I am sharing a series of pictures taken at a Fourth of July parade held in Grass Valley, sometime in the mid 30's (I don't know the exact year of this particular parade...). The parade route started at West Main Street and turned the corner onto Mill Street. These pictures are from the Hansen family collection.
A parade float going down West Main Street and past Alpha Hardware. Note the gasoline pump in front of the store.
A marching band going down West Main Street past the Holbrook and the Grass Valley Cafe.
This is what West Main Street looked like in the 1930's!
From the Nevada County Historical Society PIC 4 GR 767
John Hansen marching in the Fourth of July Parade. The parade just turned onto Mill Street from West Main Street. He was wearing his Spanish American War Naval uniform.
"John Hansen volunteered for duty with the U.S. Navy during the Spanish American War... (he served as a seaman in 1898). Though being an immigrant from Norway, he was fiercely proud of his adopted country, became a citizen, and served as Grass Valley counsilman and later as Mayor. His American flag was put out each morning and taken in each evening at his home on West Main Street. He marched in many parades in his uniform, even into later life." quote from Margaret Hansen Boothby shared on the FaceBook site You Know You're From Nevada County if You Remember.... June 29th, 2022.
Above photograph enlarged.
John and Vere Hansen's home at 418 West Main Street taken July 17, 1942. Their sons Jack, Bob and Harold Hansen were serving in WWII at that time. The American flag was proudly displayed from the front porch.
Happy Birthday America!
Relationship Reference: Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Harold Hansen->John and Vere Burrows Hansen