Chairs Tradition in Canonsburg Alive Despite Ordinance

Diane Dellorso was adorning her family’s chairs with red, white and blue pinwheels along Pike Street early Tuesday morning.

Nestled under a tree in some grass to the side of the street, this has been where her husband has parked his a 36 Chevy for their grandkids to sit and watch the parade for about 20 years.

Dellorso, a resident of Meadowlands, had no trouble securing her area.

At 7 a.m. two days before the big Canonsburg Fourth of July parade, chairs were surprisingly sparse on Pike Street. This is the first parade since a borough ordinance went into effect restricting the placement of chairs to 48 hours before the parade.

Previously, some chairs had been set up two weeks in advance with the first chair spotted last year on June 22.

“I don’t think it makes much of a difference. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem like Canonsburg without all the chairs,” Dellorso said.

Larry Burgess of Washington was supportive of the change.

Burgess, who had grown up watching the parade, has been bringing his daughter for the past five years to celebrate Fourth of July in Canonsburg. Burgess hasn’t lived in Canonsburg for 25 years and found it difficult during prior summers to get a good seat because they were claimed so early by residents.

“I think the ruling is very fair,” Burgess said while setting up a small red chair for his daughter.

Out-of-town guests, like Burgess, along with safety were the main concerns to the Canonsburg Council when it made the decision in October to restrict the setup time of the chairs.

At least one errant chair was spotted Monday night.

“I think two days is kind of cutting it close. But last year was kind of crazy,” said Canonsburg resident Emily Ellis.

Ellis said that some residents enjoy going all out for the event and while a limit is good, two days is not enough time.

Dellorso sees the excitement surrounding the chairs and securing a spot as something positive.

“I think that this is something Canonsburg should be proud of. Having a parade that so many people come to,” Dellorso said.

Did you place your chair and save your spot yet? Did you see any rouge chairs on Monday night? Tell us in the comments.