Military Bands of 19th Century Kalamazoo

“Strike Up the Band!”

To say that military and brass bands were popular during the 19th century is like saying the Beatles were popular during the 1960s; military bands were immensely popular in their day.

Band music was viewed by most as both patriotic and “proper.” Brass bands became the centerpieces of parades, public events and social gatherings, including funerals, weddings, and other occasions.

Kalamazoo’s Earliest Bands: 1837-1842

The Village Band, ca. 1837

A harness maker from New Jersey named John Everard, Sr., brought his family to Kalamazoo (then Bronson Village) in the autumn of 1834, just four years after Titus Bronson arrived, and soon organized the community’s first band.

One of the earliest documented performances of a community band in Kalamazoo was in June 1837, when the “Village Band” played during the wedding of Mr. Thomas S. AtLee and Miss Mary H. Edwards.

“Flutes, Flageolets and Violin Strings”

During the summer of 1837, local musicians would have found at least some of their musical supplies, including flutes, flageolets (a woodwind instrument), and violin strings, at the new Kalamazoo Bookstore. A more extensive selection of printed music, instruction books and musical instruments was available within a few days’ ride via the stagecoach lines from Morse & Brothers’ newly opened Book and Music Store in Detroit. According to Morse & Brothers’ frequent local advertisements, accordions, flutes, clarionets(sic), fifes, flageolets, bass and snare drums, bassoons, trombones, violins, French and post horns, and other instruments were in stock and available for immediate purchase. The store also offered piano music; “all the new and fashionable dances, duets, waltzes, etc.” (Gazette).

Kalamazoo Band: 1842-1851

Further evidence of a well organized community band could be found in June 1842, when the Kalamazoo Band “contributed largely to the entertainment” (Gazette) during a meeting of the Kalamazoo County Washingtonians at the courthouse. (The courthouse was then a primary venue for public concerts and other performances.)

Three weeks later, the Kalamazoo (County) Band led the local contingent in the Independence Day parade and patriotic exercises in Schoolcraft.

Early Concerts

In September, the Kalamazoo Band announced a benefit concert at Johnson Patrick’s newly renovated hotel on Main Street to help raise funds to purchase instruments, music, and to secure the services of a teacher. Admission for the event was 25¢, and the rules of the band specifically stated that all money received would be used for purposes of the band and not for individual use.

Though attendance was light due to a “superior attraction” in town, those who saw the show “appeared highly gratified with the performances.” Members of the community were encouraged to attend a second concert at the courthouse the following week, where the band once again, “assisted by their gentlemanly and discriminating teacher, Mr. Nash, of Marshall, truly discoursed most excellent music” (Gazette). During the winter months, the Kalamazoo Band could be found performing during the monthly meetings of the Young People’s Temperance Society.

By May 1843, the band was beginning to feature its own compositions, including the “Union City” quickstep, a tune composed and arranged by Director Nash, which was praised by the Gazette “as one of the most stirring and effective pieces ever heard.” A third benefit concert, “consisting of a variety of new and popular music,” was held in September.

Celebrating the Nation’s Independence

July 1843 saw the Kalamazoo Band make the journey to Allegan for the Independence Day celebration. After an exhausting full day’s ride, band members were given a warm reception by the Allegan residents, who filled the church to capacity for the evening concert. The following day, “Hail Columbia,” “Star Spangled Banner,” and “Yankee Doodle” (“the true National Anthem”) were particularly popular numbers among the crowd of six hundred, as were the hundred-foot-long tables full of food.

Genesee Prairie Celebration

Three years later, the Kalamazoo Band could be found at the Genesee Prairie Independence Day Celebration at Bass Lake (near Texas Corners). A group of several hundred gathered at the Genesee Prairie School House at 8 am and marched to Bass Lake, for a day of food, music and celebration.

The 1848 Fourth of July exercises were held in Kalamazoo with the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by Hon. Charles E. Stuart, and music by the Kalamazoo Band. But the real celebration that year came a month later when the Kalamazoo Band joined local military personnel at the railway depot—albeit at 4 am—to welcome the volunteers back home from the Mexican-American War.

Kalamazoo Brass Band: 1853-1861

By May 1853, a new band had emerged. The Kalamazoo Brass Band was organized under the leadership of Charles Hubbard, “a most competent teacher” (Gazette). After a few weeks of practice, the new band was ready for the Independence Day celebration “underneath the Burr Oaks” in the village park.

The band greeted equally enthusiastic crowds and “discoursed the most excellent music during the intervals of the exercises” (Gazette) at the Kalamazoo County Agricultural Fair in October.

Near Disaster on the Plank Road

An accident while on the way to perform in Allegan nearly spelled disaster for the band in October 1854 when the bandwagon overturned on the plank road north of Kalamazoo. With its members both bruised and broken, the band never made it to Allegan that day, but instead returned to Kalamazoo to mend.

“Burr Oak” and “Excelsior”

Kalamazoo’s Fourth of July celebration in 1857 again featured the Kalamazoo Brass Band, led by Charles Hubbard. The band performed two of Professor Hubbard’s recent compositions, “Burr Oak” quickstep and “Excelsior” quickstep, both numbers named in honor of the local fire companies. The same outfit led the grand procession through the streets of Kalamazoo during the Firemen’s Tournament two weeks later. The parade included both local fire companies (“Burr Oak” and “Excelsior”), bands from Albion and Marshall, plus fire equipment from more than a dozen companies across the state.

