So since it’s Throwback Thursday and we’ve had the Ollie Williams forecast for 4 consecutive days in Sheboygan, we did a little trivia revolving around an event I remember well: The 1998 Sheboygan flood. Just under 11 inches of rain in 24 hours!
My family was fortunate enough to dodge any significant basement flooding, but I remember walking around our neighborhood once the rain had stopped and seeing a TON of standing water on streets all around us. Lots of people lost their homes and even more people lost possessions they had in basements, rec rooms, etc.
So I know this probably isn’t a pleasant memory for some, but I always find footage like this from the 90’s interesting. Standard def, 4:3 aspect ratio, the cars, the clothes, it just looks like a simpler time.
And for whatever reason when we were talking about the flood this morning, I remembered the fact that the city hosted a MASSIVE Disney parade in town a few days later.
Let me tell you something: This was a BIG deal. YUGE. If I’m remembering correctly, we got our name submitted and then had to compete against other small-ish towns to earn the right to have Disney come to town and put on a big ol’ parade. Each town sent a representative to Orlando and were put in front of Mickey Mouse sitting on an Iron Throne. Those people had to plead their case and eventually Mickey decided where he was willing to go. The winner was sent home a conquering hero and the losers all had to take turns in the boo box. Allegedly the tribute from Galena was never heard from again.
Anyhoo, the city got things cleaned up quickly enough to host the parade, which is the second video attached above.
PS: Crazy to think that this was almost 30 years ago. Back then I was living in Sheboygan with my whole life in front of me. Almost 30 years later I’m living in Sheboygan with less life in front of me. Crazy!
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