Barbara Lawlor, Rollinsville. It was a small parade.

It was perhaps among the smallest of small parades that Rollinsville has ever seen, but Mayor Tim Underwood, as he is known by fellow Rollinsvillians, was proud of the community effort.

Dozens of people lined up along the main drag of the historic town, waiting to be surprised by the typical uniqueness of the parade. Underwood, in his old west leathers, pointed his shotgun at the sky and fired. The shot was the signal for the parade to begin.

It was the 131st Independence Day Parade in Rollinsville, which began when William Gilpin was the Governor. A politician, land speculator, and writer who believed in Manifest Destiny, he was the first governor of the Colorado Territory. But his unscrupulous financial dealing led to his downfall.

In 1885, the small mountain town decided to declare its independence from John Quincy Adams Rollins, who owned the town and made rules according to his needs and opinions. Even back then, Rollinsville residents were proud of their history and their fiercely independent spirit. When they ran Rollins out of town, they decided to celebrate and that celebration has been carried out over the past 130 years. For years, the parade was marshaled by “Mayor” Forrest Whitman, in the persona of Governor Gilpin, a role he delighted in portraying.

Last Saturday, the parade was led by a cookie—a luscious, large, gingerbread-type cookie, representing the Rollinsville Market and their fresh baked goods. Kent Bartlo drove his vintage white convertible instead of his purple hippie van; his well-connected chocolate lab had the backseat all to himself.

Timberline Fire Protection District firefighter Rob Savoye drove a massive TFPD engine and waved to the crowd from his lofty perch.

Gilpin County Commissioner Gail Watson handed out lollipops to small children and medium children and adults during her brief stroll through downtown Rollinsville.

Chuck Keller drove his cart, trying to keep up with the cookie and a few not-so-shiny vintage cars blew their horns as they traveled the two blocks and back again.

It was short, but it was. The tradition rolls on, and Mayor Tim Underwood says he has big plans for next year’s event.