“Second to None in the State”

The Kalamazoo Brass Band remained under Hubbard’s direction until 1861. In June of that year, a benefit concert was given to raise funds to employ a new director, J. E. Hartel, a former member of Booker’s Minstrels. Having recently moved to Kalamazoo, Hartel hoped to reorganize the band and “put it on a footing second to none in the state” (Gazette).

Civilian Community Bands

So-called “civilian” bands became an increasingly important part of the social landscape during the 1860s. The famous bandmasters of the era (Monsieur Antoine Jullien, and later Patrick Gilmore, et al.) were beginning to draw crowds in major metropolitan centers, while seemingly every small town in America organized a band of its own. Southwest Michigan was no exception; bands of significant (and perhaps otherwise) merit could be found in Dowagiac, Paw Paw, Constantine, Allegan, Otsego, Portage, Oshtemo, Alamo, Brady, Augusta, Climax, Vicksburg, Sturgis, Galesburg, Comstock, Plainwell, Prairie Ronde, Schoolcraft, Texas, Three Rivers, Battle Creek, and of course, Kalamazoo, just to name a few.

Silver Cornet Band: 1863

With the nation in the midst of the Civil War, a second generation of local musicians formed the Silver Cornet Band in 1863. Led by William Stacey, the band held its first meeting on 19 September 1863 on the third floor of “Cameron’s brick store” on Main Street. The roster included George W. Russell, George E. Guernsey, Samuel Born, Sr., Abram C. Faling, Johannis Christian Born, John Henson “Heinz” Everard, and Benjamin Cleenewerk.

Samuel Born’s sons; Sam R. Born, J. C. Born and Levinus Born, would later lead many popular Kalamazoo bands well into the twentieth century. John H. Everard, whose father had organized the first Kalamazoo Band some three decades earlier, was later involved with many prominent local musical organizations, including the first Symphony Orchestra. William Stacey led the Silver Cornet Band until about 1869.

“Some of its choicest pieces of music”

In June 1864, a celebraton to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination of Rev. I. A. Label, founder and pastor of St. Augustine’s Church, documents an early performance by the Silver Cornet Band just months after the band was formed.

City Band, ca. 1870

After the Civil War, the Silver Cornet Band (then often called the City Band) was reorganized under the leadership of James R. “Jim” Green, a local harness maker. Original members Samuel Born, Sr., J. C. Born and John H. Everard were still involved, plus several new members, including John Norman, John Baker, Theodore Olmstead, Gilbert Wright, and John Cummings. Instrumentation at this time featured two cornets, two alto horns, two tenor horns, a baritone horn and tuba, plus bass and snare drums.

During the spring of 1869, the Silver Cornet Band was composed of ten members, under the leadership of E. S. Sweet. The roster included E. J. Godfrey, John H. Everard, R. J. Algeo, J. F. Green, F. D. Dibble, O. J. Berden, G. H. Sager, J. J. Cummings and J. R. Perkinpine. By 1871, the band shared members and management duties with John Everard and Theodore Olmstead’s Orchestral String Band, which played social music for dances, quadrille parties and special occasions. Both bands met for practice in Everard’s quarters above No. 17 North Burdick Street.

Independence Day 1872 saw a crowd of twenty thousand gather in downtown Kalamazoo to hear Col. Delos Phillips read the Declaration of Independence and to enjoy the parade, led by the Silver Cornet Band.

Peninsular Commandery Band: 1872-1882

Sir Knights of Peninsular Commandery No. 8

Members of the Silver Cornet Band were closely tied to the Peninsular Commandery No. 8, a local branch of the popular Knights Templar fraternal organization led by its Eminent Commander, Frank Henderson. In July 1872, the Silver Cornet Band was reorganized as the Peninsular Commandery Band and fitted with stunning new uniforms.

The Peninsular Commandery Band led the first annual parade of Peninsular Commandery No. 8, Kalamazoo Knights Templar, on Friday afternoon, 23 August 1872, and soon became the pride of the community, playing prominently in most local parades and civic events for several years.

1876 Centennial Celebration

At its July 1876 meeting, the thirteen-member Peninsular Commandery Band elected new officers, including John Potter, president; William S. Bronson, secretary; F. W. Stein, treasurer; Charles A. Skinkle, leader; Samuel Born and F. W. Stein, business managers. President Potter was a young Kalamazoo musician (son of early Kalamazoo pioneer William Potter) and a graduate of the conservatory of music in Leipzig, Germany.

“Grand Procession”

With help from the Peninsular Commandery Band, Kalamazoo celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in grand style. After ringing the church bells at sunrise and a thirteen cannon salute, the “Grand Procession” got underway at 10 am, led by Professor Crossette’s Constantine Cornet Band. Close behind were Kalamazoo’s Peninsular Commandery Band and the Kalamazoo Cornet Band, followed by “a chariot containing 32 young ladies representing the states,” and “the Old Stage Coach, a relic of the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Three Rivers Stage Company” (Gazette).

