GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - As the calendar rolls around to the third week in May, you can find most of Gridley getting ready for one of the biggest events of the year, Red Suspenders Days! The celebration, which was rumored to have started on May 20^th, 1961, began as a way to locally celebrate our firefighters. Delving through the aging pages of The Gridley Herald’s yearly annuals, it was discovered that Red Suspenders Days in fact, did not start in 1961.

On the weekend of May 20^th, 1961, Gridley hosted quite a party in its downtown corridor but it was not Red Suspenders Days – It was the first Sidewalk Days Sale. The Sidewalks Days Sale was one of the biggest cooperative merchant promotions that the town had attempted in several years, organized in hopes to give the local economy a much needed boost.

Not only did local stores pedal their goods on the sidewalks at discounted prices, the event featured dance demonstrations, local artist Mrs. Hilda Winchester held watercolors demonstrations painting the sales activities, car dealers showcased their top cars, the band boosters set up a sarsaparilla shop near the post office, local dignitaries were interviewed and broadcasted on Radio KPAY and free balloons were to be had by all.

Don Giles, Committee Chairman of the event said “Since this is our first attempt at a promotion such as this, we are happy with the cooperative attitudes of everyone. We hope to make it an annual affair and to have more added attractions each year.” Little did he know what the future planned.

Fast forward to May of 1962 and once again, you will find Gridley gearing up for celebration. Friday May 18^th would see the revival of the Fireman’s Ball, which had last been held 20 years prior. The dance was a big success, held at the Butte County Fair Grounds in the Feather Bowl building from 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Under the Chairmanship of Dutch Thayer, the dance would raise funds for the Firemen, with tickets costing a $1.00 donation apiece. The dance included Ballroom dancing to the accompaniment of Ralph Browns Orchestra, and the intermissions were filled with Square dancing called by Frank Frost and Dearel Ingram.

Over $500 dollars was raised, which the firemen planned to use to purchase a new piece of firefighting equipment. Chairman Thayer announced that “plans are already in the making for a bigger and better event next year, possibly a cooperative event with the businessmen, baseball breakfast, and a parade.”

Thayer lived up to that promise, and the next year, May 31 and June 1^st of 1963, Gridley hosted its first Red Suspenders Days. In honor of the event, The Gridley Herald was printed entirely in red ink and sported an article on the front page advertising what would turn out to be a history making event.

It read “Banners heralding the first annual Red Suspenders Days, in conjunction with Sidewalk Days, were unfurled across Gridley intersections…Through the combined efforts of the Gridley Volunteer Firemen, the Gridley Merchant Committee, and the Gridley Boys Baseball Committee, the town will take on a carnival-like atmosphere this Friday and Saturday.”

Merchants again sold their wares outside their businesses and wore turn-of-the-century costumes, including red suspenders, with prizes awarded to the best dressed. On Saturday, Gridley Boys Baseball held their pancake breakfast in the city plaza (Daddow Park) and a 60-piece band performed to entertain customers as they shopped at the downtown district.

The highlight of the day was, of course, the Fireman’s Parade, with Grand Marshal Charlie Vance sounding the siren on the old American La-France fire truck to signal its start. The parade saw over 80 entries, including the schools’ marching bands. It went down in history as a huge success.

Not much, except maybe the faces in the crowd, has changed since that first Red Suspenders Day. As tradition dictates, the day still begins with the Little League Pancake Breakfast, followed by the Bed Races, the Parade and all the while celebrating our beloved area Firefighters. It remains an event unique to the town of Gridley, a special part of its history and future.