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The town’s decision to cancel the Fourth of July parade won’t keep members of the nation’s oldest men’s club from marching in celebration of the country’s independence.
The Old Colony Club will step out in high style, behind 101-year-old John Talcott, in a parade of its very own Saturday morning.
Members will don their black top hats and club ties and march from the clubhouse on Court Street at the corner of Brewster, to Coles Hill for the holiday observances. The celebration will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence and three firings of the club’s cannon.
Club President Jan Roht said members decided to hold their own parade while enjoying cigars on the club veranda soon after parade organizers cancelled the traditional parade last month for lack of funds.
Roht said members considered marching in the Duxbury Fourth of July parade as an alternative before deciding just to hold their own. “It was canceled, but our guys didn’t want to cancel it, so we’re going to do it ourselves,” Roht said.
The club has already obtained a special permit from fire officials to fire the cannon during ceremonies atop Coles Hill. The club, organized in 1769 and said to be the oldest men’s club in the western hemisphere, conducts a similar parade in celebration of Forefathers Day each Dec. 22.
The Old Colony Club cites the Fourth of July parade as one of its top five annual events.
For many years, Talcott, the club’s oldest member, has led the town’s parade as marshal.
The centenarian will again be in the lead this weekend, riding atop a fire engine owned by club member Jim Cotter, a former firefighter.
Roht said club members are trying to line up a band to march with them. Either way, club member Roger Randall has already signed on to play the drums.
The parade will kick off at approximately 8 a.m. from the club at 25 Court St. “We hope people will watch. This is a tradition in Plymouth, for goodness sake. It’s part of the history,” Roht said.
The town’s decision to cancel the Fourth of July parade won’t keep members of the nation’s oldest men’s club from marching in celebration of the country’s independence.
The Old Colony Club will step out in high style, behind 101-year-old John Talcott, in a parade of its very own Saturday morning.
Members will don their black top hats and club ties and march from the clubhouse on Court Street at the corner of Brewster, to Coles Hill for the holiday observances. The celebration will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence and three firings of the club’s cannon.
Club President Jan Roht said members decided to hold their own parade while enjoying cigars on the club veranda soon after parade organizers cancelled the traditional parade last month for lack of funds.
Roht said members considered marching in the Duxbury Fourth of July parade as an alternative before deciding just to hold their own. “It was canceled, but our guys didn’t want to cancel it, so we’re going to do it ourselves,” Roht said.
The club has already obtained a special permit from fire officials to fire the cannon during ceremonies atop Coles Hill. The club, organized in 1769 and said to be the oldest men’s club in the western hemisphere, conducts a similar parade in celebration of Forefathers Day each Dec. 22.
The Old Colony Club cites the Fourth of July parade as one of its top five annual events.
For many years, Talcott, the club’s oldest member, has led the town’s parade as marshal.
The centenarian will again be in the lead this weekend, riding atop a fire engine owned by club member Jim Cotter, a former firefighter.
Roht said club members are trying to line up a band to march with them. Either way, club member Roger Randall has already signed on to play the drums.
The parade will kick off at approximately 8 a.m. from the club at 25 Court St. “We hope people will watch. This is a tradition in Plymouth, for goodness sake. It’s part of the history,” Roht said.
