Mardi Gras 1886

Mardi Gras 1886 was the first organized celebration of Mardi Gras in Birmingham. It was marked by a parade and masked ball held on Monday March 8, 1886, both presented by the German Society. Crowds of revelers were reported to have come into the city by train for the spectacle.

Parade

The parade started on the south end of the 22nd Street Viaduct and processed from the bridge to 1st Avenue North, where it turned to the west and continued to 16th Street, a distance of about one mile. The following floats were described by the Birmingham Age:

• City Marshal Frank Gafford marched at the head of the procession as Grand Marshal.
• Captain Pickard and Officers Nix, Hunter, McGee, Minges and McDonald of the Birmingham Police Department followed, mounted on horseback.
• The Birmingham Fire Department's fleet followed, dressed in white shirts with black pants.
  • The "new steamer", drawn by two gray horses driven by W. M. Carney with Engineer Raplee manning the rear.
  • The No. 3 reel wagon, driven by Thomas Hart with S. I. Davis at the brake, was decorated with a large American flag.
  • The "old steamer" was drawn by two heavy iron-gray horses driven by Glenn Scogin with George Schmend at the brake.
  • The No. 1 reel wagon was driven by C. M. Watson.
  • Two hook and ladder trucks, driven by George Hay and James Bergen.
• Arthur Riley's Brass Band followed, comprising 13 musicians on a wagon drawn by two cream-colored and two black horses.

References

• "German Mardi Gras" (March 9, 1886) Birmingham Age.