Waupaca
Waupaca Bandstand
From website Chamber of Commerce:
https://waupacamemories.com/do/history/
In the downtown square in Waupaca, a bandstand was built in 1898 for an approved amount of $275 by the Common Council. It was built mainly for the Carroll's Band and Wright's City Band who regularly played there. It lasted for many years and was slated to be torn down in the late 1990s. However, after the old courthouse had been razed in the early 1990s, residents objected to more demolition of old structures. It was therefore restored and added to the Waupaca Register of Historic Places in 1997.
In the past, it has been used for speeches by women's suffrage group, welcoming home troops, and in 1980 Ronald Reagan spoke during his presidential campaign. It is decorated for the 4th of July in red, white, and blue bunting and during the Christmas holiday season, holiday lights and trim adorn it.
In the past, it has been used for speeches by women's suffrage group, welcoming home troops, and in 1980 Ronald Reagan spoke during his presidential campaign. It is decorated for the 4th of July in red, white, and blue bunting and during the Christmas holiday season, holiday lights and trim adorn it.
The Waupaca City Band played band concerts for over 100 years at the bandstand but now plays at a different city park.
Some Notes on Waupaca’s Early Bands
J.J. Johnson 2018
It’s always interesting when someone comes into the Holly History and Genealogy Center to research information on an aspect of the Waupaca area’s history. It also gives us an idea of the various topics people are curious to learn more about and an opportunity to refresh our memories or learn more on that particular subject. One request was in regards to Waupaca’s City Band so we thought we would share information on some of the various early bands. The settlers in the area provided a wealth of family entertainment through their various musical talents. Fiddlers were especially enjoyed at dances and special occasions.
The earliest reference located at this time to a Waupaca band is found in Freeman Dana Dewey’s history “Waupaca” when he describes the village’s Fourth of July celebration of 1852 which was held on the hill on the north end of Main Street. There were three members to the band – Mr. Darling on a fife, with Isaac and Azarial West on drums. At noon a parade that included the band went from the hill to Vanduzee’s Exchange Tavern, which is thought to have been in the area of Fulton and Jefferson Streets, and back to the hill for dinner.
In the Spring of 1855 the Exchange Tavern was being operated by J.J. Jones and was designated as Waupaca’s electoral voting place. The rivalry between Waupaca and Weyauwega in this election showed up in much chicanery on both sides (one man voted under eighteen different names) with a Weyauwega contingent who came to steal the ballot box being escorted back to their wagon, given a friendly drink of whiskey and a send-off by Waupaca’s martial band which on that occasion was down to the fife and one drum.
According to Wayne Guyant, the first community bands in the Waupaca area began in the post-Civil War era. The most notable band of this period was comprised of the Smith brothers: Alfred, Fred, Dave and Ed who took lessons under Lee Dana at the Barton School House in Farmington Township. This group played together for approximately nine to ten years. One of their more exciting accomplishments came when they were selected from fifty-two contestants to travel throughout the North with General William Sherman for his various speaking engagements. While they did not make any money during this time they were thrilled to have been able to make a name for themselves as a band and at the Milwaukee G.A.R. encampment they marched and played for the veterans and their guests continuously for six hours.
In November 1887 J.H. Hudson organized a band that quickly gained a reputation throughout the region. It appears they later incorporated the band legally in order to solidify the group and to encourage band members to maintain a high standard in their performances. Leading the organization was J.H. Hudson as president; William Rice as vice-president; Merritt B. Scott as secretary and treasurer and Frank R. Whipple as the general manager. The band consisted of J.H. McCullough, Solo B Flat, and Leader; Wm. Donstan, E Flat Cornet; George Kingsbury, 1st B Cornet; George Nordvi, 2d B Cornet; Jeff Woodnorth, Flugel Horn; A. Williams, B Clarinet; John Colure, E Clarinet; Ed Williams, Solo Alto; Grant Sherwin, 1st Alto; Robert Scobey, 2d Alto; Jos. Rosche, 1st Tenor; Wm. Rice, 2d Tenor; M.B. Scott, Baritone; Geo. Bridgeman, Bass Trombone; J.H. Hudson, Tuba; Leslie Bronson, Snare Drum; Andy Poll, Bass Drum; F.R. Whipple, Drum Major. Eventually they were giving weekly concerts, playing at various celebrations such as patriotic holidays, baseball games and during roller skating events held on the upper floor of the Cristy store (on the southwest corner of Main and Union Streets). While they did not get much payment for playing at the ballgames and during patriotic holidays they were given free passage on Waupaca’s trolley to and from the event and a free pass to the event itself
According to Carol Cartwright, the “Waupaca Band” was officially organized in 1894 and a city band remained in effect until 1936. In 1894 the band consisted of the following persons: J. Woodnorth, president; M. B. Scott, secretary; J. H. McCullough, director: J. H. McCullough – Solo B flat Cornet; Charles Hall – B flat Cornet; George Larson – B flat Cornet; John Colrue – Clarinet; Soren Sorenson – Piccolo.; L. Anderson – E flat Cornet; John Jensen – Solo alto; J. Woodnorth – Alto; Bert Stout – Alto; Will Hearn – Tenor; Alfred Nordvi – Tenor; M. B. Scott – Baritone; Joe. Hudson – Tuba; George Caldwell – Tuba; Cal. Howard – Tenor drum; Leo Cook – Bass drum; F. E. Paronto – Drum major.
