Time Machine: Easter egg hunts and parades

Small family events replaced by larger, public gatherings

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What is the origin of the Easter Bunny, a rabbit who lays eggs?

It goes back to a Teutonic legend that a hare was once a bird and was transformed into its present shape by the goddess of spring, Ostara. In grateful recognition of that service, the hare laid eggs in April at the festival of Ostara, according to the Haskin Information Bureau, a source of such tidbits from 1916 until it closed in 1967.

The earliest mention of the Easter Bunny is believed to be a short admonition in a German book dated 1572: “Do not worry if the bunny escapes you; should we miss his eggs, then we shall cook the nest.”

Easter egg hunts and Easter parades are traditions that go back a long way in Eastern Iowa.

In the 1800s, the Easter egg hunts were mainly private family events.

In the 1890s, Mrs. George B. (Irene) Douglas held an annual Easter egg hunt for her nephews, George and Edward and their friends. In 1898, when her two younger sisters were visiting from Grand Rapids, she expanded the boys-only event to include girls. The event for 16 children was held at the Douglas home at 800 Second Ave. SE.

Bigger events

In 1922, The Gazette reported E. Rabbit, Esq., hiding eggs for the 15 youngsters at the Community House. In 1925, children under age 14 were invited by the Highland Community Club to hunt for eggs.

An all-night rain forced the Lions Club to postpone its first annual Easter egg hunt, scheduled for April 1, 1934, at Ellis Park, to a week later, on April 8. The club put the 7,200 dyed eggs into cold storage for the week.

“It was estimated that nearly 1,000 children, overriding objections of parents who feared wet feet and chills, arrived at the park to be greeted by a sign announcing the hunt was postponed until next Sunday, when, it is hoped, weather will be better,” The Gazette reported.

The postponed festival turned out to be even more elaborate than originally planned. There were 500 prizes, including live rabbits, theater tickets and bags of marbles. The crowd in the park was estimated at more than 10,000 children and adults.

In the fracas, 55 children were lost, but eventually found via announcements over the public address system.

Egg hunts continued annually until they petered out during the World War II years.

The Easter bunny was scheduled to arrive by train at Union Station at 10 a.m. March 8. When his train was delayed, he came to town via a private engine and caboose. After greeting children, he set up headquarters on the second floor of the Killian store. — The Easter Bunny was scheduled to arrive by train at Union Station at 10 a.m. March 8, 1947. When his train was delayed, he came to town via a private engine and caboose. After greeting children, he set up headquarters on the second floor of the Killian store. (Gazette archives)

Easter parade

In 1947, Cedar Rapids’ Killian Co. brought “the real Easter bunny” into town via the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. Called King Peter, The Gazette described him as “a six- foot- tall fellow who talks.” He was scheduled to roll into old Union Station at the edge of Greene Square at 10 a.m. March 8, 1947.

His train, however, was delayed an hour, so the C&NW arranged for a “Bunny Express” private engine and caboose to bring him into town at 10 on the dot.

He was greeted by several bunny helpers, who joined him in a decorated convertible escorted by motorcycle police and the Cedar Rapids Boys Drum & Bugle Corps. The entourage took a circuitous route to the Killian store, where the bunny set up headquarters on the second floor.

In an interview, King Peter said, “I am so pleased with the reception I received on my first pre-Easter visit to Cedar Rapids that I shall try to come back next year.”

The bunny was around April 6 to supervise an Easter egg hunt for 34 youngsters at the Children’s Home of Cedar Rapids.

In 1955, after a couple of years of cold, wet weather, the small parade was discontinued.

It was revived in 1957 by the Easter Seals campaign. The next year, the event became the Easter Seal Parade sponsored by the Easter Seal Society. That lasted two years before the society turned to other fundraising events.

Mr. Easter Bunny himself was a guest at an Easter breakfast March 28, 1961, at Johnson Elementary School for 82 kindergarteners. To the left of Mr. Bunny are Joe Haddy, Robert Haizmann and Shirleen Sykora. The breakfast was the culmination of year-long instruction on proper eating habits. The children made their own Easter hats and wore them to the party. — Mr. Easter Bunny himself was a guest at an Easter breakfast March 28, 1961, at Johnson Elementary School for 82 kindergartners. To the right of Mr. Bunny are Joe Haddy, Robert Haizmann and Shirleen Sykora. The breakfast was the culmination of a yearlong instruction on proper eating habits. The children made their own Easter hats and wore them to the party. (Gazette archives)

School events

Easter was a cause for celebration in area schools.

Erskine Elementary School had the largest kindergarten class in the city in 1958. Its afternoon kindergarten modeled their Easter hat creations in a parade at the school on March 30, 1958.

Johnson Elementary School drew a Gazette photographer to an Easter breakfast for 82 kindergartners March 28, 1961, to celebrate the class’ year of studying proper eating habits. The children made their own Easter hats for the party. The boys made top hats, while the girls made paper plate bonnets.

More egg hunts

Marion’s Jaycees held their first annual Easter egg hunt at Thomas Park on April 1, 1961. Sixteen-year-old Cheryl Barber of Marion played the Easter Bunny for the event.

In 1965, community egg hunts included one sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce at Ellis Park, with local WMT-TV clown celebrity Mombo as master of ceremonies. Other egg hunts were held in Newhall, Keota, Fayette and Oxford Junction, all sponsored by local chambers or community clubs.

Since then, Easter egg hunts, many of them attended by a costumed Easter Bunny, are common occurrences in Eastern Iowa sponsored by public enterprises, private businesses and nonprofits.

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