Best in the State

Local and regional press were often highly complimentary of the Peninsular Commandery Band. The Cleveland Herald praised the band in 1877 after an encampment in that city, saying “the Peninsular band of Kalamazoo acquitted itself admirably,” while the Kalamazoo Gazette claimed the band was “capable of being made one of the best in the state.” In June 1878, the 17-piece Peninsular Commandery Band, once again under the leadership of James Green, proved them right by taking third place out of more than twenty bands at the second annual State Band Tournament in Lansing.

State Brigade Encampment

By July 1880, William Bronson had become the Peninsular Commandery Band leader and director. The band performed to an “immense crowd” at the local Fourth of July celebration, sponsored a well attended excursion to Diamond Lake aboard the Michigan Central Railroad, and was the featured band for the week-long State Brigade Encampment of the Michigan State Troops, which attracted more than 2,000 soldiers and nearly 40,000 spectators to Kalamazoo in August.

“Kalamazoo Colored Cornet Band” 1870-1891

Active by the summer of 1869, the Kalamazoo Cornet Band (also known as the “Kalamazoo Brass Band,” “Kalamazoo Colored Brass Band,” “Kalamazoo Band, No. 2,” “Kalamazoo Cornet Band,” and later the “City Cornet Band”) was the community’s primary African-American musical organization until the famous Phillips Brothers came along in the 1890s. With nine members led by Jeremiah E. Glines, the band met for practice on Wednesday and Saturday evenings in a room over 69 Main Street, and performed often throughout West Michigan.

Reorganized and reformed in July 1874, the twelve to fifteen-member Kalamazoo Cornet Band was then led by Augustus T. Hedgbeth, an employee of the Kalamazoo Publishing Company, with instructional assistance by William Stacey, former leader of the Silver Cornet Band. The Kalamazoo Cornet Band took part in many of the local Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations, and led a procession of more than four hundred in Grand Rapids during a May 1875 celebration to commemorate the adoption of the 15th Amendment. The band was featured along with Crossette’s Constantine Band and the Peninsular Commandery Band during Kalamazoo’s massive centennial celebration of 1876, and participated in the numerous political rallies leading up to the hotly contested election of Rutherford B. Hayes later the same year.

“There is talent in that band.”

“The Kalamazoo Cornet Band made the air vocal with their inspiring strains,” said the Gazette of an August 1877 Grand Jubilee at the National Driving Park. “At half past eleven o’clock, the procession formed and marched through the principal streets, headed by the colored band, which discoursed some very excellent music” (Gazette).

The Kalamazoo Cornet Band was often featured in the annual Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) celebrations in Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids and Jackson, and also took part in various events organized by the African M. E. Church. The band remained active under the leadership of Charles Hatfield until 1891, and his successor, Enos M. Roberts, until about 1893.

Kalamazoo Light Guard Band: 1881

In April 1881, the Peninsular Commandery Band underwent a significant reorganization. William Bronson left to rejoin the celebrated Constantine Band, and leadership of the Peninsular Commandery Band reverted to James Green. With John Vleiken as musical director, and John Bellenger secretary and business manager, the band officially became known as the Kalamazoo Light Guard Band and attempted to carry on.

The Light Guard Band made appearances in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo during holiday parades and other special occasions through the summer of 1882, though its appeal (and perhaps ability) had clearly begun to wane.

Kalamazoo City Band: 1881-1885

Following the reorganization of the Peninsular Commandery Band, efforts were made to revive the old City Band and create an organization clearly separate from the Light Guards. By fall, the newest version of the Kalamazoo City Band was back in action, under the leadership of the elder Samuel Born. Born’s brother, John, and two of his sons were also in the band. Some folks simply called it Born’s Band.

In early 1883, the Kalamazoo City Band purchased the uniforms, eighteen in all, from the former Peninsular Commandery (Light Guard) Band, which had by then disbanded. In September, the band traveled south to Rome City, Indiana, with the Kalamazoo Cornet Band to participate in a large regatta and band tournament. The Kalamazoo Band took third place in the competition and claimed a $20 prize.

With the untimely death of bandleader Samuel Born, Sr., in December 1884, Born’s son, Levinus, became the Kalamazoo City Band leader and business manager. Born’s brother-in-law, James McGaw, continued as secretary, Fred Rebman became treasurer and John Vleiken was again the musical director. Members at this time included Gardia P. Simons, Charles A. Skinkle, Hiram Ballou and others. “Born’s brass band” could be found performing at the “grand skating carnival” on Park Street in March, and heading the Memorial Day exerises at Excelsior Rink in May.

Professor Crossette’s Kalamazoo City Band: 1886-1887

For eighteen months, the Kalamazoo City Band remained strong with much of its eighteen-member lineup still intact. In July 1886, Frank M. Crossette, a well known Michigan bandleader and former director of the Constantine Band, was enlisted to give the band some much-needed new direction.

