| About 50 years ago, at the corner
of Battersea Road and Granby Street, the Ocean View
Chamber of Commerce and Ocean View VFW Post 3160 held
their First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa
Claus Parade. The Granby
High School Chorus sand, Father Keely of Holy Trinity
Church, and Reverend Harrell of Ocean View Methodist
(now Miles Memorial) Church gave talks about the true
meaning of Christmas; and then, State Representative
Carl Spencer pressed a switch illuminating the two-story
cedar tree.
VFW Post 3160's National Champion
Drum and Bugle Corps stepped out, led by Drum Major
Walker Floyd, playing Jingle Bells, followed by Molly
Lang's Drum Majorettes, the Granby Chorus, and Granby
Band conducted by Earnest King. Next came the
Harley Davidson Biker's Club (all white and chrome
"Hogs"), glistening and winking their red and green
signal lights.
Then came the Santa Claus
stagecoach, drawn by eight tiny Shetland ponies, all
furnished by smith Douglas Fertilizer. Atop the
coach was Santa Claus (Comrade Henry Driver) waving and
throwing out wrapped candy canes.
The parade went up Granby Street
to First View Avenue, then to West Ocean View Avenue to
Duffy's Lane, into the VFW lot where Santa talked with
all the kids, taking their "Want Lists".
Drum and Bugle Corps
VFW Post 3160
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