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FIRST ROW: (Boy leaning on drum: Dick Wilson, Trumpet.)1. Al Pryor, Picolo & Flute, 2. Howard Webster, Clarinet, 3. Ben Westgate, Clarinet, 4. Dan Hallaway, Clarinet, 5. Arlande Cooke, Clarinet, 6. Stewart Dunbar, Clarinet, 7. Marjorie Wolfe, Clarinet, 8. Earle Rolison, Clarinet, 9. -----Clarinet, 10. Harry Young, Cornet, 11. Dr. L. B. Mayer, Cornet, 12. Byron VanNoy, Trumpet, 13. Dale Avery, Trumpet, 14. Melville Kilgore, Trumpet, 15. Leo Slingerland, Trumpet, 16. William Manley, Trumpet, 17. Tracy Young, Cornet, 18. Raymond Mitchell, Cornet, 19. James Francis Wilson, Director.
SECOND ROW: 20. Mortimer Briggs, Trombone, 21. Manley O. Wilson, Trombone, 22. Walter DeWitt, Trombone, 23. Conrad Murdock, Trombone, 24. Albert Grace, Trombone, 25. Stanley Packard, Alto, 26. Max Rockwell, Alto, 27. Christine Whipple, Alto, 28. Mrs. Wallace McKnight, Alto, 29. Sam Bailey, Snare Drum, 30. Robery Shook, Drum, 31. Herman Pierce, Drum, 32. Lynn Slingerland, Drum.
THIRD ROW: 33. Andrew Whipple, Baritone, 34. Sam W. Wilson, Baritone, 35. John DeWitt, Baritone, 36. Sophronia Bailey, Bells, 37. Cecile Cowl, C Melody Sax, 38. Russel Cowl, C Melody Sax, 39. Carlton Guild, Alto Sax, 40. George Lewis, Soprano Sax.
FOURTH ROW: 41. Rev. Wallace McKnight, Bass, 42. George Loder, Bass, 43. Charles W. Wood, Bass, 44. Charles Smith, Bass, 45. Earle C. Brooks, Bass.
WESTERN BRADFORD COUNTY BAND
The band first began meeting at the home of Samuel W. Wilson, in Austinville, Pa. on April 7th, 1937. It was organized September 7th, 1937, and at that time was meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall, Austinville, PA. They purchased the old Austinville Methodist church building and met there for the first time on December 7th, 1937. They wired the building for electric lights before December 14th, 1937.
CHARTER MEMBERS, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1937
Carlton F. Guild Alto Sax President
Cora McKnight 3rd Cornet Secretary
Manley O. Wilson Trombone Treasurer & Manager
J. Francis Wilson Cornet Director
Andrew Whipple Baritone Trustee
Sam Bailey Snare Drum Trustee
Harry Young Solo Cornet Trustee
Robert S. Shaylor 3rd Cornet Librarian
Virginia Roblyer Alto Refreshment Com.
Christine Whipple Alto Refreshment Com.
Ruth McKnight C Melody Sax Refreshment Com.
William Bailey, Jr. Trombone
Mortimer Briggs Trombone
Walter DeWitt Trombone
John DeWitt Baritone
Dr. Clifton B. Doane Alto
Stuart Dunbar Clarinet
Harry Eaton Bass
Willis Flick Baritone
Albert Grace Trombone
Melville Kilgore Solo Cornet
George Lewis Soprano Sax
Wallace McKnight 1st Cornet
Stanley Packard Alto
Dr. Herman J. Pierce Snare Drum
Al Pryor Piccolo & Flute
Bud Slingerland Solo Cornet
Earl N. Rolison Clarinet
Max Rockwell Cornet
Walter l. Schmorder E Flat Bass
Theodore Shaylor Alto
Lynn Slingerland Bass Drum
Charles Smith Bass
Sam W. Wilson E-Flat Bass and Baritone
Charles W. Wood E Flat Bass
Tracy Young Solo Cornet
The band picture was taken at Eldridge Park, Elmira, NY, Sunday, Aug. 14th, 1938. It was the first time the new white uniforms were worn. The band was paid $20.00 for playing at the park. They played again on another Sunday, September 4th, 1938 and were given $25.00 for their work. They played concerts at Eldridge Park quite a few years during the life of the band.