City Band Members (August 1886)

• Frank M. Crossett, leader and director
• L. Born, first cornet
• Chas. Skinkle, B-fiat solo
• J. Born, second E-flat cornet
• Sam Born, D-flat cornet
• Jas. Zander, piccolo
• C. Z. Bronson, solo clarinet
• Fred Davis, D-flat cornet
• Fred Redman, solo E-flat alto
• H. Oswalt, first E-flat alto
• John Henson “Heinz” Everard, B-flat bass
• J. Lane, second B-flat tenor
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou, solo trombone
• James McGaw, E-flat tuba
• Oscar G. Clement, solo baritone
• John Leak, E-flat alto
• John Vleiken, tenor drum
• H. Vandepolder, cymbals
• A. Landon, bass drum

Guest Musicians, August 1886

• Gardia P. Simons, Constantine
• William S. Bronson, Kalamazoo

On Friday, August 13th, the band gave the first in what would become a popular series of outdoor concerts in Bronson Park, while the entire community prepared for the upcoming prestigious Southwestern Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Reunion.

Southwestern Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Reunion

The 18th Reunion of the Southwestern Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Association in August 1886 was a massive four-day series of events. Several thousand soldiers participated and tens of thousands turned out to watch the grand parade through the city, which was led by Professor Crossette’s new Kalamazoo City Band. Featured in the parade were nearly a dozen other bands from surrounding communities, including the Lawton Cornet Band, the Dowagiac Band, St. Joseph Brass Band, Schoolcraft Cornet Band, Marcellus Band, Hartford S. O. V. Drum Corps and the Wakeshma Band.

In October, Professor Crossette’s Kalamazoo City Band held its first indoor concert of the season at the Academy of Music to help raise funds for new uniforms.

Knights of Pythias Encampment

Sporting brand new dark blue uniforms with gold cord trim and white helmets, the Kalamazoo Band, assisted by several guest musicians from across the state, took part in the first annual encampment of the Knights of Pythias in June 1887.

City Band Members (June 1887)

• Frank M. Crossett, leader
• Joseph Spross, cornet
• Fred Shoecraft, solo B-flat cornet
• E. A. Bowers, B-flat cornet
• Fred Davis, B-flat cornet
• C. H. Ewers, B-flat cornet
• Julius Martin, B-flat clarinet
• James Zander, piccolo
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou, 1st trombone
• D. P. Jones, E-flat clarinet
• Fred Brown, B-flat clarinet
• Sam Born, solo E-flat alto
• Fred Redmond, 1st E-flat alto
• Henry J. Oswald, 2nd E-flat alto
• W. Wesley Hodgeboom, 2nd B-flat trombone
• John Leak, 2nd B-flat tenor
• Oscar G. Clement, solo baritone
• John Henson “Heinz” Everard, B-flat bass
• James McGaw, E-flat bass
• Nicholas W. “Nick” Hodgeboom, E-flat bass
• John Vleiken, tenor drum
• Fred Eldred, bass drum
• J. Reed, drum major

Guest Musicians, June 1887

• Joseph Spross, Lansing, solo cornet
• Julius Martin, Battle Creek, B-flat cornet
• D. P. Jones, Ionia, E-flat cornet

“Where have the band concerts flown to?”

Frank Crossette petitioned the city in May 1887 to provide funding for a series of summer band concerts in Bronson Park. The request was denied, but Crossette gave the concerts anyway and thousands attended. Aside from these few performances and a “Grand Gift Concert” in July to again help raise funds for its members, the band had all but disappeared by season’s end. “Mr. Crossette, get the boys together and enliven the dried up city,” pled one disgruntled writer in the Gazette. But after a free concert at Stern’s Clothing Store in October, it was clear that the band was finished and Crossette had returned to Constantine.

Kalamazoo City Band: 1888-1889

With Frank Crossette’s departure, it was clear that 1888 would be a difficult year for the Kalamazoo Band. But perhaps few would have realized exactly how difficult the coming two years would be.

Fred Shoecraft

In March, twelve members of the old band got together and (re)formed the Kalamazoo City Band with Fred Shoecraft, former leader of the Sturgis Band as managing director. Practices began and the band was hired to perform during afternoon exercises on Memorial Day in May.

Members (March 1888)

• Fred Shoecraft
• Bert Sawyer
• Fred Davis
• George H. Skinkle
• Oscar J. Clement
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou
• John Leak
• Fred Redmond
• Sam R. Born
• Nicholas W. “Nick” Hodgeboom
• John Vleiken
• Fred Eldred

Len H. Salisbury

But it immediately became evident that Shoecraft would not be leading the Kalamazoo band after all. Shoecraft married a young Sturgis woman in late May and returned to that city soon after to open a cigar factory and reorganize the band there.

Once again without a leader, some suggested Len H. Salisbury would be right for the job. Salisbury was then leading the Academy of Music Orchestra, and had previously fronted successful bands for fifteen years in New York, Detroit, and elsewhere. Unfortunately for Kalamazoo, more lucrative offers from Omaha and Des Moines enticed Salisbury to locate elsewhere.

Still without professional leadership, the Kalamazoo City Band forged ahead. The band fulfilled its obligation to play for the Memorial Day exercises in Bronson Park, and was featured along with the fireworks at an open air concert on the grounds of St. Augustine’s Church during the community-wide July Fourth celebration.

