Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-10-09
JUBILEE AT f


EDITOR CHRoNICLE:-On last Saturday
it was my privilege to attend the Brass
Band Convention at Greene. The place
of meeting was in a beautiful grove
where everything necessary for the
occasion had been prepared. Arriving
on the ground early I found a crowd o:
people collected from various parts of
this and Ashtabula county. The usual
amount of s~ide-shows with the largest
snake in the world and that fat woman
were on hand, fanked by candy and
gingerbread stands. To a person not
acquainted with the order of exercises
the idea of a fair would suggest itself,
for we find the crowd of people, the jam
of buggies, etc, and above the din of
the crowd the notes of the hand organ
accompanied by the bass drum and the
crier at the door. The band stand was
nicely located, and consisted of a plat
form some fifty feet long with five raised
seats running the length of il. The
first band to arrive on the q ounds was
from Lennox, the members coming in
buggies accompanied by their wives or
sweathearts, and produced quite a sensa-
ton as they entered the grounds dressed
in officers uniforms, with their hand |
some silver instruments. Next was a
band in a four-hOrse wagon with their
beautiful banner unfuried which intro
duced US to Carriers Cornet Band from
Niles, Ohio. This va quickly followed
by the Orwell, Bristol, Mesopotamia,
Gustavus and Greensburg bands in their
band wagons drawn by four and six
c~aparisoned horses. As each band ar
rived on the outskirts of the camp they
were met by committees from Greene,
who escorted them to the rear of the
stand, where their horses were cared
for, and the members assigned their
position On the platform. At eleven
there were seven bands in place
ready for action, numbering from rs to
100 performers. +. r. Bascomb called
the assemblage TO order, asking for
81 Hail Columbia" by the combined
force, which was given with a will.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Wake
field, which was followed by the bands
playing the "Red, White and Blue"
r. w. Crane delivered a short address
full of wit and good humor, which was
listened to with close attention. After
the programme for the forenoon had
been given, IN announcement was made
that the entire crowd would be fed by
the citizens Of Greene Gee Of charge.
The bands were marched to long tables
loaded with all a hungry man could
desire-chickeh pies and squirrels were
common meats at this free dinner. On
the tables to make room for
more, a friend remarks, Look at the
wd hat has eaten, and still the tables
seem full" As our wagon was leaving
brother offered US fruit to eat on the
way home. asked myself many times
during the day ii this kindness was
perpetual with the people of Greene,
but when the day closed, with the hand
still open, I said, God bless this good
people, they will never be forgotten"
The afternoon was spent in hearing the
bands play selections of their own. As
his was the first attempt at anything of
he kind we consider it a success, al {
there were many things that
suggested themselves.
lst. The massing of the different
of instruments into bands of
ubas, baritones, ~tenOres, altos, and first
md second sopranos, all working under
conductor with a perfect knowledge OF
he score, who can WELD a steady baton.
%. An arrangement of music from
be same publisher for each band. {
Ifthe organization is kept up there is I
10 doubt but it can become as popular {
o the people ofthis county as our fairs i
md national days. The next meeting
5 to be at Gustavus in the spring. Il s
he citizens there attempt to excel the
at Greene some of us will haYe /
0 be carried home on a shutter. 9