By Staff
RECREATING HISTORY Melissa Hudson, 4, and L. A. Gidden IV, 6, will ride in a 1923 Model T in Meridian's Christmas parade tonight just like their parents, Rose Marie Hudson and Lamar Gidden III, did in 1964. The car was a present from Lamar Gidden's grandfather. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Dec. 5, 2002
Lamar Gidden III has been coaching his 6-year-old son how to drive a miniature, 1923 Model T in tonight's Christmas parade in hopes of recreating a moment from the past.
Gidden, himself, was 6 when he drove the same car in the 1964 Meridian parade. His passenger was friend Rose Marie Mitchell, 5; a sign saying "Just Married" was attached to the back.
Mitchell has since married and became Rose Marie Hudson. Her daughter, Melissa, just a few months younger than her mother was in 1964, will ride with Gidden's son in the car.
L.A. Gidden IV, Gidden's son, can hardly contain his excitement for driving the car in the parade one of many units that will make up the city's annual seasonal celebration. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m.
Last-minute inspection
On Wednesday, L.A. inspected parts of the car while occasionally squeezing the small blow horn on the car's driver-side window.
The car is powered by a 3.5 horsepower Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine. It was made by the Crue-Cut Manufacturing Co. of Missouri.
L.A.'s grandfather, Lamar Gidden Jr., said the cars were a hot commodity back in the early 1960s.
Even though the small car has spent the past few years in storage, it still runs as good as it did 38 years ago.
Keeping in touch
When L.A.'s dad and Rose Marie Hudson first rode in the car in 1964, they were good friends. They remained in touch over the years, even though both got married and moved away.
L.A.'s family left Colorado and returned to Meridian last year, just in time for the city's Christmas parade..
Hudson said her daughter can't wait to ride in the car with L.A.