A half-century of history
Abby’s ‘most unusual and colorful’ event
When promoting a brand-new event, it never hurts to employ some eye-catching adjectives.
In 1972, when Abbotsford was gearing up for its first “official” Christmas parade, an article in the Tribune-Phonograph promised “one of the most unusual and colorful events in the Central Wisconsin area.”
That description may have conjured images of an old-timey circus or carnival coming to town. But the real attraction was a collection of storybook characters strolling through the city’s downtown in what would become one of the area’s most popular wintertime events.
The Abbotsford Christmas Parade actually started with a dry run in 1971, featuring just three characters — Frosty the Snowman played by Jim Wulk, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer portrayed by Ted Stroinski and Santa Claus as played by Walt Hopperdietzel.
The following year, it grew to 41 characters, including Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Snoopy and The Three Bears, among others.
The parade started at the corner of Decker’s Drug Store and Dorn Furniture — what is now Business 29 and North First Street — and made its way north to Hutt Electric and Abby Lumber Company. It then went east one block and ended at city hall.
“Parents are urged to bring their cameras as children will have an opportunity to be photographed with any of the characters attending the party in the city hall,” the newspaper article advised.
To promote the new event, several of the costumed characters appeared on Channel 9 WAOW-TV’s Dairyland Jubilee show, along Abbotsford Mayor Steve Bezak, who did an interview with Channel 9 newsman Ken Thorpe.
The Nov. 29, 1972, debut of the parade was immediately declared a success by the local newspaper. Abbotsford was brimming with community pride, with Mayor Bezak estimating a crowd of 10,000 people for the inaugural event.
“No matter what the actual count would be, the crowd was impressive for the first parade, which apparently now will be an annual Christmas occurrence in Abbotsford,” the newspaper’s editor, Jerry Pecher, wrote on Dec. 7, 1972.
That first year set the tone for how the parade would be a communal event, put together by citizens of a small city with big ambitions.
“Singling out one person for the success of the parade is impossible. The entire community is to be congratulated,” Pecher wrote. “The number of hours which went into building the floats and designing the 41 animal character costumes could never be accurately tabulated, but the total would be amazing.”
All of the town’s hard work paid off, as the young crowds responded with glee.
“Listening to the youngsters holler to their favorite characters and watching their eyes bulge when one of the animals came near to shake their hands made the parade even more worth the effort,” the newspaper reported.
The following year, the newspaper audaciously compared Abbotsford to Wisconsin’s more famous “Circus City.”
“Like Baraboo during the winter, when it was headquarters for the famous Ringling Brothers Circus, Abbotsford in the fall assumes that circus atmosphere as needle and thread, hammer and nails, paint and brushes and other assorted tools appear on the scene to get things ready for the only Christmas Parade in Central Wisconsin,” According to the Nov. 8, 1973, article, planning for the second parade took place throughout the year, but hit its peak in the fall with the construction of floats and creation of colorful costumes.
The second year saw the introduction of Cinderella and her “pumpkin coach,” accompanied by a driver, footmen and six “handsome ponies” — the first live animals involved in the parade.
Cinderella joined Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, who all took time to mingle with the crowd of adoring young fans.
“Excitement reaches a frenzy when one of the tiny tots recognizes a favorite storybook character and presses forward to clutch at the hand of this life-size, walking, talking model,” the 1973 article read.
In an editorial published on Nov. 1, 1973, the newspaper put out a call for more volunteers, who were needed to “wear storybook costumes” or to serve as clowns as “advance entertainment” while patrolling the parade route to make sure no youngsters got into harm’s way.
Money was also needed for the parade to continue. Although all of the work was donated by local city folk, the cost of materials was considerable. According to the TP, the first parade cost $3,500, and the second version was expected to run about $1,000.
“We have been told that it is no use to ask for donations from the general public for something like this city-wide Christmas parade, but...somehow we think that if anyone who saw that parade, and thought as much of it as we did, will be encouraged enough to put a couple dollars in the collection pot,” the editorial said.