It appears that from 1895 to 1901 the band was under the directorship of Gus Hansen with Dell Wright the leader of the Waupaca Band from 1901 to 1905. During this time “The Waupaca Band” provided weekly concerts on the courthouse square and entertained at special occasions at the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home, Camp Cleghorn and occasionally at the Grandview Hotel. They were also on hand to welcome back the curlers in 1895 when the Waupaca team won the Pfister Trophy at Milwaukee. During much of this time Edwin Smith played under Wright at Waupaca. In later years Smith would remark that he never “never met another so talented a musician as Dell Wright who possessed so even and amiable a disposition”. Wright later went on to play under John Phillip Sousa as part of the United States Marine Band and afterwards in Sousa’s own band.
While the name of the director of the Waupaca City Band from 1905 to 1915 is not known at this time, newspaper accounts show the band continued to be very active. Besides the weekly concerts, civic programs, and such they played at some weddings, on the lead boat of the illuminated parade of boats on the Chain o’ Lakes, ball games, and annual programs of various benevolent organizations.
Professor Charles G. Haight was hired in May 1915 to serve as director the Waupaca City Band during its weekly Thursday evening concerts and other special occasions. The Common Council had appropriated. The Common Council had appropriated $400 for his position but a promenade concert was held in the opera house in early June to raise any additional funds which might be needed to fully secure Haight’s services. He came to Waupaca through the assistance of Professor Philip Laffey of Chicago. Haight had been the director of the official band that played at White City Park in Chicago through the summer of 1914. Prior to that he had spent many years on the Pacific coast aboard the training ship “Hartford” and served as the assistant director on the ship “Cottage Highlander”.
Charles “Charlie” T. Carroll, who came to Waupaca in 1902 became the director of Waupaca’s 32-man City Band in 1918 and continued in that position through 1935 according to one source while another cites his tenure as being thirty years in length. Over this time he became widely known for his playing, directing and teaching. His Thursday night concerts brought thousands of people to Waupaca and were imitated with varying degrees of success by numerous other communities. Thursday became the busiest night of the week in Waupaca due to the reputation of his concerts.
His concerts were always comprised of ten musical selections which included heavy classical music, especially marches, and according to Robert Babin the concerts also featured selections from Richard Wagner’s operas such as Die Meistersinger and Lohengrin, along with one or two selections from Johann Strauss, Victor Herbert, Franz Lehar, Rudolph Friml, or Sigmund Romberg. These were tempered by the fifth selection which was always a medley of popular music and ended with the Star Spangled Banner.
Besides its normal functions, Carroll’s Waupaca City Band played at the Palace Theatre when the first silent movie, “The Birth of a Nation”, was played in Waupaca. It was also active during the Liberty Loan drives conducted during World War I and processions honoring soldiers leaving for war. They also kept busy and in practice in various civic programs, accompanying stage plays and silent films of the era.
In 1923 the City of Waupaca looked upon the weekly concerts as a time for people to gather together for recreation and a night of entertainment from their strenuous weeks. In support of this ideal most of the stores in the downtown business district “decided to devote their efforts toward making the visitors comfortable and getting all the pleasure possible” in Waupaca by closing their establishments on Thursday evenings, the exceptions being ice cream parlors and businesses that catered to entertainment purposes.
