^{Fred Culbert, far left, has been the voice of Springfield’s Fourth of July Parade for 30 years. Fred and wife, Maureen, are shown below. (Photos by Andrea House)}

Springfield Announces 2023 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal

By ANDREA HOUSE
SPRINGFIELD

Fred Culbert, the voice of Springfield’s Fourth of July Parade for 30 years, will be taking a break from announcing parade entries this year to lead the parade as grand marshal. For Springfield’s Fourth of July Committee, Culbert was an easy choice for the honor, not only for his dedicated service to the parade over the years but also for his countless other contributions to the Town of Springfield.

Born at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown and raised in the Village of Richfield Springs, Culbert received his certification in secondary education at the University at Albany and in 1965 took a job teaching social studies at Springfield Central School’s grade seven to 12 building in East Springfield, where he taught until 1989.

Culbert’s good nature and diligence have often earned him extra duties, and this was the case at the school, where he took shifts driving a school bus as needed and eventually took over as school principal and administrator, as well as serving as chair for the Committee on Special Education, all while continuing to teach.

An Eagle Scout himself, Culbert served as Eagle Scout Merit Badge Counselor for Citizenship Badges in Home, Community and World.

As a social studies teacher, Culbert encouraged his students to attend town board meetings as he did himself, to understand the workings of local government and to be informed citizens. A knowledgeable and well-known presence at the meetings, it was only a matter of time before Culbert won a seat as Springfield town councilman, where he served for 12 years.

Culbert has also served on Springfield’s Zoning Board of Appeals and currently holds the office of Springfield town historian.

A member of the Springfield Fire Department from 1968 until this year, Culbert has served 54 active years as a volunteer firefighter.

Due to his keen interest in local history, Culbert has been involved in the Springfield Historical Society since the 1970s and currently serves as president of the Historical Society along with his wife, Maureen, who is vice president.

According to Culbert, “If we don’t know what has come before, it becomes very hard to make decisions about the future.”

This year, the Springfield Historical Society’s Annual Fourth of July Open House will feature a special display commemorating the lives of two beloved members of the Springfield community; former Historical Society President Noel Dries, and former Springfield Town Historian Jane Prior. The recent passing of both has left the town bereft of a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

The Springfield Historical Society also plans to introduce a new book this Fourth of July, “Around Springfield,” a pictorial history of the Town of Springfield authored by Nancy Einreinhofer and Suzanne Goodrich and produced by Arcadia Publishing. The book includes a chapter dedicated to Springfield’s parade, the second-oldest Fourth of July parade in the nation.

The Springfield Fourth of July Parade, now in its 109th year, will kick off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4 in Springfield Center. This year, Ernie Whiteman and Tom Mabie will be announcing parade entries from the judge’s stand, and Lyman Johnson and Jordan Nott will announce near the Community Center.

Following the parade, a celebration will be held at the Springfield Community Center, with music by the Camden Continentals Fife and Drum Corp and the Cooperstown Community Band, Brooks’ chicken barbecue, homemade pie and hot dogs by Springfield Presbyterian Church, breakfast burritos, baked goods, and coffee by St. Thomas Church, and lemonade sales by the Cherry Valley-Springfield Class of 2028. Other highlights include the Springfield Historical Society Open House, a Revolutionary War-era exhibit by the Fort Plain Museum, and farm animals by the Springfield High Meadows 4H Club, along with various raffles by the Springfield Fire Department, Springfield Baptist Church, Pierstown Grange, and CV-S Endowment Foundation, and more.

An invocation by the Reverend Kyle Grennen of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church will be followed by a flag raising ceremony in honor of Jane Prior.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Glimmerglass State Park, a free Fourth of July Evening Concert by the Council Rock Band will be followed at dusk by a fireworks display.

On Sunday, July 2 at 4 p.m., the Glimmerglass Festival will present its annual “Springfield Appreciation Concert,” previewing performances from this season’s productions at the Alice Busch Opera Theater. Tickets for the concert are $5.00 each and are available at the Convenience Corner Store in Springfield Center. Springfield Fourth of July T-shirts with this year’s parade theme, “Salute to Lady Liberty,” are also available for $10.00 each. All proceeds from concert ticket and T-shirt sales support the Fourth of July Parade and Celebration.

The Springfield Fourth of July Parade welcomes all individuals, families, groups, and businesses to join the procession. Registration is free, and an online entry form can be accessed by clicking the “Sign Up” button on the Springfield 4th of July Parade and Celebration Facebook page.

Parade prizes will be awarded for floats, fire departments, veterans’ organizations, school bands, junior marching organizations, musical performing groups, antique vehicles, horses and equine units. Judging will be based partly on use of the theme, “Salute to Lady Liberty,” which participants are free to interpret in any way.

Children are encouraged to register to ride their decorated bicycles in the parade, and each registered bike rider will receive a $10.00 prize, with trophies awarded for the best decorated. Helmets are required while riding in the parade.

For more information, e-mail the Springfield Fourth of July Parade Committee at springfield.july4@gmail.com or contact Committee Chair Debra Miller at (315) 858-0304.

The Springfield Fourth of July Parade and Celebration is sponsored in part by the Otsego County Events Grant Program.