When I was a kid, Christmas always began in the parking lot across Third Street from Anderson's Department Store. And it began on the morning of the Owensboro Christmas Parade.

The wall surrounding that lot--it's still there--was where we'd sit to watch the parade, which was held back then on Saturday morning instead of Saturday afternoon.

After the parade, we'd cross the street and go into Anderson's. The entrance facing Third was also the entrance to the men's department.

We'd shop Anderson's--all three floors--and then exit onto Second Street.

Honestly, when I was a kid, I didn't think you get to downtown without going through Anderson's because that's always what we did.

This was the routine.

After Anderson's, we'd go to Kresge's Department Store--not as big--on the Allen Street corner. It's where the judicial building is now.

We'd shop there and eat lunch. Kresge's had a great lunch counter.

And, by the way, Kresge is the "K" in K-mart.

The rest of that day included stops at Kuhn's 5 & 10, JC Penney, Sears, and Baynhams Shoe Store.

There were likely others but I forget.

Anyway, I said all that to lead up to this cool video I discovered and wanted to share with you. It's from the archives of the Daviess County Public Library.

It's Owensboro Christmas Parade video--well FILM--from 1953 and 1954.

LONG before my time, but very cool, nonetheless.

Enjoy:

 

1953 and 1954 Owensboro Christmas Paradess#tbt Check out this video footage of the 1953 and 1954 Owensboro Christmas parades, given to DCPL by Rick Miller! The original footage was captured from the roof of Raines Shoe Hospital by Clarence Raines himself!

Posted by Daviess County Public Library on Thursday, December 17, 2015

More From WBKR-FM