Louis F. Boos

In early August, the Kalamazoo City Band was again officially reorganized, this time under the leadership of Louis F. Boos, a well-known cornetist from Jackson. Boos was once a member of Patrick Gilmore’s Twenty-Second Infantry Regiment Band and became a highly acclaimed cornet soloist and music teacher.

Members (August 1888)

• Louis F. Boos, solo cornet and leader
• William Kaiser, E flat clarinet
• William Scholtzer, B flat clarinet
• Chas. Gauit, piccolo
• Fred Davis, first cornet
• Bert Sawyer, second cornet
• Sam R. Born, first alto
• Henry Oswalt, second alto
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou, first tenor
• John Leak, second tenor
• Oscar G. Clement, baritone
• Nicholas W. “Nick” Hodgeboom, bass
• Fred Eldred, bass drum
• John Vleiken, snare drum

“Shall Kalamazoo Have a Band?” 

But as luck would have it, Boos didn’t stick around long either. No sooner had the announcement of his leadership of the Kalamazoo Band been made than Boos packed up his belongings and departed for Cleveland to lead a band there. And so it goes, Kalamazoo musicians again found themselves without a dedicated bandleader.

During the coming year, the Kalamazoo City Band (or whatever was left of it) was invited to participate in a band tournament in Schoolcraft along with twenty other bands, but after that one event, the City Band was nowhere to be found. The local Fourth of July exercises in 1889 were to include Crossette’s Constantine Band, the Plainwell Juvenile Band, plus bands from Three Rivers and Oshtemo, but noticeably none from Kalamazoo. Fred Davis and the Clement brothers tried to reorganize the band during the fall of 1889; Oscar Clement even offered to give free concerts in Bronson Park if someone would pay for and construct a bandstand there. But nobody did, and by year’s end, the City Band was once again no more.

White’s Military Band: 1888-1893

“Our own and only band—excepting the Salvation army tooters”

By 1888, Kalamazoo’s musical landscape was beginning to appear rather bleak, leaving one embittered Gazette writer to wonder “why W. S. White don’t give the people of Kalamazoo the street band he told them he would.”

Being an accomplished musician himself, over the years, local photographer and merchant Wallace S. White occasionally dabbled in the second hand musical instrument trade and perhaps toyed with the idea of forming a military band. After putting together a successful six-piece dance orchestra with horn player William H. Marchant, and a rather impromptu brass band with members of the Marchant-led YMCA Orchestra and perhaps others from a local Odd Fellows (African American) orchestra, White kept his word and worked toward Kalamazoo’s next community military band.

A New Band

In July 1888, W. S. White announced the formation of his new amateur twelve-piece military band, which included several members of the old City Band, all of whom were said to be “experienced musicians” (Telegraph). The new band performed “choice selections in fine style” at Long Lake during an August encampment of the Peninsular Commandery, and “made a fine appearance and played well” during an early September excursion to Niles, where the band members “were complimented in that city for their appearance and music” (Telegraph). In October, White and his band took part a massive local political celebration, where they joined “a mammoth procession” of veterans, soldiers, dignitaries, and other bands in a grand parade through the streets of Kalamazoo.

Winter Rehearsals

The band spent the winter months of 1888-89 dutifully rehearsing in White’s photo studio on Main Street without making so much as a single public appearance. Come February, White’s outfit was elected the official band of Company C, 2nd Regiment, Michigan State Troops (Michigan National Guard), and was renamed White’s Light Guard Band.

White looked forward to a full schedule of holiday parades and summer concerts in Bronson Park, just like the ones that had attracted enormous crowds two years before, and he promised “some surprises” (Telegraph) as well. With uniforms from Crossette’s former City Band and instruments provided by White himself, White’s Military Band emerged from its winter sabbatical with an unremarkable performance on a “rainy and dismal” Memorial Day in May; a prophetic indicator, perhaps, of the difficult year that lay ahead.

White’s “Four-Tuned” Band

Success did not come easy for White and his musicians. Ridiculed by the press as the “local ‘tune-less’ band” and embittered by the lack of community support for summer concerts and a public bandstand, White made very few local appearances with his band, leaving the locals in dismay and both the courthouse lawn and Bronson Park concert-less and quiet.

“Let those harangues be stopped.”

By summer’s end, Wallace White had apparently had enough of the lackluster performances and bad press. Committed to creating a first-rate community band, White replaced “all the old kickers” on his roster with “good, reliable young men” (Telegraph) and enlisted local bandleader Chester Z. Bronson to lead the band and provide training for its members. As one reporter stated reassuringly, “Our motto, ‘no bums’ allowed. Our organization is young and advancing.” At thirty years of age, Bronson was a formally educated seasoned professional musician who had traveled extensively with many of the best bands in the business. Supporters knew that if anyone could make this less-than-perfect organization into a source of community pride, it was Chet Bronson.

By December, Bronson had already made significant progress with White’s perhaps underwhelming players. Under Bronson’s leadership, the band improved steadily throughout the winter and unlike the previous year, they sought work wherever possible; from masquerade balls to roller skating parties, just to gain more experience.