The Waupaca City Band reportedly ceased to exist when the Waupaca High school developed a band program in 1936 which then took over playing at both school and city functions. The band operated under the direction of Ernest Weber and consisted of both city and school musicians. Weber resigned in January 1941 supposedly due to a disagreement with city council for limiting its appropriation of funds for the band that resulted in extended negotiations and postponements in reaching an agreement to the city band contract.
In April 1941 a city band was re-established when Louis Olson retired from the Waupaca creamery and accepted the position as the band’s director. Olson had twenty-five years’ experience playing in the band and was a popular choice. The band held their weekly concerts and entertained at patriotic and civic events and even took part in the dedication of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church.
J.J. Johnson 2018
It’s always interesting when someone comes into the Holly History and Genealogy Center to research information on an aspect of the Waupaca area’s history. It also gives us an idea of the various topics people are curious to learn more about and an opportunity to refresh our memories or learn more on that particular subject. One request was in regards to Waupaca’s City Band so we thought we would share information on some of the various early bands. The settlers in the area provided a wealth of family entertainment through their various musical talents. Fiddlers were especially enjoyed at dances and special occasions.
The earliest reference located at this time to a Waupaca band is found in Freeman Dana Dewey’s history “Waupaca” when he describes the village’s Fourth of July celebration of 1852 which was held on the hill on the north end of Main Street. There were three members to the band – Mr. Darling on a fife, with Isaac and Azarial West on drums. At noon a parade that included the band went from the hill to Vanduzee’s Exchange Tavern, which is thought to have been in the area of Fulton and Jefferson Streets, and back to the hill for dinner.
In the Spring of 1855 the Exchange Tavern was being operated by J.J. Jones and was designated as Waupaca’s electoral voting place. The rivalry between Waupaca and Weyauwega in this election showed up in much chicanery on both sides (one man voted under eighteen different names) with a Weyauwega contingent who came to steal the ballot box being escorted back to their wagon, given a friendly drink of whiskey and a send-off by Waupaca’s martial band which on that occasion was down to the fife and one drum.
According to Wayne Guyant, the first community bands in the Waupaca area began in the post-Civil War era. The most notable band of this period was comprised of the Smith brothers: Alfred, Fred, Dave and Ed who took lessons under Lee Dana at the Barton School House in Farmington Township. This group played together for approximately nine to ten years. One of their more exciting accomplishments came when they were selected from fifty-two contestants to travel throughout the North with General William Sherman for his various speaking engagements. While they did not make any money during this time they were thrilled to have been able to make a name for themselves as a band and at the Milwaukee G.A.R. encampment they marched and played for the veterans and their guests continuously for six hours.
In November 1887 J.H. Hudson organized a band that quickly gained a reputation throughout the region. It appears they later incorporated the band legally in order to solidify the group and to encourage band members to maintain a high standard in their performances. Leading the organization was J.H. Hudson as president; William Rice as vice-president; Merritt B. Scott as secretary and treasurer and Frank R. Whipple as the general manager. The band consisted of J.H. McCullough, Solo B Flat, and Leader; Wm. Donstan, E Flat Cornet; George Kingsbury, 1st B Cornet; George Nordvi, 2d B Cornet; Jeff Woodnorth, Flugel Horn; A. Williams, B Clarinet; John Colure, E Clarinet; Ed Williams, Solo Alto; Grant Sherwin, 1st Alto; Robert Scobey, 2d Alto; Jos. Rosche, 1st Tenor; Wm. Rice, 2d Tenor; M.B. Scott, Baritone; Geo. Bridgeman, Bass Trombone; J.H. Hudson, Tuba; Leslie Bronson, Snare Drum; Andy Poll, Bass Drum; F.R. Whipple, Drum Major. Eventually they were giving weekly concerts, playing at various celebrations such as patriotic holidays, baseball games and during roller skating events held on the upper floor of the Cristy store (on the southwest corner of Main and Union Streets). While they did not get much payment for playing at the ballgames and during patriotic holidays they were given free passage on Waupaca’s trolley to and from the event and a free pass to the event itself
According to Carol Cartwright, the “Waupaca Band” was officially organized in 1894 and a city band remained in effect until 1936. In 1894 the band consisted of the following persons: J. Woodnorth, president; M. B. Scott, secretary; J. H. McCullough, director: J. H. McCullough – Solo B flat Cornet; Charles Hall – B flat Cornet; George Larson – B flat Cornet; John Colrue – Clarinet; Soren Sorenson – Piccolo.; L. Anderson – E flat Cornet; John Jensen – Solo alto; J. Woodnorth – Alto; Bert Stout – Alto; Will Hearn – Tenor; Alfred Nordvi – Tenor; M. B. Scott – Baritone; Joe. Hudson – Tuba; George Caldwell – Tuba; Cal. Howard – Tenor drum; Leo Cook – Bass drum; F. E. Paronto – Drum major.
