The Codorus Creek Improvement Partnership is reviving 100-year-old tradition-- the Codorus Creek Boat Parade in York County.

A century ago the Codorus was alive with boaters, and in the summer months they had a festive boat parade. Here is a description from Raymond J. Sechrist's boyhood memories as recorded in his book Skinny Dipping in The Codorus (thanks for permission to the York Heritage Trust).

"In summer months, they would have boat parades. They'd start where Penn Street crosses the creek. They'd decorate these boats, mostly canoes, with pennants and roman candles and jack-o-lanterns and the girls, one at each end, would have parasols.

“They'd paddle down the creek from the Boat Club, which was part of the old York Athletic Club grounds at Richland Avenue. At King's Dam, they had to get out and lift the canoe around the dam to get to the lower water so they could come down through town.

“When they got down to George Street and Laucks Dam, they'd turn around and come back up. There would be prizes for the best decorated boat, you know. When they'd come down the creek, the bridges would be lined with people."

On August 27 at 2 p.m. this tradition will be revived (parasols optional). The parade will follow the original route from what is now Bantz Park to the dam below Philadelphia Street. Participants are asked to decorate their boats and prizes will be awarded for the most creative, most historic, and CCIP favorite.

There is no fee. Join the parade by meeting before 1 p.m. at Bantz Park, at the south end of S. Belvidere Ave.

If you have any questions, would like to register, or would like to be a prize sponsor, call the Codorus Creek Improvement Partnership at 717-848-1900.

6/12/2005