With “Albion Aglow” coming up this Friday, December 1, I’m reminded that Albion used to have some rather large Christmas parades during the 1950s, when our population burgeoned to nearly 13,000 persons. That included lots of kids. A plush Christmas tree would be customarily placed in the middle of the intersection of Ash and Superior Streets (I have a picture of it) and decorated. This was a tradition for several years. Imagine the semi-trucks going around such a tree today on busy M-99. Of course, Christmas decorations would line the downtown utility poles. Some of the Christmas parades would move from the south, headed towards the north. Normally parades today head the other way. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph from the 1954 Christmas parade, showing a float headed north in the 400 block of S. Superior St. This features the Albion College Alpha Chi Delta and Sigma Nu fraternities’ entry. It features a toy train labeled “Toyland Express” next to a candy-cane house. The text on the sides reads “Merry Christmas Toyland” as it passes the Peabody Block on the left. How many of our readers remember Albion’s Christmas parades? Let’s enjoy the various festivities and events in town during the next few weeks, as there will be plenty to attend.