It appears that from 1895 to 1901 the band was under the directorship of Gus Hansen with Dell Wright the leader of the Waupaca Band from 1901 to 1905. During this time “The Waupaca Band” provided weekly concerts on the courthouse square and entertained at special occasions at the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home, Camp Cleghorn and occasionally at the Grandview Hotel. They were also on hand to welcome back the curlers in 1895 when the Waupaca team won the Pfister Trophy at Milwaukee. During much of this time Edwin Smith played under Wright at Waupaca. In later years Smith would remark that he never “never met another so talented a musician as Dell Wright who possessed so even and amiable a disposition”. Wright later went on to play under John Phillip Sousa as part of the United States Marine Band and afterwards in Sousa’s own band.
While the name of the director of the Waupaca City Band from 1905 to 1915 is not known at this time, newspaper accounts show the band continued to be very active. Besides the weekly concerts, civic programs, and such they played at some weddings, on the lead boat of the illuminated parade of boats on the Chain o’ Lakes, ball games, and annual programs of various benevolent organizations.
Professor Charles G. Haight was hired in May 1915 to serve as director the Waupaca City Band during its weekly Thursday evening concerts and other special occasions. The Common Council had appropriated. The Common Council had appropriated $400 for his position but a promenade concert was held in the opera house in early June to raise any additional funds which might be needed to fully secure Haight’s services. He came to Waupaca through the assistance of Professor Philip Laffey of Chicago. Haight had been the director of the official band that played at White City Park in Chicago through the summer of 1914. Prior to that he had spent many years on the Pacific coast aboard the training ship “Hartford” and served as the assistant director on the ship “Cottage Highlander”.
Charles “Charlie” T. Carroll, who came to Waupaca in 1902 became the director of Waupaca’s 32-man City Band in 1918 and continued in that position through 1935 according to one source while another cites his tenure as being thirty years in length. Over this time he became widely known for his playing, directing and teaching. His Thursday night concerts brought thousands of people to Waupaca and were imitated with varying degrees of success by numerous other communities. Thursday became the busiest night of the week in Waupaca due to the reputation of his concerts.
His concerts were always comprised of ten musical selections which included heavy classical music, especially marches, and according to Robert Babin the concerts also featured selections from Richard Wagner’s operas such as Die Meistersinger and Lohengrin, along with one or two selections from Johann Strauss, Victor Herbert, Franz Lehar, Rudolph Friml, or Sigmund Romberg. These were tempered by the fifth selection which was always a medley of popular music and ended with the Star Spangled Banner.
Besides its normal functions, Carroll’s Waupaca City Band played at the Palace Theatre when the first silent movie, “The Birth of a Nation”, was played in Waupaca. It was also active during the Liberty Loan drives conducted during World War I and processions honoring soldiers leaving for war. They also kept busy and in practice in various civic programs, accompanying stage plays and silent films of the era.
In 1923 the City of Waupaca looked upon the weekly concerts as a time for people to gather together for recreation and a night of entertainment from their strenuous weeks. In support of this ideal most of the stores in the downtown business district “decided to devote their efforts toward making the visitors comfortable and getting all the pleasure possible” in Waupaca by closing their establishments on Thursday evenings, the exceptions being ice cream parlors and businesses that catered to entertainment purposes.
The Waupaca City Band reportedly ceased to exist when the Waupaca High school developed a band program in 1936 which then took over playing at both school and city functions. The band operated under the direction of Ernest Weber and consisted of both city and school musicians. Weber resigned in January 1941 supposedly due to a disagreement with city council for limiting its appropriation of funds for the band that resulted in extended negotiations and postponements in reaching an agreement to the city band contract.
In April 1941 a city band was re-established when Louis Olson retired from the Waupaca creamery and accepted the position as the band’s director. Olson had twenty-five years’ experience playing in the band and was a popular choice. The band held their weekly concerts and entertained at patriotic and civic events and even took part in the dedication of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church.
At the downtown square site, near the bandstand, memorials have been erected
to honor veterans of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam.
to honor veterans of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam.
6/10/2005
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6/10/2005
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6/10/2005
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