Hough Elementary students and staff, neighbors and the community were decked out in bright green — shirts, hats, scarves, tutus, tights, wings and wigs Thursday for the 25th annual Paddy Hough Parade.
The parade celebrates Irish immigrant and pioneer educator Patrick “Paddy” Hough, the namesake of both the school and its neighborhood near downtown Vancouver.
The parade began in front of the school, wound through the neighborhood, down the Uptown Village portion of Main Street and ended back at the school. Hough Principal Steven Vance was the grand master.
Minutes before the parade began, the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the Hough Youth Escola de Samba drum group gathered around the group’s director, Steven Schob. They fingered their drumsticks and shifted the weight of their Brazilian bass drums.
“We’ll be playing a rock beat the kids created,” Schob said. “They call it ‘Super Samba.’ ”
Wearing a green tulle tutu, green fairy wings and bright pink sunglasses, Sofia Chandlee, 4, rode along the parade route in a decorated wagon pulled by her dad, Seth Chandlee. Next to her walked her grandpa, Chan Chandlee, 74, who attended Hough Elementary. The Chandlee family has lived in the Hough neighborhood for five generations.
“Here you go, Sofe!” encouraged her dad.
Sofia flung a fistful of candy toward the curb.
Brothers Jaymin Muller, 5 and Caleb Muller, 3 scrambled to retrieve the candy. Their sister, Eleanor Muller, 16 months, watched from her stroller. Their mom, Alli Muller, sat on the curb. The family lives in the Hough neighborhood. It was their first parade.
What’s their favorite thing about the parade?
“Candy!” Jaymin shouted gleefully as he held up half of a candy bar.
Noah’s Ark Preschool kids rode decorated bikes, scooters, wagons and scooters. Glen Broughton and his daughter, Zoey Broughton, 5, brought up the rear of the Noah’s Ark contingent. Holding hands, they roller skated along the parade route.
Bob Synoground drove his red 1954 Plymouth in the parade along with other Slo-Pok Car Club members. A sign on his car announced: “Hough student 1947 to 1953, 69 years ago.”
Folks from Hough and surrounding neighborhoods flocked to the Uptown Village area of Main Street to watch the parade.
Sporting green tulle skirts and strings of green beads, twins Dahlia Taylor and Iris Taylor, 4, stood with their mom, Angie Timmins. The family lives in the Hough neighborhood. Her son, River Taylor, is a third-grader at Hough Elementary.
“They’re waiting for their brother to walk by,” said Timmins.
At the mention of her big brother, Dahlia jumped up and down with excitement, plopped onto the curb and dangled her sparkly red shoes in front of her. They were on the wrong feet.
“The leprechauns did it!” Timmins laughed.
Betsy Brownfield had loaded her children, Emmaus Brownfield, 5, Almira Brownfield, 3 and Alastair Brownfield, 9 months, into her Dutch cargo bike, and pedaled from the Lincoln neighborhood. The family sat on a grassy parking strip eating a picnic and watching the parade.
“We have come every year since he was 1,” Betsy Brownfield said, nodding toward Emmaus. “They start asking about the parade in January.”
Wearing a bright green wig, Shirley Staggenborg, 69, stood in front of Columbia House with her caregivers, her daughter, Sherrie Conrad and granddaughter, Kim Boucher, who cradled her chihuahua, Lily. Even Lily was dressed for the parade in a green T-shirt that read: “Rub my belly!” It’s good luck.”
Staggenborg has attended every parade in the 14 years since she moved to Columbia House.
She said her favorite part was “all of it! I like to watch the little kids walking by.”
Bedecked in green finery, miniature horses Willy and Jilly were led along the parade route by Lindy Byford and Mandy Quinn. The horses were representing Carter Park Dental during the parade, but they also participate in Battle Ground High School’s equestrian program with Byford and Quinn.
When the parade was over, Willy and Jilly clip-clopped in front of Hough School. Eli Hammond, 3 skipped up to the horse handlers and asked if he could pet them. Yes, he could.
As his dad, Andrew Hammond, mom, Amanda Hammond and sister, Abigail, 7 months, stood and watched, Eli pet the patient miniature horses, who mostly stood still.
But Eli was so overjoyed that he couldn’t contain himself. Hopping up and down, he pronounced the parade and miniature horses “very amazing!”
Did You Know?
• The Paddy Hough Parade honors Patrick “Paddy” Hough.
• Born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846, Hough immigrated to Vancouver in 1883.
• He was a teacher and eventually associate superintendent of schools in Vancouver.
• Hough Elementary School was built 16 years after he died.
