Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-05-26


Amongst the various plans for the
great Home Coming in Decorah next
August nothing is taking" with
greater enthusiasm than the propos-
ed reunion of the world-famous De-
corah Drum Corps, which for years
fourished in this city and spread the
fame of Decorah far and wide; which
never failed to take first prize in
contest in which they competed;
which was composed of fine, upright,
gentlemanly young men from the
best of families, whose courtesy,
culture and refinement in addition
to their beautiful music, made them
the recipients of fulsome praise and
the envy of all similar organizations
wherever they appeared.
The following sketch was written
in 1892 by Frank NJ. Coleman, now
a prosperous newspaper man at
Ruskin, Neb., and will be read with
much interest we are sure:
In 1876 Decorah had a military
company called THE Decorah Light
Guards" commanded by George O..
Gardner, who conceived the idea of
organizing a drum corps to aid him
in making the guard better COM
pany and to furnish material music
for all occasions. On the evening of
April 18th, 1876, he, in company
with w. r. Toye and F. NJ. Coleman,
met at Hutchinson's hall and pro-
ceeded to organize the Decorah
Drum Corps, electing F. NJ. Coleman
musical director and drummer,
whose duty was to enroll members.
Having secured p. c. Peterson as
fifer and John Fuller as bass drum
mer, they met the next night for
practice and were so enthusiastic
over the idea that they soon master
ed Hail Columbia and Yankee
Doodle" so that on the eve of the
2Sth day of April, they, in company
with the Guards, made their first ap-
pearance upon the street. After
playing their program NJ. R. Wood
worth took the bass drum and the
writer surrendered his drum to F.
| E. Gilbertson,. who requested Mr.
Peterson to play some of the army
tunes. Pete replied: Il can't play
any more tunes, Yankee Doodle is
all l know" Then, turning to the
crowd, which was large one, said:
Some one take my fife and play"
Mr.. John Hard being present took
the instrument and in a few mo-
ments a new corps was playing.
A tvxaxa hn arda rot MN n6
from Broadway where they had been
drilling and the corps was ordered
to play for them while parading the
principal streets. After short
time they marched to the armory
and were dismissed. About that
time the Scott's became citizens of
the city, and hearing that Edward
and George had been members of a
corps at Pittsburg, Pa, one as drum
mer and the other as drum major,
they were asked to join.
On the evening of May 10th, the
final organization was made. Geo.
Scott, drum major; P. G. Peterson,
fife major; F. NJ. Coleman, musical
director; p. c. Peterson, w. NJ.
Brown and John w. Hard, fifers; F.
M. Coleman, E. A. Scott, LOran j.
Miller and E. Gilbertson, snare
drummers; John Fuller, bass drum.
The First Trip.
Nothing was done to gain a repu-
tation until September, 1878, when
the corps attended the annual en-
campment of Iowa National Guards
at Dubuque. 1t was here they met
for the first time the Dubuque drum
corps. From this time until the
present writing it has been war. In
1877 Major Scott having resigned,
F. NJ. Coleman was elected to the
for Dakota in the spring of IS,
Loran Miller was appointed to fill
his place until his return, which was
in the fall of the same year Again
leaving the next March, Arthur Nc
Kay was appointed TO fill the vacan-
cy until November when Mr.. Cole
man returned.
Encampment at Independence.
In September. 1879, the corps
composed of seven members attend
ed encampment at Independence.
Fuller being absent, w. S. Buck
nell was appointed tc play bass drum
and Lou Neshiem fife. After spend
ing a pleasant week they returned
home feeling that in order to
amount to much they must have new
instruments and more members.
On February 9Th, 1880. meeting
was called to perfect arrangements
for set of new instruments. The
father of the corps" George Q.
Gardner, being present, supplied
them with the money needed. 1t
was then that Oscar Nesheim, AL
fred Anderson, Frank Smout and
Rennie Marietta became members.
This year the corps attended the en-
campment at Postville, and received
the name of the cabbage thieves"
having confiscated nearly two acres
of fine cabbage.
Encampment at Des Moines.
The following year, 1881, Edward
and Charles Thompson, August Neu-
fert and George Norton became
members, and the boys decided -
gain a national reputation, and
raised the membership to fifteen.
They attended the encampment, i.
N. G.. at Des Moines, which was a
dreary affair, the weather being
stormy all week. 1t was here they
first became known throughout the
state, being appointed Fourth Regi-