Voliva Bob - Santa Rosa: California in vintage postcards

HOMETOWN POSTCARD. This comical postcard flew a felt pennant imprinted with the name of your hometown.

T he Rose Carnival or Festival has been Santa Rosas premier event since its inception before the turn of the century. The festival events are always anticipated with great enthusiasm each year. Why a Rose Carnival? Luther Burbank stated it best when he was asked what his favorite flower was: I have no favorite flower except, of course, the rose.

The first Rose Carnival was held in May of 1894. Until that year there had always been a number of celebrations, dances, and parades sponsored by various groups but nothing on an annual basis. Thomas P. Keegan, the Father of the Rose Carnival, was the leading promoter of an annual celebration for the entire city. In 1896, rain spoiled the parade and the city fathers decided to hold a Chrysanthemum Festival in the fall of 1897. In 1898, the Rose Festival had returned and by the turn of the century it was a well-established event.

Although considered a yearly event, there have been some gaps in its operation. No official celebrations were held in 1906 due to the earthquake, nor between 1918 and 1932 due to World War One and Luther Burbanks death. General economic conditions stopped the festivities, and World War II caused some missed years, but since the late 1950s there have been few cancellations.The Rose Parade is distinctive to Santa Rosa, and as you will see from the following real photo postcards, it was quite the eventwith floats, flowers, crowning the queens, and many onlookers enjoying the fun.

ROSE CARNIVAL, 1911. This postcard is typical of those produced each year to advertise Santa Rosas Rose Carnival.

ROSE CARNIVAL, 1908. The parade of decorated automobiles is shown passing the rear of the fire station in the 500 block of Fourth Street.

ROSE CARNIVAL, 1915. This image of Queen Zelma Carithers was mailed to British Columbia and asked the question, Dont you think she is a beauty?

ROSE CARNIVALS, C . 1915. Automobiles decorated with fresh greens and flowers were popular and favorite attractions.

BOOT FLOAT ENTRY. Both photos depict the Boot and Shoe Workers Union, Santa Rosa Local Company No. 446, but in different years. The float in the top photo entered the parade in 1916 and the one below entered later. Santa Rosa had a strong leather tanning and manufacturing industry.

ROSE CARNIVAL, 1917. This clever entry came from Armstrong Woods, a state park that features more than 800 acres of the tallest and oldest redwood trees in Northern California.

ROSE CARNIVAL, C . 1910. Nautical themes were popular entries.

JUVENILE ROSE CARNIVAL QUEEN GERALDINE GRACE, 1907.

ROSE CARNIVAL, 1915. A pee-wee baseball team gets a pull from the big sluggers!

JUVENILE QUEEN ESTHER JUNE VAUGHAN AND HER COURT, 1912.