Let's strike up again the Legion Junior Band, 1929-56

Chariton's American Legion Junior band was named official band for the Iowa Department of the American Legion in 1935 --- the year after this photo was taken on the front stops of the Legion post home. The band also placed second in competition at the National American Legion convention in St. Louis during 1935 and won first place honors at the National Legion Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1936. Band members shown here are (first row from left) Herbert "Buck" Johnson, band director, Benje Griffiths, Bill Snyder, Jay Whisenand, Charles "Chuck" Laing, Bill Kridelbaugh, Don "Red" Widener, Burdette Dunshee, Joe Ruddell, Jack Callahan, Marty Church, Paul Erickson, Hutchinson, Raymond Whisenand, Junior Hope and Oscar A. Stafford, drill master; (second row) Vivian West, Lois Ruddell, Lois Moore, George Chapman, Betty Plows, Marion Preston, Margaret Ferguson, Paul George, John Larson, Hutchinson, Paul Savely, Edwin Morgan and Johnny Ambelang; (third row) Charles Goater, Bob Bruce, Bob Box, John Freeburg, Ronald Puterbaugh, Dean Thompson, Keith "Spanky" McFarland, Kenneth Anderson, Dwight Oliver, Wendell "Jim" Fuller and Leland "Slim" Wright; (fourth row) Waldemar Peterson, Henry Hooper, John Ondus, Vern Clark, Matt Miletich, Leslie "Leck" Young, drum major, Jay Threlkeld, Jack Clark, Walter Eckerman, Garland Cross and Claire Gurwell; (fifth row) Dorothy Teater, Francis Doser, Harold "Pete" Peterson, Cloyd Carson, Bob Eckerman, Howard Johnson, Don Fuller, Bob Gaston and Mary Ritson.

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It's hard to imagine a time when martial music and close order drill dominated the lives of 50-75 Lucas County young people --- and their parents --- year-around for years running and the Legion Hall was home to one of southern Iowa's most remarkable musical ensembles.

But that was the case during the years after 1929 when Carl L. Caviness American Legion Post No. 102's American Legion Junior Band ruled the music scene in Chariton and made a name for itself state- and nationwide.

Oscar A. Stafford (1893-1981) --- a World War I veteran instrumental in organizing the Legion post and a Chariton attorney for more than 60 years --- was a major force behind the band and its drillmaster for 25 years, aided by Herbert C. "Buck" Johnson, band director; and Leck Young, drum major.

Stafford prepared the following history of the band after it had been discontinued in 1956. A very precise man, Mr. Stafford titled his history, "A Brief and Concise History of the American Legion Junior Band of Chariton, Iowa." He also noted that if the history were read aloud, it should take no longer than five minutes to do so. Stafford's history as well as photographs and other band-related memorabilia now are housed at the Lucas County Historical Society museum. Here's the history:

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In 1929, the Carl L. Caviness Post No. 102, of the American Legion, in Chariton, Iowa, established the American Legion Junior Band. This band was organized with a committee consisting of members of the American Legion Post who were parents of the Junior members of the band. Oscar A. Stafford wass chairman of the Band Committee and its drillmaster, and Herbert C. Johnson was the band director.

Very early in its history, the band was declared to be the official Junior Band of the Iowa Department of the American Legion, and was also elected to be the official Junior Band of the Fifth District of the Iowa Department of the American Legion.

The band consisted of young people from approximately 12-14 years of age to 19. The work of the band consisted of rehearsals, which took place in the American Legion Home, and field drills. The drills were based on the old infantry drill regulations for close order drill and as far as I'm advised, this was the only full band that ever attempted to do close order drill set to full band music.

The band was controlled by the drum major, who was in all respects a field general, and all movements were controlled with silent baton signals, which necessitated the origination of many signals not contained in any book of rules. The drillmaster created many routine drills, all fitted to the size of a football field, which was the area selected by the authorities for the contests.

The band was self-sustained by playing for different occasions around the state and attended all state conventions of the American Legion, where it was always declared to be the winner of all contests in its field. In addition, the band attended the National Convention of the American Legion in St. Louis in 1935, and was awarded second place nationally, and in 1936, attended the National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where they won the title of National Champions in their field.

L. K. (Leck) Young led the band as drum major, and the band was accorded the honor of escorting the newly elected National Commander of the American Legion, Ray Murphy of Iowa, to his seat at the evening's proceedings.

In 1939, the band attended the National Convention in Chicago, and competed there, receiving second place, and they attended the National Convention in Milwaukee later, where they were not allowed to compete because officials stated there were no provisions for their entry.

In addition to the above, the band played concerts for the city of Chariton, under contract, for several seasons, and was the official band of the American Legion Rodeo at Sidney, Iowa, for several years, and appeared at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on a regularly yearly basis, entertaining the people in the Grandstand with marches and drills and --- in addition --- played concerts in the band stand.

The transportation used by the band for most of the trips consisted of private cars and trucks, for instance, on the trip to Cleveland, Ohio, for the National Convention held in 1936, we traveled in 32 private cars and 2 trucks. We stayed overnight in the American Legion Home in Logansport, Indiana. The American Legion Post in Logansport offered us the use of their basement for sleeping quarters, and also put on a banquet for us when we returned as National Champions. At Cleveland, Ohio, we rented an entire residence. The dining room was set up in the basement, and the girls housed on the first floor and the boys on the second, and at all times this band was completely chaperoned. The American Legion members and their wives at Logansport were very much impressed with the discipline of the band, for instance, they all stood behind their chairs at the banquet, and were seated at my signal.

The last two or three trips made by this organization were made in chartered buses; the largest buses that Trailway had, and I contracted with them, and they were under my command completely.

During the existence of this band, we organized under the name of "Parade of Champions," together with many of the Junior Drum and Bugle Corps in the state of Iowa, and went to regular contests periodically, first in one city, and then in another. These appearances consisted of a contest including all of the elements of a regular official contest, and for the greater number of events the band was the winner of the contests under rules of contests that were extremely severe for a full band, for they referred principally to drum and bugle corps.

During the approximately 25 years of the existence of this band, approximately 1,000 young people received training in both music and drill.

The band attended the National Convention of the American Legion in St. Louis in 1953. The organization was disbanded in 1956.