As July 4, 1910 approached, organizers of Willimantic’s festivities wanted the daylong celebration to surpass “anything of the kind ever before put on in Windham County”. The day began with the ringing of church bells and included a two mile long street parade with over fifty floats and 1,500 marchers. It was a huge success. And so, the committee decided that the 1911 festivities would outdo those of 1910. Word went out to the very popular “Franco American Brigade of New England”, a paramilitary group formed to foster patriotism and preparedness.The group’s Willimantic chapter was the “Garde Florimonde”. It was decided that the Brigade’s Field Day would take place as part of the July 4^th program. And so, with special guests Aram J Pothier (Governor of Rhode Island), Congressman John Tillson, Mayor Dunn and Franco American Brigade Brigadier General A.J. Mandeville, the celebration started. It was said that the city thronged with 10,000 visitors who came by train and trolley. “The city presented a gala appearance. Nearly every building, business block or residence along the line of march of the parade was decorated, many showing American and French flags side by side. The day started with the ringing of church bells and the firing of a cannon and then at 9 A.M. the Franco American Brigade attended Mass at Saint Mary’s Church. It was said that the civic and military parade exceeded to a large degree the previous year’s parade. “The various floats in the line of march, all handsomely decorated, the magnificent appearance of the marching bodies, together with the splendid spirit manifested by all, made the pageant one never to be forgotten in the minds of the people of the city”. The parade consisted of five divisions. Led by Marshal Frank Fenton the first division was military and consisted of Wheeler’s American Band, state military officials on horseback and Commanding General and staff of the Franco American Brigade on horseback, and eleven Garde units from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Garde Florimond from Willimantic was commanded by Lieutenant G. Peloquin. The second division was led by Westerly Band and Fire Chief Wade Webster driven by F. Powell in an automobile. Willimantic’s four fire companies brought their truck and hose wagons. The American Thread Fire Brigade brought a spool hose carriage and the South Windham Fire Department brought,” a steam engine and badger hose wagons and a supply wagon”. The third and fourth and fifth divisions consisted of more than thirty five local or visiting civic organizations. Also in the parade were decorated bicycles. “the horribles” (people wearing comical costumes),  floats and wagons of local merchants, carriages with invited guests and over fifty automobiles. Following the parade, the Franco American Brigade held their field day at Horseshoe Park. The Nipnet Canoe Club presented a program of aquatic sports, Wheeler’s American Band gave a one hour concert at Windham Field and it was followed by two hours of fireworks. Thus came to a close what was, perhaps, Willimantic’s most spectacular Fourth of July celebration. This picture was part of a series of photos taken at the 1910 celebration.

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