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BURLINGTON RT.BAND PEPPED’EMUP, ’96 TO ’04Rehearsals in “Q” Shop Bldg. Kept Organization of 35 in Tune for Concerts, ParadesStirring strains of the “Poet and Peasant” overture charmed William McKinley, President of the United States, as he stood on* the porch of Clark E. Carr’s mansion on North Prairie street in Galesburg, one fall evening in the year ,1899. The President gave an approving wave of his hand as .applause from the bystanders followed the closing strains, and 36 hearts throbbed with pride, beneath the natty uniform coats of the one and only Burlington Route Band.By DAISY LAWRENCE STICKELL (Gilson, 111., Member of the CIrbs of 1002)Long ago become silent as*a musical organization, this Galesburg band survives today in memories of the aging men still living who took part in the long'bours'Of rehearsal, the moments of public acclaim, which were the life of the Burlington Route Band during its seven or eight years of activity here.The serenade of President McKinley on his momentous visit to Galesburg was only one of the big times in which this famous band pepped up the populace. One who can tell about it is Peter Rebscher, 964 Willard street, still active, in the Burlington railroad shops of Galesburg after 49 years’ service. Mr. Rebscher has a large photograph of the band, taken in its heyday, about 1900, himself “right there” in the clarinet section. He also treasures an elaborate printed “Programme” of the band’s Annual Ball, a festive affair held in Marquette hall downtown on South Cherry street, Friday evening, June 17, 1898.Shown in the photo, and listed by name in the program of the first annual ball, are the 35 players who with Prof. J. A. Newman, director, made up the band. It included men from ’teens to 40’s or older, and even one young girl cometist, whose name is remembered at Miss Etta White.Several Reside Here.George Frailey, now a member of the city fire department, was in the cornet section, and others who were in the band and are still residing in Galesburg are Bert, Art and Fred Eskridge, Fred Swigert and Grocer Gus Nelson.Band members who now reside in other parts of the country are George Wallace, Ed Grassley, Nels Hultgren, Chris Everetts, Walter Light, Lou Craft, Harold M. Willsie and Harry Gates. .. :‘ C. Van Brunt was president of the band organization, W. I. Phelps secretary, H. -M. Willsie treasurer, F. W* •Barhdt business -manager. Some^f thevothiw Tvhp* played in the’ band. T^ere Wv/X? Phelps, C. E. Mack,: E. Rsmpton,Those were the days—the good old days When, we drank at Learning’s fount. When dresses were'long and shoetops high : And permanents didn’t count. The auto was in its infancy;. .The aeroplane merely a dream.“Radio” was a word unknown . As “movie” and silver screen.” Those: good old days are calling again . * To. the classroom, the forum, the track;’5 When graduates found a job in wait,. . -; And conventions weremever slack.- We live in a changing, strenuous age • Nor would we its progress stay./'We name our blessings, and count tft§ 66§t; As we wander back for a day.G. P. Wallace,,.D. J. Butts, H. K. Allen, F. Tuttle, E. Boggess, W.H. Humphrey, J. G. Walz, G. J. Kern, E. T. High, J. Engstrand, W. G. Hoyle, E.‘ E. Anderson, E. T. Smith, George Morris, J. Killeen, C. Billings, H. E. Kent and Carrol Gates. 1The planing mill building down near the humps was the home base and rehearsal hall of the band. There was diligent study of the repartoire there one night every week, from the band’s inception in 1896 to the latter days of 1903 when enough members had moved away and too few new players seemed available so that the organization was dissolved. In this building the band equipment was stored, and outside it the ornate, fiag-draped setting was made for the band picture taken by Photographer Osgood. The building is long since gone, and arailroad track passes aSross its site,.Trips Were Hi§hii§fcts.Highlights in the career of the Burlington Route. Band were two “grocers’ excursions” made by train to such points as Joliet arid Rockford, the band being a foetid of cheer and aiqusement among the holiday crowd traveling in 12 or 14 coaches. Thgri there was a great trip to a bdlitical rally at Chicago, a trip ft, a,rally at Peoria, the playing at ft dedication of the present C.; B. Q. depot in Quincy, concerts ddWntown in Galesburg on summer nights, a hall” engagement orice in awhile and the marlialtriiusic iri the parades for Fourth of July* Labor Day, and other special dccasions.The band members recall with sadness still today the tragedy which turned to gloom a gay Fourth of July calibration in Can-OPTICAL SERVICESINCE THEDays of Old SiwashOPTICAL SHOP i218 EAST
Newspaper Details
Galesburg Daily Register Mail
Galesburg, Illinois, US
Thu, May 16, 1940
Page 2
Full Page
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USA 15 Nov 2024
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