Funds were set up at Abbotsford State Bank and Security State Bank, and the newspaper promised to report how well the coffers were filling up over time.
“A five dollar bill from every household in the city will put the fund in tremendous shape, and it’s about the price you would pay to take your family to any event,” the editorial argued.
A couple of weeks before the unveiling of the parade on Nov. 28, the newspaper touted the lineup of characters and floats in store for those who showed up.
One of those was “Toodles The Train,” which had been featured in the first parade, tugging along a group of storybook characters who rode along behind the smiling locomotive. He was given the title of Engine Number One in honor of Abbotsford’s First City.
A gingerbread house and the Three Little Pigs float were also added for the first time.
As always, the focus was on satisfying the youngest members of the audience.
“Yells from the children in the happy excitement of recognizing their favorite character are constantly heard along the parade route,” the TP stated. “This year will be no exception as more and more characters are added to the colorful parade.”
The front page of the Nov. 22, 1973, Tribune-Phonograph did not feature any real articles or photographs about local happenings.
Instead, there was a large headline zigzagging its way down the middle of the page, declaring “UFO spotted — flashing red light streaks across sky!”
Next to this was a story about radar watchers in Anchorage, Alaska report- edly seeing a UFO coming south out of the Arctic Circle. This same UFO was also spotted in Seattle and then again by a forest ranger in Yellowstone National Park. Finally, just that morning, a newspaper carrier in Minneapolis saw what looked like a reindeer flying through the sky.
“Well, all of the reports are correct, and there’s nothing to fear,” the newspaper reported. “That was just Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer coming from the North Pole to join with all of the other characters in the annual Christmas Parade to be held in Abbotsford.”
Yep, the local newspaper had sacrifi ced its entire front page to promote the parade in the most sensational and kidfriendly way possible. It would not be the last time the newspaper devoted entire pages to hyping the annual event.
Continuing to grow
For 1974, the third year of the parade, attention was devoted to the ladies who made the varied and colorful costumes at the heart of the event.
“There’s an old-fashioned ‘sewing bee’ taking place in Central Wisconsin, right in Abbotsford. About this time each year the ladies are not making quilts for the long Wisconsin winter, but making costumes for the annual Abbotsford Christmas Parade, which will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, on the city’s Main Street.”
Making the storybook characters come alive took a group effort led by Helen Nikolay and Elsie Bremer, nicknamed the “parade lady.”
The work of the sewing circle was brought to life by “nearly 200 youngsters and adults” who filled in the costumes and entertained the crowds.
“Coupled with the many background people needed to get the parade underway, the whole city is almost totally involved in staging this colorful Christmas pageant,” the TP reported.
New to the parade in 1974 was the 16foot tall home for the “Old Lady in the Shoe,” along with characters from Sesame Street, such as The Cookie Monster, Big Bird and the Red Hen.
By 1975, Abbotsford’s versions of famous storybook characters were making appearances outside of Wisconsin’s First City.
On Nov. 1 of that year, 15 parade characters, including Big Bid, Flower the Skunk and Pinocchio, went to the East Towne Mall in Madison and “shared the spotlight with acrobats and trained elephants from the Clyde Beatty Circus.”
“Movie audiences were startled when leaving the movie ‘Pinocchio’ to see Pinocchio and Gepetto in the flesh standing outside the theatre entrance.”
The parade characters also appeared at malls in Eau Claire and St. Paul in the month leading up to the parade.
1975 saw the arrival of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” a 45-foot long, smoke-snorting reptile that quickly became the parade’s most iconic creature. Puff became so popular he eventually made his way onto the city of Abbotsford’s welcome sign.
A Nov. 26, 1975, article in the TP tried to prepare parade-goers in a way that was both playfully ominous and reassuring.
“Puff will parade down the Main Street blowing smoke from his nose and flashing red eyes at all of the spectators. There’s really no need to fear, however, as Puff is extremely friendly to all humans and is totally under the control of the attendants who hold him on the ground so he can’t fly away.”
When Puff made his first public appearance, however, it came as bit of a shock to an unsuspecting bystander.
