"Salute to Santa Claus" parade

A marching band believed to be from Central Junior High School proceeds past the Southeast Missourian building in the "Salute to Santa Claus" parade on Nov. 19, 1955 in Cape Girardeau. The old post office and Hotel Idan-Ha are visible in the background. Granite cobblestones are visible on Broadway hill. They were removed in 1956. The remains of street car rails can be seen in the middle of the hill. (G.D. Fronabarger photo)

from the Nov. 18, 1955 Southeast Missourian:

The Retail Merchants Association organized the annual Christmas parade that had 14 floats, 12 bands and the Golden Troopers as marching units, plus scores of children dressed in costume to compete for prizes.

Santa Claus paid a pre-parade visit to the children receiving treatment in the St. Francis Hospital polio center. They were taken to a point of vantage to view the parade as it passed by the hospital.

Bands in the parade included Cape Junior High, Fredericktown, Central High, Bell City, Cape Catholic High, Charleston, Illmo-Fornfelt, Chaffee, East Prairie, Gideon, Bloomfield and Hayti.

The parade route: Assembly area, Frederick and Good Hope streets; west on Good Hope to Pacific street, north on Pacific street to William street, east on William street to Sprigg street, north on Sprigg street to Themis street, west on Themis street to Pacific street, north on Pacific street to Broadway, east on Broadway to Main street, south on Main street to Frisco plaza and disband.

Here is a previous blog with the winning float in the 1955 Christmas parade.

Doyle house site became Southeast Missourian