City of Santa Fe Springs
May, 2007, 50th Anniversary Parade

Hathaway Ranch Museum 1st Prize Float Entry

The 50th Anniversary Parade

Happy times abounded for the City of Santa Fe Springs and the Hathaway Ranch Museum on Tuesday, May 12, 2007, when the 50th anniversary of the founding of the City was celebrated with a parade. A John Deere 1947 Model "G" tractor pulled the float entered by the Hathaway Ranch Museum. The float was gaily decorated by the City of Santa Fe Springs Woman's Club, founded in 1956. The yellow flowers festooning the float were hand made by members of the Woman's Club. Approximately 20 floats were in the parade, along with USC marching band and others, balloons (similar to the type used in the famous Macy's Parade in New York, antique automobiles and numerous equestrian units.

The John Deere tractor is owned by and was restored, circa 1999, on the Hathaway Ranch Museum property. Operating the tractor was veteran Ray Gibson, who, amongst his many talents, is the volunteer responsible for overseeing the general maintenance of properties and equipment at the Hathaway Ranch Museum.

The 4-wheeled wagon carriage and frame was an old item laying unused on the ranch, until volunteers built a bed and fitted it with wood decking. On the wagon bed were bales of hay on which representatives from the woman's club sat and waved to the crowds lining the parade route. Horses from the equestrian unit following the float occasionally startled the ladies when they bolted and tried to snatch a mouthful of hay, but no harm was done and the parade finished as anticipated at the Betty Wilson Center on Florence Avenue. Although there were several professionally designed and built floats, the Hathaway Ranch Museum float managed to win 1st prize.

Picture from the May 12, 2007, Parade:
John Deere 1947 Model "G" tractor.
The John Deere 1947 Model "G" tractor that pulled the Hathaway Ranch Museum
float in the City of Santa Fe Springs 50th anniversary parade.
Hathaway Ranch Museum float.
Hathaway Ranch Museum float in the City of Santa Fe Springs 50th anniversary parade.
The float was decorated by the City of Santa Fe Springs Woman's Club.
Ray Gibson (standing at right) operated the tractor.

Hathaway Ranch Museum
11901 Florence Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 777-3444