Jack and Ray LaSee, billed as Puff’s “chaperones,” were out walking the friendly dragon when a car driving by on Highway 13 jumped the curb. The driver stopped his vehicle for a minute or two and then sped off.
“The two brothers found out later the driver drove to a local pub and complained to the bartender he had just seen a dragon. The bartender said ‘Oh, that’s our new local character!’ With that, the man put down his drink and left muttering, “what next in Abbotsford?”
Also joining the parade for the first time was Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street and the Pied Piper.
The following year, in 1976, the parade became an official business.
“Committee members voted to form a non-profit corporation in order to develop a stronger organization and develop future plans,” reported the TP Oct. 27, 1976. Local attorney Jack Nikolay volunteered to draw up the corporation papers at no charge.
To continue raising money, the characters made more appearances at malls in Madison, Eau Claire and St. Paul, Minn.
“All proceeds from these appearances are placed in the parade fund to repair costumes and float and to make articles as needed.”
New characters added in 1976 included Minnie Mouse and Pluto, and Sesame Street characters Mumford and Oscar.
Another major character, Mother Goose, was introduced in 1977.
Appropriately enough, the character was first mentioned in a nursery rhyme published on the front page of the Nov. 16, 1977 edition of the TP.
“Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep And can’t tell where to find them, Leave them alone, and they’ll come home In time for the Abbotsford Christmas Parade.”
John Bremer was the builder of Mother Goose’s gander, a 12 foot long, 13 foot wide bird made out of wood, paper mache, chicken wire and mesh. The entire winged animal was built in his basement.
A separate group of men, including Walt Hopperdietzel, Jim Wulk, Steve Bezak and Jay O’Leary, worked together to create the float on which Mother Goose and her gander used to fly down Main Street. Like always, the creators used whatever materials were available to produce a movable stage; in this case, it was bicycle wheels, conduit, newsprint and plywood.
“Hopperdietzel said he’s been thinking about the float idea since last year. He stated the parade is a time for fantasy, and fantasy to him is a reminder of Mother Goose.”
Students at Abbotsford High School shop have remade the Mother Goose float for this year’s parade. One of those work- ing on the float was Conrad Flink, grandson of original float-maker Jay O’Leary.
The Nov. 30, 1977, edition of the TP promised a “bigger and better” parade, with fresh entertainment available.
“New antics, jokes and just plain foolishery has been planned during the year by the buffoon crew. Helping the crowd to join in the Christmas spirit will be the carolers singing while strolling down the snow packed street carrying their lighted candles.”
About a week after the 1977 parade, the TP ran an editorial drawing attention to the parade’s “biggest challenge.”
“The parade floats and costumes have outgrown the various areas of storage space it has been able to use. Most of the floats must be disassembled to meet the limited storage space. Some damage always results in this operation, plus untold manhours of labor to put them together and take them apart again.”
If the parade is going to continue to grow, the editorial said, it needed its own dedicated space, both for storage of complete units and a work area for making new floats.
“Unfortunately, the Abbotsford Christmas parade itself generates no revenue. It is only an extravaganza of color, light and costumes for the short period of time it moves down the parade route. Its claim to fame is only the enjoyment it provides plus the recognition it brings to the Abbotsford community.”
The editorial called on “each and every civic and social organization in Abbotsford” to pitch in and come up with $35,000 to $40,000 to build a parade facility. As an alternative, “an old-fashioned barn raising” was suggested.
A structure built like a barn — but not exactly in that shape — could surely save some costs, the newspaper suggested.
“If the parade can get volunteers who have some knowledge about building certainly there are many people who can hit a nail with a hammer if they’re told what to do.”
Within a couple of years of that editorial being written, a parade building was erected south of TP Printing Co., and in 1991, an addition was built.
To this day, as the parade continues to expand and evolve, parade-organizers still need to find extra space for floats in people’s pole barns and sheds, as well as in the city’s old recycling center. The home that houses the Abby-Colby Chamber Crossings of Commerce, purchased by Carol O’Leary, is also used for storage.
