ROSY ARRIVES

Comments

[DG]

There was a parade for Rosy the elephant in 1953, but that is not what is pictured here. On Saturday May 8, 1954 there was a parade to support the building of a new zoo which was measure 51 on the May 21st primary ballot. The parade began in the North Park blocks and traveled onto NW Broadway and proceeded south to SW Broadway, and paraded through several blocks downtown. -- This photo was taken as the parade crossed West Burnside to SW Broadway. The Coast Auto Supply building pictured in the background was located at NW Broadway & NW Couch. Several zoo animals were in this parade including Rosy. If you read the signs they are asking for support for a new zoo.

From the Oregonian the next day May 9th "auto show of old cars, bearing placards urging support of a new modern zoo, which the people will vote on at the May 21 election"

[DG]

Correction-- I remember seeing this photo before and recalled it being from the 1954 new zoo campaign. But I just found that it was published in the Oregonian on September 27, 1953.