“Under the baton of Prof. Bronson”

By 1890, military band music had become more popular than ever. The famous bands of Gilmore and Sousa only fueled the public’s appetite for march music, and helped to pave the way for the many community bands that played it. Not only had White’s Band improved by this time, but it had managed to develop an enthusiastic local following.

In May, C. Z. Bronson left Kalamazoo to rejoin Wurzburg & Bronson’s Band in Grand Rapids for the summer (he would later join Sousa’s Band), leaving White’s 17-piece band under the direction of cornetist Derance “Deal” Richards. A long-awaited series of open-air summer councerts and special appearances followed. White’s Military Band would continue to perform locally and throughout Michigan for years to come.

Second Regiment Band: 1893-1897

During the summer of 1893, White’s Military Band was once again inducted into active duty as the official band of the Michigan National Guard’s 2nd Infantry, and thereafter became known as the Second Regiment Band.

Wallace White stepped aside at this time to focus on his music store, while the band continued on under Deal Richards’ leadership to become “among the very best in the state” (Gazette). When Richards departed in mid 1894, Chester Bronson returned to Kalamazoo and took over management of the band. With Otto Schultz directing, Bronson promoted the Second Regiment Band extensively throughout Michigan for several years.

Second Regiment Band (August 1895)

• C. Z. Bronson, clarinet, director
• Otto Shultz, piccolo
• Julius Martin (Battle Creek), clarinet
• Will Peters (Battle Creek), clarinet
• C. F. Day (Detroit), clarinet
• C. M. Cook, clarinet
• Bert Waldo, clarinet
• Fred Curtis (Michigan City. IN), clarinet
• Fred Davis, cornet
• Sam Born, cornet
• C. G. Bodley (Three Rivers), cornet
• C. J. Chall (Three Rivers), cornet
• Gus Bucher (Battle Creek), cornet
• Fred Redmond, alto
• Will Shonk, alto
• John Leak, alto
• Hi Ballou, tenor
• Charles Pool, tenor
• Neal Jersey (Saginaw), baritone
• H. Hardella, slide trombone
• Carl Jones (Michigan City. IN), slide trombone
• Fred Hayes (Coldwater), bass
• Sol Kline (Constantine), bass
• Carl Catherman, snare drum
• John Vleiken, bass drum
• Geo. Lauraine, drum major 

White’s “New” Military Band: 1896-1897

Given the significant regional success of the Second Regiment Band, and the immense popularity of band music in the wake of the 1893 World’s Fair, Wallace White stepped back in as a bandleader in 1896 and formed a new version of White’s Military Band. Pulling together some of the community’s most prominent musicians, plus several of the “old timers” from his previous band who were not active members of the Guard (Deal Richards, Frank Newell, Carl Catherman, John Everard, Oscar Clement, Eugene McElhany, et al), White’s new band quickly fell into the fold among the leading community music makers. Indeed, White’s (original) Military Band and its 1896 successor, plus the offshoot Second Regiment Band, would all dominate the local music scene for much of the decade.

Kalamazoo Harmonic Brass Band: 1894-1896

Organized on 13 April 1894, the Kalamazoo Harmonic Band (Harmonic Brass Band) was most likely an offshoot of (or a successor to) the Kalamazoo Cornet Band. Most of its seventeen members had been associated with other local bands and were well known musicians. The new outfit was managed by Frank E. Wilson, a local letter carrier and versitile musician, and directed by William H. Marchant, a longstanding local musician and member of White’s Military Band.

Emancipation Day

The Harmonic Band (occasionally called the “Harmonica Band”) made its debut on 1st August 1894 during the annual Emancipation Day celebration in Kalamazoo; first sharing parade duties with White’s Military Band in the afternoon, and later taking center stage for an evening concert at Turn Verein Hall. By November, the band was able to secure new uniforms and showed them off proudly during a year-end concert at the G. A. R. Hall. (Many of the same musicians joined Joe, Sylvester and Gilmore Phillips of the popular Phillips Brothers’ Orchestra and formed the Philharmonic Orchestra, which began performing symphonic music in January.)

Harmonic Band Members (July 1894)

(* Musicians believed to be African American)

• Frank E. Wilson*, manager
• Charles O. Bailiff, secretary and treasurer
• W. H. Marchant, musical director
• Augustus T. Hedgbeth*
• William M. Steward*
• Sylvester F. Liggins*
• Edward J. Harris*
• Gilmore L. Phillips*
• George H. Hill*
• Hiram H. “Hi” Wilson*
• Sylvester C. Phillips*
• Levi D. Bates*
• Joshua W. Phillips*
• Oliver H. “Ollie” Stafford*
• Arthur Wilson*
• Charles H. Hill*
• John T. Pool*
• Jasper Boyd*

Additional members, March 1896

• C. Z. Bronson, director
• D. Stuart (possibly Enos Delbert Stewart*)
• S. Scherer
• Charles Pollard*
• Harry Parks*
• T. Stuart (possibly Thomas Stewart*)

“A Fine Musical Program”

The 1895 season saw the Harmonic Band performing for activities at the A. M. E. Church on North Pitcher Street in June, the Labor Day celebration in Hastings in September, and to Niles for an Odd Fellows reunion in late September. An 1896 benefit concert to raise money for new uniforms was directed by Kalamazoo’s master bandleader, C. Z. Bronson. The band appears to have remained active until about 1900.

