WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – The City of Williams celebrated its pioneer history June 1 by delving into its past.
Pioneer Day, which started 50 years ago, paid tribute in 2024 to the city’s founding 150 years ago as the town of Central.
Two years after its founding in 1874, the town was renamed to honor William Williams, who gave much of the land to the town site. The city was incorporated in 1920.
“I think we are very fortunate that the city can come together to celebrate 150 years, that we still have a Pioneer Day Parade, and that we have an opportunity to reflect back on this history.”
The 2024 Pioneer Day parade had 25 entries, an increase over the past few years. The event also included a vendor fair at Redinger Park, activities at the Sacramento Valley Museum, the 50th reunion of the Williams High School Class of 1974, and opening day of the Town Pool, which was built by volunteers in 1954.
The 2024 Pioneer Day Parade was dedicated to Hometown Heroes of the Williams Volunteer Fire Department, which was formed in 1906.
“For 117 years, these volunteer firefighters have been responding to emergency incidents in the city of Williams and the surrounding rural district,” Rolon said. “The department has played an important role in the community.”
“Professionally Staffed by Volunteers” is the slogan that reflects the Williams Fire Protection Authority’s mission. Firefighters, past and present, came as far away as Fort Bragg to take part in the city’s sesquicentennial and led the parade as Grand Marshal, behind a number of emergency vehicles blaring sirens.
“This is the backbone of the Williams Volunteer Fire Department who successfully serve our community,” Rolan said.
Williams volunteer firefighters dedicate thousands of hours to provide fire, medical, and vehicle accident response 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The department also cuts down the town Christmas Tree, hosts Santa Claus at the fire station, and/d provides fire prevention education to elementary school students, among other things.
The Williams Fire Protection Authority was an all-volunteer agency until 1988, when it staffed its first Fire Chief Mark Marshall.
“Volunteers are still a critical part of that, and we greatly appreciate that,” Rolan said. “In 2023, the Williams Fire Department responded to 1,023 events. This doubled the total number of responses in 20 years.”
The parade also featured 2023 Miss Colusa County Allison Traynham with the 2024 Miss Colusa County contestants; 2023 Colusa County Mini Miss Gia Rudiger and the Colusa 2024 Mini Miss contestants, and a number of floats, marching groups, Little League, and vehicles such as CJ LaGrande’s 1949 dodge pickup with a Chrysler 440 engine, and several from the 1950s.
For the first time in many years, the annual Pioneer Day celebration did not include a street dance and fireworks but Parade organizer Ben Padilla, director of the Williams Park and Recreation Department, was sprinkled with confetti for his birthday.
Padilla has organized Pioneer Day for the past few years after taking it over from Citizens for a Better Williams. The Ministerial Association of Colusa County continues to organize the Founders Day Vender Fair in Redinger Park.