MUSICIANS KNOWN TO HAVE PLAYED IN THE BAND
Dale Avery Cornet
Betty Bailey
Samuel Bailey Snare Drum
Sophronia Bailey Bells
William Bailey, Jr. Trombone
John Baines Bass
Leon Baines Clarinet
Mortimer Briggs Trombone
Earle C. Brooks Sousaphone
Robert Case Trumpet
Marshall Cole
Maxwell Cole
Arlande Cooke Clarinet
Cecile Cowl C Melody Sax
Russell Cowl C Melody Sax
Ray Dann Clarinet
Dart Solo Cornet
Sam Davies
Winnie Deemy Directed
Deming Cornet
Charles Dewey Tenor Sax
John DeWitt Baritone
Walter DeWitt Trombone
Dr. Clifton B. Doane Clarinet
Stewart Dunbar Clarinet
Merritt Dunkle
Harry Eaton
Erma Evans
Leon Evans Alto
Willis Flick Baritone
Albert Grace Trombone
Joan Grimm
Carlton Guild Alto Sax
Dan Hallaway Clarinet
Lewellyn Kennedy Alto
William Kennedy Tuba
Melville Kilgore Cornet
Ross Knowlton
George Lewis Sax
George Loder Bass
William Manley Trumpet
Eugene May Clarinet
Dr. L. B. Mayer Cornet
Cora McKnight Cornet
Ruth McKnight Sax
Mrs. Wallace McKnight Alto
Rev. Wallace McKnight Bass
Raymond Mitchell Cornet
Bill Morris Clarinet
Conrad Murdock Trombone
Stanley Packard Alto
Herman Pierce Snare Drum
Robinson Pierce Cornet
Frederick Pomeroy Trombone
Al Pryor Piccolo & Flute
Grant Roblyer
Virginia Roblyer Alto
Max W. Rockwell Alto
Ralph Roberts Sax
Earle Rolison Clarinet
Floyd Schaffnaker Clarinet
Walter L. Schmorder Bass
Robert S. Shaylor Cornot
Theodore Shaylor Alto
Henry Sherman Trombone or Baritone
Robert Shook Snare Drum
Leo Slingerland Cornet
Linn Slingerland Bass Drum
Charles Smith Bass
Eugene Snedeker Sax
Rexford Soper Alto Sax
Curtis Spalding Baritone
Bono Van Noy Trombone
Byron Van Noy Cornet
Jacob Van Noy Bass Drum
Montague White Oboe
Robert R. Williams Alto Sax
Howard Webster Clarinet
Ben Westgate Clarinet
Andrew Whipple Baritone
Christine Whipple Alto
Carlton Wilson Clarinet and Sax
C. James Wilson Sax
Phil Wilson Bass ?
J. Francis Wilson Director
Manley O. Wilson Trombone
Samuel W. Wilson Bass & Baritone
Marjorie Wolfe Clarinet
Charles W. Wood Bass
Harry Young Cornet
Tracy Young Cornet
THE WILSONS
Samuel W. Wilson directed the Zim Band, the Horseheads, New York village band, around 1912, 1913, 1914 before his work with the Lehigh Valley Railroad caused a move to Auburn, New York. A railroading injury caused him to leave railroading and he moved to Austinville, Pa. There he became the director of the Austinville Cornet Band. He played many different instruments and "filled in" where ever he was needed in the Western Bradford County Band.
James Francis Wilson, his son, was an Army and Navy man who had spent many years in Army bands and had studied music at the Navy School of Music in Rhode Island. He had done much orchestra work and some of the instruments he played were piano, organ, bass viol, tuba, saxophone and cornet.
Manley O. Wilson was a brother of Sam Wilson and a good trombone player. He, too, loved music.
Richard "Dick" Wilson, the small boy in the picture, was Manley Wilson’s adopted son.
CONCERTS PLAYED BY THE WESTERN BRADFORD COUNTY BAND FROM AUG. 1937 TO THE FALL OF 1941.
Taken from the Band’s record book and S. W. Wilson diaries.
