Photo of The Month – Jan 2004

November 18, 1954

Picture contributors: Gene Ingram and Phillip White

Perhaps you were there on that Thursday afternoon. It was the week before Thanksgiving when they held the Christmas parade in Cliffside. Roy Lee Harris caught the action from atop the store building. It must have been a mild autumn; lots of leaves are still on the trees.

Some of the people are recognizable. Gene Ingram thinks the chief majorette, in the dark outfit, is Sarah Waters; the majorettes behind her are, from left, Shelba Jean Packard, Beth Tarleton, Yvonne Hamrick and Alice Faye Greene. They’re leading the high school band. Following the band are members of the American Legion.

Notice the little sign attached to the light post near the band members. It said, simply, “Cliffside.” A sign on the opposite side also said “Cliffside.” You might say the extent of our official town limits was the thickness of a lamp post. At the least, the sign kept strangers from thinking they were passing through Chicago or some other big place.

Both Gene Ingram and Phillip White submitted versions of the photo.