft Fife & Drum Corps from North Haven.
Making Southport parade debuts will be The Ancient Mariners from Guilford, who've performed in Ireland, France and Switzerland, portraying the common sailor of 1812. A "pirate" in chains guarded by a cutlass-clad boarding party takes the lead, followed by a booming ship's cannon that announces the musical unit dressed in white pants and blue "fear nothing" jackets.
New as well will be the Totoket Fife & Drum and the Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps, both of Stony Creek.
Always a favorite is the returning 2nd Company Governor's Horse Guard, an all-volunteer state militia unit. Private citizens or stables have donated all the unit's mounts.
"We're happy the street parade is continuing," said Susan Schaefer, a founding member of the Westport Community Band that has played at the previous three parades, in 2000, 2002 and 2003. She expects around 50 band members will be on hand to perform marches, show tunes and popular songs, starting around 11:45 a.m. at the Lower Wharf.
Blessing boats will be the Rev. Paul Whitmore of the Southport Congregational Church, the Rev. Helen Moore of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. John Twiname of Greens Farms Congregational Church, and a Roman Catholic priest who at press time had not been determined.
Southporter Steve Galpin and the Rev. Alistair Votaw, who then was rector of Trinity Church, started the boat-blessing ceremony nine years ago.
According to committee vice chairman Galpin, police and fireboats from Southport, Fairfield and several nearby towns will lead the parade.
"We'll miss Barbara coming along last in her kayak," commented Joan Walsh of Southport, referring to Ye Yacht Yard's Barbara Coburn Burr, who died last month at age 81.