In 1979, two years after the release of the original Star Wars movie, seven characters from the classic series first visited Abbotsford. At the time, they were the most modern fictional characters to appear in the parade.
Carol O’Leary made costumes for Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO, Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi, who delighted the crowd with their appearance from a galaxy far, far away. The following year, a replica of the X-wing fighter — the spaceship famously ridden by Luke Skywalker when he attacked the Death Star — was built in the shop of Galvin Trucking and Equipment in Abbotsford.
The X-wing was equipped with wings that moved up and down and multi-colored flashing lights that made it look like it was shooting lasers at enemy fighters. It even had exhaust fumes coming out of the back, and an R2-D2 android sitting on top, just to make it more like the movie.
They arrived at the same time as Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble and four moppet-style characters.
The addition of the Star Wars cast started a tradition of modern TV and movie favorites being added to the parade just as they entered the pop culture zeitgeist.
In 1982, for example, the extra-terrestrial from the movie “E.T” joined the parade just a few months after the classic Steven Spielberg movie came into theaters. The following year, the popular Care Bears made their parade debut, riding on clouds at the end of a rainbow.
Added entertainment
Over the decades, various side events and early entertainment have been added to the weekend of the parade, though few of those events stuck around long.
For years, a Snow Queen contest was held, allowing young ladies from Abbotsford to compete against each other by ‘Parade lady’
Some people call her the Christmas parade lady and others, members of the younger set, refer to her as the lady who lives with The Three Bears.
Her name is Elsie Bremer, of 409 West Spruce Street in Abbotsford, and she is the creator of many of the storybook characters seen in the Abbotsford Christmas parade each year.
During September, when many of us are still enjoying late summer activities, Miss Bremer is already occupied with fake fur, styrofoam ball and detergent bottles, creating some of the new characters that will be seen for the first time in the 1974 version of the Christmas parade. The parade will take place next Wednesday evening, December 4.
New this year, and a challenge to make, according to Miss Bremer, is the “Little Red Hen,” complete with a tail of real wash and rit-dyed feathers. She has also created for this year’s parade Sesame Street characters “Big Bird” and “Cookie Monster,” plus more gingerbread men, clowns and a new, larger seven foot tall Frosty the Snowman.
Miss Bremer became involved in the first Christmas parade in 1972 when she was asked to attend a meeting of the ladies who knew how to sew. She volunteered to do The Three Bears that first year.
She found a bear suit pattern for a 10-year-old and enlarged it to fit a sixfoot man. The heads were made out of paper maiche using discarded paper sewing patterns. Mrs. Nellie Tischendorf, Dorchester, assisted her with the making of the bear. Miss Bremer also created the heads of Humpty Dumpty, the Seven Dwarfs, and Wolf and Pinocchio, to name a few.
Costumes for the characters she makes are hand sewn. Too many broken sewing machine needles is the reason for this. She designs all of her own patterns and says she would like to make a panda next.
Miss Bremer is the first to admit she cannot always solve all the problems she encounters in making the animals. She credits her brother, John Bremer, for designing a skunk tail holder-upperer and a Cookie Monster mouth that opens and closes and also Big Bird bill that moves. She also says she is lucky to have friends to help her with the lap sewing.
There is a tremendous amount of community spirit in Abbotsford involved in putting on a parade of this magnitude, according to Miss Bremer, who point out that every float, prop and costume and mask (except the magic train) was designed and made by local residents and represents many hours of work.
Reprinted from the Nov. 28, 1974, edition of the Tribune-Phonograph.
A LONG TIME AGO... -Pat Galvin sits in the cockpit of the newly constructed X-wing in 1980. The spaceship from the Star Wars movies was recreated at Galvin Truck and Equipment, where it was fitted with flashing laser guns and exhaust fumes. It continues to fly through the annual parade to this day, delighting Star Wars fans young and old.TP FILE PHOTO
COSTUMES GALORE -Elsie Bremer poses with a collection of some of the over 100 costumes she worked on over the years.TP FILE PHOTO
