Parade a Special Event for Julian Old Familes
By Bobbi Zane

Willie Tellam, left, is a descendant of cattle ranchers who arrived in the Julian area in the 1880s. Martha Gwen Thum, on right, is a daughter of Ray Redding, superintendent/principal of Julian High School for 29 years. She is also the 1952 Apple Day Queen. Photos by Bobbi Zane

The conversation went beyond Old Times for the more than 30 descendants of Julian's pioneer and old families during a reception prior to the Fourth of July parade last month.

These are the descendants of the Argonauts, early fruit farmers, cattle ranchers, clergy and merchants. They all have stories to tell that relate to our common history.

Many admitted it had been a long time since they had seen one another, although some of their families had been living here for more than 100 years. And they had a lot of catching up to do.

In keeping with the 2007 parade's theme, Celebrating Julian's Heritage, the committee turned to the families that started it all. They included the Barnes family whose patriarch, Woody, also served as the grand marshal riding in a Country Carriage at the start of the parade.

Warren Hildreth, right, is the grandson of Julian's first physician. At left, Cedric Angel's ancestors moved to Mesa Grande in 1880, where they ran livestock.

Among the guests were Elizabeth Weaver and Howard Montgomery, great grandchildren of Fred Colman, who discovered the gold that brought thousands of Argonauts to Julian. Others, who rode with the Coleman family in a horse-drawn surrey, were descendants of the Drury Bailey family, Richard Allen Bailey and his two sons, Allen and Frank.

Riding right behind these two groups were the following: Cedric Angel; Warren Hildreth; Katelynn and Marissa Jasper; Charles Gauchino, representing the Osuna family; Rik Rikansrud; Ricky and Barbara Holes Haley; Joe Swycaffer; Jim Wood; Virginia Blanc Smith; Roy Birdsell; Tino Cauzza; Bernardine Grand Cooper; Lynda Colleen Marcy; Rowan Sullivan, representing the Porter family; Martha Gwen Thum, representing the Redding family; David Lewis, representing the Lewis/Ritchie families; Peter Vanderstaay; Jim Veldova; Danny Baker; Erin Hutchinson, representing the Zerbe family; Peggy McCoy Krahling; and Taylor, Jonah and Jackson Percy, representing the McCain family.

Marian Moore, right, head judge for the parade entries, works with Jo Ann Bernard and Susan Meyer, sitting on the floor, to make a decision about the winners.

Bernardine Grand Cooper is a descendant of Auguste Grande, who emigrated from France in the 1870s.