Hell of a Parade

“Call it Hell for all I care. Everyone else does.”

George Reeves, Founder of Hell, Michigan

Photo from Car Talk with Barry

When a town goes by the name of Hell, it might be expected to have an offbeat, even morbid, personality. So it should come as no surprise that when folks in Hell, Michigan (population 266) took a run at getting into the Guinness Book of World Records, they took an offbeat, morbid route to get there. They invited hearses near and far to join in what they hoped would be a record-setting hearse parade. Actually, Guinness doesn’t have a “hearse parade” category, but officials told the good folks from Hell that if they could gather 50 hearses for their parade, they’d create one. After falling short last year, organizers took a second stab at it this year, but they received only 49 registrations. Refusing to give up, organizers sent out an 11th hour appeal on the day of the parade. As the parade began, they were thrilled to see a 50th and then 51st hearse show up to join in. So it’s official: it was a record-setting Hell of a parade.

Fun Facts:

•  According to the Hell, Michigan website, the town was founded in 1838 but didn’t get its name until years later. When the state of Michigan approached the founder and asked him what he’d like to call the town, he said, “Call it Hell for all I care. Everyone else does.” The name stuck, and town of Hell was born October 13, 1841.

•  The hearse parade was organized by a local car club, Just Hearse N’ Around, and ice cream parlor, Screams Ice Cream & Halloween in Hell.

Read the articles → Hearses gather in Hell to set world record and Hearses set Guinness World Record in Hell