Chamber of Commerce Band of Kalamazoo: 1898-1902

The last “great” local band of the nineteenth century was the Chamber of Commerce Band of Kalamazoo, formed in the early months of 1898 by C. Z. Bronson and the Reams brothers. With offices and a rehearsal space that occupied the entire third floor above the Reams Brothers’ Music Store, 154 South Burdick Street at Exchange Place, the Chamber of Commerce Band combined members of White’s Military Band and the Second Regiment Band into an all-star, 30-member mélange of Kalamazoo’s top musicians.

Ted D. Daken

From its inception, the Chamber of Commerce Band was under the management of a colorful local character named Ted Daken, whose name could easily be associated with any number of activities. Daken worked for the Gazette and was later an independent printer. He was a bicycle fanatic who once took his “wheel” on a four hundred mile trek across northern Michigan and Canada (no small feat in the 1890s!). He was also an avid local baseball player and team manager, a theatrical performer, and a musician.

C. Z. Bronson, Director

The band was first organized by C. Z. Bronson as the Second Infantry Band. Weekly rehearsals were held during the winter of 1897-98 above the Reams brothers’ store, with a goal “to give the people of Kalamazoo the highest class of band music and arouse a public spirit of pride” (Kalamazoo Telegraph). By spring, the Chamber of Commerce had “expressed their approval of (the) movement” and the band was ready to make its first public appearance, an April 6th benefit performance for the Y.M.C.A. at the First Presbyterian Church.

Reams Brothers

Chet Bronson left Kalamazoo in late April to join the Great Wallace Shows, and turned directorship of the Chamber of Commerce Band over to Sylvester “Sylvo” Reams. Reams was a former member of the United States Marine Band in Chicago, and later one of the initial investors in the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co. He was joined in the Chamber of Commerce Band by his brothers; J. “Jay” Reams, a piccolo player; and clarinetist Arthur Reams, proprietor of the Reams Brothers’ Music Store.

Members (May 1898)

• Mr. Arnold, clarinet
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou, trombone (2nd Regiment Band)
• Sherwin L. Blakeslee, trombone, alto
• Sam R. Born, cornet (2nd Regiment Band) (Fischer) (KSO)
• C. M. Cook, clarinet (2nd Regiment Band)
• Ted D. Daken, drum major (2nd Regiment Band)
• Fred Davis, cornet (2nd Regiment Band)
• Fred C. Day, clarinet (2nd Regiment Band)
• Frank Everett, bass
• K. Faust, baritone, bass
• George Golden, trombone, saxophone
• H. Hardella, trombone (White) (2nd Regiment Band) (KSO)
• John Leak, alto (2nd Regiment Band)
• Peter C. Longjohn, bass
• George Loveland, cornet
• John McDermott, snare drum
• Eugene C. McElhany, saxophone (White) (KSO)
• Charles Poole, alto (2nd Regiment Band)
• Arthur Reams, clarinet, saxophone
• J. “Jay” Reams, piccolo
• Sylvester “Sylvo” Reams, solo saxophone (KSO)
• Fred Rebman, alto (White) (2nd Regiment Band)
• Joe Salomon, piccolo
• Gardia P. Simons, trombone (Brooks)
• Lewis H. Simons, baritone
• S. S. Scheidler, clarinet
• Chris Scheir, cornet
• Arthur Slocum, clarinet (Fischer)
• Alfred Snuggs, clarinet (White)
• Mr. Strong, clarinet
• Arthur Tong, bass drum
• George Williams, cornet, assistant conductor

Additional members (August 1898)

• Mr. Allen, clarinet
• Mr. Cummings, clarinet
• Frank Newell, trombone (White) (KSO)
• Fred Roberts, cornet

Guest musicians (1899)

• Edward B. Desenberg, xylophone soloist
• Hazen and Harry Shannon, vocalists

Officers (April 1899)

• Sylvester “Sylvo” Reams, conductor
• Ted D. Daken, Manager (2nd Regiment Band)
• Fred W. Davis, secretary (2nd Regiment Band) (KSO)
• Hardy Hardella, treasurer (White) (2nd Regiment Band) (KSO)
• Sam R. Born, leader, assistant conductor (2nd Regiment Band) (Fischer) (KSO)

Chamber of Commerce Band Performances

The Gazette called the Chamber of Commerce Band “one of the best military and concert bands in the state.” Existing contracts were to be filled by both of the former bands individually while the new band continued to rehearse throughout the summer.

A Fine Concert

On Thursday evening, 18 August 1898, it seemed that everyone in town was out to see and hear the new band make its public debut. Dressed in sharp new uniforms made locally by Henderson-Ames, the Chamber of Commerce Band assembled in front of the armory (then on North Burdick Street) and marched southward, accompanied by “a vast crowd of pedestrians, carriages, and wheels.” After a brief serenade in front of the Chamber of Commerce office, the band proceeded to Bronson Park for an 8 pm concert performance. A crowd of 10,000 turned out to see the show.

