Valley Girl Views: When Danville Had A Mummers Parade

The Danville Mummers Parade, in 1909, included bands from Orangeville, Catawissa, Bloomsburg, and Millville. They marched down Danville's Mill Street on New years Day. Photo by John Sticklin.

As early as the 1850's there were newspaper references to "the Fantastics", a Danville Mummers group.1856 Montour American - "The Fantastics moved out in considerable force. Two processions fixed themselves up in all sorts of absurd apparel, representing everything conceivable.

The Uncle Sam Clown Music Band, In The 1910 Danville Mummers Day Parade

It wasn't until 1902 that the word "mummer" was first used to describe the local event. "A considerable parade of mummers came down from the Second Ward, wearing odd disguises and fantastic costumes, and were accompanies by the Washington Drum Corps." By 1904, the annual parade has become a regional event.

In 1913, the Parade route was published as : East on Market Street - to Honeymoon - to Grand - to Nassau - to Front - to Railroad - to Market - to Ferry - to Front - to Mill - north on Mill as fast as the plant of the Danville Milling Company. Countermarch to the river bridge, disband." The parade participants met each year at 1:30 at the Washington Hose Company, and the parade began promptly at 2pm. This appears to have been the same route the parade followed every year.

In what was described as a "monster affair", hundreds of men and boys dressed as Indians, cowboys, devils, minstrel players, Uncle Sams and tramps, and they all marked down Mill street lead by Chief Marshall R.B. Pursel. Even the horses were in costume.

In March 1904 the bridge was destroyed in a flood, making it difficult for residents of South Danville to attend the 1905 parade. That years event was much smaller in size.

Five thousand people watched the Mummers parade in Danville 1907. Prizes included a ten dollar gold piece, a bushel of potatoes, two pounds of mincemeat,and a hundred cigars.

The Danville Morning news reported on Christmas eve 1908, that the Mummers Parade that year was likely to be one of the largest ever. It announced that there would be six cash prizes presented all in gold, along with six tons of coal, a barrel of flour, and one hundred other prices. "making in all probably the greatest inducements that were ever offered mummers in this section."

The Danville Morning News, 1911

An article in the 1913 Danville American tells us there was no parade in 1912, but does not explain why. A 1911 article about the parade states that there was a good balance of money to carry over for 1912, so it was unlikely that a lack of funds was the problem. The 1913 article states that "this must not be evidence of the spirit of Mummery Dying Out." The parade did return in 1913, and the list of prizes included: $100, blankets, flour, suit cases, traveling bags, an unabridged dictionary, umbrellas, neckties, toiet articles, cigars, pipes and a large quantity of ice cream.

The Washington Fire Company attempted to revive the parade in 1914, but it was neither as elaborate, nor as popular, as the early parades.

In November of 1916, the Danville morning news reported that "One - and probably the principal reason - why the mummers parade was wholly omitted last year was because of the extensive three days celebration incidental to the opening of the George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital, which had proved a considerable drain upon the towns resources. "

The parade returned to Danville in 1917, but then not again for a few years.

It appears there was an effort to revive the parade in 1926, when local employers were asked to pass out papers asking their employees to donate the needed funds to hold the event. $1,000 was needed.
"Give every man and woman on your payroll and opportunity to contribute, however small", read the letter sent to local businesses. "The Mummers Parade will provide entertainment for all, and all should help pay the cost. I know your and your employees will be glad to do their share." By December 21 more than $600 had been raised, an plans to hold the parade were going forward. The parade definitely took place again in 1927, and a headline in the Danville Morning News declared it a success, with thousands in attendance.
Letters to businesses, to help raise funds for the parade, continued each year at least through 1929.