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The Great War and Armistice Day

Tank, July 4th parade, Houlton, 1919

Tank, July 4th parade, Houlton, 1919

Item 9625 info
Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum

World War I Victory celebration in Market Square in Houlton on July 4th, 1919. A large U.S. flag is suspended across the street. The parade featured an M1917 tank, also known as the "Six-ton Special Tractor" or "Six-ton tank" (modeled after the French built, Renault char léger FT-17).

The M1917 used the first successful caterpillar tread that was first used on the steam log hauler invented by Alvin O. Lombard, Waterville (see: A Salute to Maine, by Daphne Winslow Merrill, 1983, p.127).