Somber Strains of a Funeral March

In January 1899, the Chamber of Commerce Band led the procession to Mountain Home Cemetery during funeral services for Frank Henderson, founder of the Henderson-Ames Company, owner of Henderson Castle, and one of Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen. A year later, the band was called upon to lead the funeral procession for one of its own; horn player Sherwin Blakeslee. In December 1902, the band again played the funeral march for local Civil War veteran, Henry J. Brownell.

“Cost of a Concert”

Though highly successful in terms of attendance and popularity, the Chamber of Commerce Band struggled financially, just like the bands that had come before it. Hoping to secure a series of weekly summer concerts in Bronson Park, friends of the band formed a subscription group where some three hundred local merchants and business professionals were asked to contribute up to 50¢ each week to help offset expenses.

The band continued to improve, but ongoing financial trouble was taking its toll. Wherever the band played, enormous crowds gathered, but sponsorship was weak and although thousands attended the free concerts, they weren’t paying off for the otherwise professional musicians. After an entire summer of work, each member had earned just $2.40—hardly adequate by any standard. In August 1899, Ted Daken parted ways with the band, leaving Hardy Hardella as manager.

Popular and Ragtime Music

Celebrating the community’s newly constructed bandstand in Bronson Park while giving in to audience demand for ragtime music, the 1899 series of concerts included guest performances by local musician and composer Edward B. Desenberg. Desenberg’s xylophone solos were tremendous favorites of local audiences at the time, and his own compositions drew great applause when performed by the Chamber of Commerce Band. A June performance in Bronson Park included Desenberg’s composition, “Kalamazoo, An Original Rag-Time Cake-Walk” (conducted by Desenberg himself), and a December performance at the Grand Opera House featured Desenberg’s newly penned “Youwanta March and Two-Step,” as arranged by Ellis Brooks.

“Chamber of Commerce Band” cigars

Cigars were big business in 1900; some 360,000 brands were available in the United States alone. In an interesting bit of cross-promotion, Martin Salomon & Company, a cigar manufacturing firm on North Burdick Street, began marketing its new “Chamber of Commerce Band” cigar brand in April 1900. (Joe Salomon was a member of the band.) The Salomon Company promoted its new cigar as “the best nickel cigar on the market,” and boldly claimed it to be the “official smoke” of the McKinley & Roosevelt administration, the official cigar of John Philip Sousa’s band, and even a favorite of the Boers in South Africa, or so they said.

Chamber of Commerce Band (early 1900)

• Sylvo Reams, director, solo saxophone
• Samuel R. Born, assistant director, cornet
• John Leak, secretary, horn
• H. H. Hardella, business manager, treasurer, trombone
• E. B. Desenberg, oboe
• Jay Reams, piccolo
• William Tyler, cornet
• N. L. Abbott, cornet
• F. Brown, E clarinet
• F. A. Curtis, B clarinet
• Charles Grundy, B clarinet
• Fred Day, B clarinet
• M. S. Arnold, B clarinet
• C. M. Cook, B clarinet
• J. Salomon, B clarinet
• Edward L. Weinn, Eb horn
• Charles Poole, Eb horn
• Fred Redman, Eb horn
• Gardie Simons, trombone
• Frank Newell, trombone
• H. Ballou, trombone
• Lewis H. Simons, euphonium
• George Golden, saxophone
• Bert Waldo; bassoon
• Frank Everett, bass
• Peter C. Longjohn, bass, drum
• J. C. Faust, bass, trombone
• Lew Lawton, drum
• Carl Catherman, drum

“Celery City is Without a Band”

The original band reached a performance peak in 1900, but called it quits in July of that year due to lack of funding. The band was soon reorganized as a more manageable group of about eighteen; all but six of whom were previous members. Ted Daken was back as president and Sylvo Reams was again director.

“Meritorious Entertainment”

During 1901, the roster swelled to thirty members, including players from Wallace White’s former military band, the old Second Regiment Band, and the previous year’s Chamber of Commerce Band. The Gazette proudly heralded the new band’s May performance as “meritorious entertainment... the finest musical entertainment by local talent ever given in Kalamazoo.” However, persistent financial problems forced the band to reorganize yet again in 1902, though this time with just nine of its original members. Still led by Reams, but without Daken, the Chamber of Commerce Band continued to perform through the summer of 1902 before ultimately disbanding for good by year’s end.

The End of an Era

20th Centrury Bands

Other bands came and went after the turn of the twentieth century, including the Elks Band, the H.O.H. Band (Holland Union Benevolent Association), the Kalamazoo Concert Band, the A.U.V. Band (Arbeiter Unterstutzungs Verein or German Workingmen’s Benevolent Association), the K.O.T.M. Band (Knights of the Maccabees), the American Legion Band, and the mammoth 136-member Kalamazoo Boys’ Band, directed by George B. Newell. But the “Golden Age” of the military bands had all but passed, and as musical tastes began to change, audiences became captivated by the latest popular musical trend: ragtime.

Continuing Research

Like many of our Local History essays, this article is by no means a definitive study; rather it may be viewed as a work-in-progress. If you have new information, corrections, or items to share, please contact the author or the Local History Room.