PARDEEVILLE - In the end, tradition prevailed.

By a 6-1 vote at a special meeting, the Pardeeville Village Board on Tuesday returned the parade route for the Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration to the Main Street path that residents and visitors have known for decades.

That means there will be no driving on the parts of Highways 22 and 44 that go through the center of the village shortly before or shortly after the parade's step-off time at noon Saturday, and no parking on any of the streets on the route, including East Chestnut, Main (Highway 22), Lake (Highway 44) and Don streets.

The village board had originally set the parade route to go along Second Street, one block east of Main Street. This was the route that was used in 2008 because Highway 22 was then a state-designated detour for Highway 33, portions of which were under construction.

Originally, parade planners had favored the Second Street route because it would not require closing Highway 22, which entails directing motorists away from Pardeeville's main drag.

But Trustee Connie Pease said the Main Street parade route is a key part of Pardeeville's history.

"It has been on Main Street my whole life," she said, "and I think tradition counts for something."

Earl Rhode of Pardeeville said tradition played a part in his effort to get the parade back on Main Street - an effort that included securing permission from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to close state Highways 22 and 44 for the duration of the parade.

"I'm 80 years old, and I recall parades on Main Street since I was 10 years old," he said. "I know there's more traffic there now than 70 years ago, but I think tradition counts for something."

But an even more important reason for the Main Street route, he said, was because seven war veterans - six of whom were awarded Purple Hearts for injuries and one of whom was a prisoner of war - agreed to be featured in the parade. Each honored veteran will ride in an open convertible with his name on it.

Rhode said he believed the presence of the veterans helped persuade the DOT and village officials to change the route back to Main Street.

Besides, he said, "I think the people of Pardeeville deserve the wide sidewalks of Main Street for watching the parade."

Trustee Ken Ebsen was the sole dissenter.

"I don't think we should close Highway 22 for a parade," he said. "This has been one of my pet peeves for years, seeing towns close their main streets for parades, and not just in Pardeeville. It disrupts traffic, and it disrupts a lot of businesses along the route."

Pease countered, "I think, on the whole, businesses like it."

Trustee Barry Pufahl said the parade will not wind through Chandler Park as it did last year. Several parade participants, he said, complained about the narrow, curvy road through the park, saying it was a long walk and difficult to navigate for large parade units such as trucks.

Altogether, there are 78 units signed up to participate in Saturday's parade, said Public Works Director Dave Tracey.

The units will line up near Pardeeville Elementary School, and that's where the parade will both start and end.

Tracey said "no parking" signs will go up along the parade route first thing in the morning Saturday, and barricades will be erected to keep drivers away from the streets on the route. There will be at least four Columbia County Sheriff's Department deputies and nine volunteers on hand to control and reroute traffic.

Pease said she wondered if there would be a map of the route posted anywhere in Pardeeville, to show out-of-towners where they can stake out spots to watch the parade.

Tracey replied, "Oh, they'll see where everyone has gathered."

ljerde@capitalnewspapers.com

745-3587