Strike up the Chariton Fire Department Band

Helen Thompson and I were holding down the fort yesterday afternoon at the museum when this postcard (and others) arrived via Miriam Hibbs. I've never seen it before --- so it made me happy. As did seeing Miriam, a longtime volunteer and friend of the museum now living at Homestead.

This is the Chariton Volunteer Fire Department Band, photographed about 1912, I'm thinking, in front of the doors of the old fire station. Miriam's father, Albert Westling, was a band member.

The band was organized during April of 1910. In part it was a ceremonial unit for the department whenever a parade or procession was scheduled and there were far more of those then than now. But its major project was a regular summer concert schedule on the courthouse lawn.

This continued for 25 years. As nearly as I can figure out, the band's last season was the summer of 1935.

Here's a brief article from The Chariton Leader of May 5, 1910, noting the formation of the band: "The following is the roster of the new Chariton Volunteer Fire Department Band, which was organized in this city last week with W.R. Smith as director: Drums, Herbert Johnson and Clifford Johnson. Basses: Frank Ward and Ralph Pedigo. Baritones: Elmer Hasselquist, Albert Westling and Roy Gray. Trombones: Amos Slattengren and Chas. Percifield. Horns: Cecil Johnson, Obyr Clore, Earl Hahn and Neil Larimer. Cornets: Claude Lyons, Ernest Johnson, Wayne Clore, Roy Fuller, J.D. Hardin and Herman Holmes. Clarinets: George Bergman, C.D. Hubbard, Dr. J.F. Greene, Ralph Percifield, Carl Bergren and Raymond Johnson."

And here are the identifications written on the back of the postcard: Top row, left to right: R. Pedigo, H. Johnson, J.  Larsen, N. Larimer, C. Johnson, E. Schotte, A. Freeman,  J. Larson, C. Percifield, A. Westling; bottom row left to right: J. Retherford, C. Johnson, H. Holmes, E. Johnson, R. Fuller, (unidentified), C.  Hubbard, R.  Johnson and M. Darrah.