Over a century ago, A.B. Foote., soon to be superintendent of the North Star Mine, served as Grand Marshal of the July 4th parade in Grass Valley. The 1911 celebration was a striking example of civic pride, community spirit, and pageantry.
Thousands lined the streets to watch the “Queen City of the Sierra” come alive with floats, bands, equestrians, and a “Goddess of Liberty” portrayed by Miss Hazel Hyde.
The Narrow Gauge Railway brought in visitors from as far as San Francisco, and the streets buzzed with patriotic excitement.
Excerpt from the local newspaper: “The magnificent pageant of the morning of July 4 formed at the junction of Main and Bennett streets and marched up Main street to the strains of martial music of the Queen City band, and headed by Grand Marshal A. B. Foote. The pageant presented a scene of fairyland beauty, one long to be remembered in Nevada county's civic history.”
This Independence Day, we honor the legacy of the Foote family and their central role in the cultural life of our region.
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