DECATUR - John Phillips fired his traditional ear-splitting cannon to start the 50th anniversary edition of the Cobb Avenue July 4 celebration on Friday morning.

With Joanne Baird, 89, a founder of the celebration, as grand marshal, riding in a green convertible, the annual parade moved between West William Street and West Main Street.

Carolyn Baird Stupin, here from Santa Fe. N.M., and Selig Freeman, 13, dressed as Uncle Sam, carried a banner proclaiming the occasion.

Kids of all sizes waved American flags and trooped behind the convertible, walking, riding bicycles and tricycles, or riding in a wagon. Mothers wheeled baby buggies. "Charm," Lynette Nehmer's champion Rottweiler show dog, pulled a canine sulky with a charmed rider.

At West William Street, the parade of revelers turned around and came back to the tune of patriotic music.

That was just the beginning of a grand neighborhood get-together staged by Jane and Tom Shade.

"We moved here in 1976," Tom Shade said. "We thought we would be here five years. We've never left."

There are 34 houses eligible for the shindig on brick-paved Cobb Avenue and four houses on West William Street. Cobb is a couple of streets west of Millikin University.

Want to get in on the fun next time? Three houses are for sale.

Cobb neighbors from the past greeted one another. Joe and Carol Houston came from Gaylord, Mich. Doug Eshelman, who sells houses in Decatur, came for the first time since the first celebration in 1958. Donna Manuell, who lived at 214 Cobb, the Baird House, before Don and Joanne Baird, were there. Another member of the Baird clan, James, was on hand for the first time, wearing a cardboard tri-cornered hat provided for the adults.

Mary Alice Burgess, a Cobb Avenue resident for 34 years, was there. John Baird, going on 90, the brother of the late Don Baird, was there. George Coutant, 94, was there, too, as he has lived at 214 and 206 Cobb.

Eric and Sydney McRae, who are entered in the Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon on Sunday, said they moved to Cobb Avenue in 2000 because it is noted for having athletic-minded people and music-minded people.

Make that fun-loving people, too.

For Katy Houston, a dream will come true Aug. 2. She always wanted to wake up on Cobb Avenue on her wedding day. She will, quartered in the Neil and Karen Baird home.

Neil and Karen Baird were among a group of Bairds who read the Declaration of Independence, an entertainment feature, along with a "Happy Birthday, America!" skit by children - Laura Tueth, Magdalena Freeman, Braydon Buchanan, Olivia Fossier, Selig Freeman and Ysabella Freeman.

There was an American Idol skit, too, by the kids; plenty of food and a bounce house and mobile zoo animals to delight the children.

"Wonderful, super," declared Joanne Baird. "It's a thrill to see the same spirit we always experienced."

Bob Fallstrom can be reached at bfallstrom@herald-review.com or 421-7981.

"Oh Beautiful Cobb Avenue"

Oh beautiful Cobb Avenue from William Street to Main

With brick street, lamp posts, vintage homes

You timeless will remain

Oh beautiful Cobb Avenue with sparkling, gentle light

You wrap us in this neighborhood

With warmth and spirit bright

Oh marvelous Cobb Avenue, each year brings us much fun.

From caroling, Halloweenie Roast,

To July 4 cannon

Oh marvelous Cobb Avenue, our lives you have embraced,

And filled them with community

And never ending grace

Oh neighboring Cobb Avenue, you suit us to a tee,

We people share a common bond

Of caring and of glee

Oh neighborly Cobb Avenue, we sing your praises strong

And know we will remember you

Throughout our whole lives long!

-Words by Carol and Joe Houston; and sung to the tune of "America The Beautiful"