Regarding second st: It changed when the commentators on tv started telling everyone about the “big party” on two st. For years we would march, go to my dad’s house on 2nd St., eat and then go to the fancy club house to see how we placed. Our family has put fancy suits on the street since the 1930s, 5 generations. We would walk down 2nd St in our costumes to our club. When we had small (2 yr old) juveniles we took them around and people would give them money or flowers….the last time we did 2nd st my neice was 5 and had a long ice blue velvet cape, we flanked her so no one would step on her and after 2 blocks we went home. No one gave us any space or respect, some kid sprayed the velvet cape with silly string and thought is was hilariously funny. Other kids tried to take plumes out of her back piece. It was a free for all and too dangerous to enjoy. I blame it on the tv coverage diming us out. In all the years of my family involvement in both fancies and string bands we never called it two street, it was always second street….If the outsiders are going to come in they have to respect the tradition and the unwritten rules because they’ve ruined it for everyone.
Regarding second st: It changed when the commentators on tv started telling everyone about the “big party” on two st. For years we would march, go to my dad’s house on 2nd St., eat and then go to the fancy club house to see how we placed. Our family has put fancy suits on the street since the 1930s, 5 generations. We would walk down 2nd St in our costumes to our club. When we had small (2 yr old) juveniles we took them around and people would give them money or flowers….the last time we did 2nd st my neice was 5 and had a long ice blue velvet cape, we flanked her so no one would step on her and after 2 blocks we went home. No one gave us any space or respect, some kid sprayed the velvet cape with silly string and thought is was hilariously funny. Other kids tried to take plumes out of her back piece. It was a free for all and too dangerous to enjoy. I blame it on the tv coverage diming us out. In all the years of my family involvement in both fancies and string bands we never called it two street, it was always second street….If the outsiders are going to come in they have to respect the tradition and the unwritten rules because they’ve ruined it for everyone.