The Portland daily press., 1872-01-19
The Portland BAND.
Some Extracts from its History-Incidents an
Personal "Reminiscences
NUMBER III.

N~N
NUMBER III.
Our last article closed with the return of tn.
Band from their famous concert tour to tba
Kennebec and Penobscot, (Feb. 1S43) which
though it was not financially successful, CAV,
the organization good name in the State and
brought them more prominently before the
public The Band still occupied Ward Room
No. as headquarters, and almost Immediately
on their return from the east two concerts were
given at Exchange Hall. The Band was very
popular at home, and had warm individual
helpers. The audiences at both these concerts
were very large, and the net proceeds were
$3.50, on which dividend of S1.14 per man
was declared. We refer to this incident for the
contrast it presents with the results of ''first-
class concert nowadays. Then 'nine-
pence would give about as much enjoyment in
the ''show" line as a half dollar does now. The
records show fair amount of engagements
during the ensuing summer. On the 18th of
May the Band played for an organization call
ed the i'Soul of Soldiery," composed of the
staff, company and platoon officers of the
Third Regiment, the object of which was i'm
provement in military science. AS our militia
laws were repealed the next winter, the organ
ization was short-lived. In June the Band ac-
companied the Portland Light Infantry to Bos-
ton to take part in the great ceremonies of
"dedicating" Bunker Hill Monument, then
just completed, and were absent six days. In
July Mr.. Cannon resigned the duties of Sec
retary and c. L. Curtis was chosen to the
place. The next month d H. Chandler came
from Boston and became leader of the Band in
place of York. He occupied the position unin-
terruptedly until Jan. 1860, when he resigned
and gave place to iona. Cole. The records
speak very highly of Chandler's first appear
ance. Chandler put new life into the Band,
and rehearsals were more frequent, and sue
cessful, except that Cannon was ''rather be-
hind on his drum parts"
AT the next annual meeting (1844 )Chandler
and Curtis were reelected leader and secretary,
and a number of concerts and balls were insti-
tuted, which were both brilliant and successful,
with the exception of two concerts atSaco, of
which brought the band in debt to the amount
of three cents, and the other required an assess
ment of sixty-one cents apiece to pay expenses.
In April the record reads: ''The citizens talk
loud of doing something in the way of raising
fund to play evenings this summer We hope
they will not get any more than we can take
care Of" Soon after the Band was. waited ON
by acommittee of citizens, which elated the boys
and they instructed the Secretary to 'break the
old pipkin and get new one''
The animated political campaign of 1874,
(Clay and Polk) began with the State Conven-
tion which assembled at Augusta in June, at
which.the band was present. The records con-
tain full account of the trip from Portland to
the Kennebec and back on board the steamer
Telegraph. All through the season the services
of the Band were in great demand, and they
were at work almost every night On the 10th
and 18th of August the Washington Light In
fantry of Boston, and Roxbury Artillery visited
Portland The former was received and enter
tained by the Portland Light Infantry, and the
latter by the Portland Artillery. In October
the Band moved back to their former quarters
opposite Old City Hall, where they have been
ever since, we believe. The same month the
Band buried one of their companions, ID. NJ.
Paine.
The history of the year 1S45 was begun by a
series of concerts and balls, which appear to
have been reasonably remunerative; but here
occurs break in the narrative for some of the
record books were destroyed in the great fire
OF 1866, and we are obliged to step over a long
interim until 1850. In the meantime, however,
the band had procured a new uniform, and
Simeon Higgins and n, w. Lefavor had sue
cessively acted as Secretary. At the annual
meeting in 1850 Lefavor resigned and asked
his dismissal He had been member for six
years, and died few months ago in western
Nv Tn, T., haH fha IL
ties of Secretary added to those of Leader and
the Band raised their prices for public parades,
&C. A series of concerts was inaugurated
which was successful. William Paine was dis
missed from active duty and made an honorary
member, E. d. Cannon having Just before
been changed from an active to an honorary
membership. Under date of Apil Z, the rec
ords give an account of the demonstrations at
tending the election of Hon. A. X Paris for
Mayor, when the procession "headed by the
Band, after marching through the streets, run
ming against posts and into mud-holes brought
upa Paris house, when cheers were given and
the Mayor elect made q speech" On the 7th
of April the once famous Lola Montez appear
ed at Portland Museum and drew almost every
body after her, interfering with the rehearsal
of the Band, at which the Secretary writes his
disapprobaton. 1t is also recorded that on the
18th of February one of the members thought
best to stay away from rehearsal just because
his wife had presented him with twins!
Louis Hammer was Secretary of the Band
for the years 1858 and 1854. During the pre-
ceding year new constitution and code of by
laws were adopted. In March it was decided
to have series of subscription concerts to raise
money for a new set of Instruments The con-
certs proved popular and successful and the
following summer the Band made their appear
ance with an elegant set of German silver in
struments, On the 14th of June concert was
given at st. John, N B., from which city the
Band returned ''flush."
The records for the year contain no other
items of interest, but there are some personal
incidents connected with this and previous pc
RODS of the Bands history that are yet to be
recorded