1954 Soap Box Derby Parade

Under a sunny sky, the third annual Soap Box Derby parade took place in Sandusky on Saturday, July 24, 1954. An article in the July 16, 1954 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News showed the exact placement of all the parade participants.

Several of the floats carried the Soap Box Derby cars, which were driven in the vehicles of the sponsors. Other parade participants were public officials, local civic organizations,  and several marching units including the Moose majorettes and the Sandusky High School marching band. Below is a float from the Elmer Borchardt Company of Castalia, Ohio.

This float from the Sandusky Safety Council appears to have pulled by an old steam-powered tractor:

The Eagles Club float features a large flag on the front of the truck:

The Soap Box Derby took place down the Tiffin Avenue subway on Sunday, July 25. The winner was fourteen year old  Robert Keech, sponsored by G.B. Plumbing. Robert had a time of 28.8 seconds.  Second place went to John Duden, age 11. Read more about the Sandusky Soap Box Derby in microfilmed copies of the Sandusky Register Star News, housed at the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center.