Aug. 11, 1937 Coryland Picnic
Sept. 6, 1937 Fireman Parade, Troy
Sept. 3, 1937 Ice Cream Social, Big Pond
Sept. 23, 1937 Donkey Baseball, Col. X Roads
Aug. 31, 1937 Ice Cream Social Sylvania
Sept. 24, 1937 Church Supper, Col. X Roads
Sept. 29, 1937 Basket Street Grange
Oct. 5, 1937 Towanda Odd Fellows
Jan. 11, 1938 Austinville Concert and supper
April 1938 Troy Minstrel Show
April 27, 1938 Col. X Roads Minstrel Show
June 25, 1938 E. Smithfield Church Social
June 28, 1938 Concert & pancake supper, Austinville
July 9, 1938 Social at East Troy
July 5, 1938 Baptist Church Social, Troy
July 8, 1938 E. Smithfield Odd Fellows Social
Aug. 7, 1938 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 13, 1938 Coryland Community Picnic
Aug. 11, 1938 Eldridge Park Concert, Elmira, NY
Aug. 25, 1938 Troy Fair Concert—Afternoon & evening
Aug. 26, 1938 Troy Fair Parade—Afternoon & evening
Aug. 27, 1938 Troy Fair Concert—Afternoon & evening
Aug. 29, 1938 Sylvania Ice Cream Social
Sept. 4, 1938 Eldridge Park Concert, Elmira, NY
Sept. 5, 1938 Rome, PA Firemens Parade
Canton Lake Concert
Sept. 13, 1938 Gillett Odd Fellows Social
Sept. 25, 1938 Grover, PA Disciple Church Concert
Canton Lake Concert
June 18, 1939 Eldridge Park, Elmira, NY Concert
June 20, 1939 Gillett IOOF Social
June 22, 1939 E. Smithfield Social
June 24, 1939 E. Troy Social
June 30, 1939 E. Smithfield Social
July 16, 1939 Eldridge Park, Elmira, NY Concert
July 27, 1939 Alder Run Grange Picnic
July 28, 1939 Gillett IOOF Social
Aug. 1, 1939 E. Troy IOOF
Aug. 6, 1939 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 8, 1939 Mountain Lake Concert
Aug. 18, 1939 Troy at Dr. Boyers
Aug. 23, 1939 Troy Fair
Aug. 24, 1939 Troy Fair
Aug. 25, 1939 Troy Fair & Parade
April 20, 1940 Canton IOOF Parade
June 15, 1940 E. Smithfield Social
July 4, 1940 E. Smithfield Celebration
July 28, 1940 Eldridge Park, Elmira, NY Concert
Aug. 4, 1940 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 13, 1940 Gillett IOOF
Aug. 21, 1940 Troy Fair
Aug. 22, 1940 Troy Fair
Aug. 23, 1940 Troy Fair
Aug. 24, 1940 Troy Fair (?)
Sept. 19, 1940 Troy Fairground Clam Bake
Dec. 17, 1940 Troy’s Martha Lloyd School Concert
1941 Concerts to 8-5-1941
May 30, 1941 Mountain Lake Cemetery
June 6, 1941 E. Troy Social
June 24, 1941 Troy Bandstand Concert
July 8, 1941 Troy Concert at a carnival
July 18, 1941 Col. X Roads Church Concert
July 22, 1941 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 3, 1941 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 5, 1941 Troy Bandstand Concert
NOTE: The 1941 list is incomplete as these concert dates were mostly taken from the diaries of my father, Samuel W. Wilson. On August 25, 1941 he joined his son, Francis, in Auburn, NY where they both worked at war work. Sam Wilson returned to his home in Austinville, PA, on March 30, 1944. He died in 1949.
Carlton Wilson
1945 CONCERTS
June 28, 1945 Concert at Canton
June 13, 1945 Troy Bandstand Concert
July 24, 1945 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 14, 1945 WW2 Victory Concert
1946 CONCERTS
May 30, 1946 Concert at Mt. Lake & Luthers Mills
July 4, 1946 Troy Fair Ground & Parade
Aug. 4, 1946 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 6, 1946 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 15, 1946 Troy Fair
Aug. 16, 1946 Troy Fair
Aug. 20, 1946 Troy Bandstand Concert
Sept. 17, 1946 Troy Bandstand Concert
Sept. 28, 1946 Bradford County Home Concert
1947 CONCERTS
July 22, 1947 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 3, 1947 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 5, 1947 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 12, 1947 Coryland Church Concert
Aug. 26, 1947 Troy Bandstand Concert
Sept. 1, 1947 E. Smithfield Concert
Sept. 12, 1947 Troy Bandstand Concert
Sept. 19, 1947 Troy Bandstand Concert
Oct. 5, 1947 Bradford County Home
1948 CONCERTS
Aug. 1, 1948 Fall Brook Old Home Day
Aug. 17, 1948 Troy Bandstand Concert
Aug. 18, 1948 Canton Concert
Aug. 31, 1948 Concert
Sept. 8, 1948 Troy Bandstand Concert
Sept. 9, 1948 Concert
Sept. 23, 1948 Concert
1949 CONCERTS
June 30, 1949 Concert
July 21, 1949 Concert
1950 CONCERTS
Oct. 1, 1950 Bradford County Home
The 1937 to and including 1947 concert dates were mostly taken from the S. W. Wilson diaries. The 1949 and 1950 dates were taken from programs found lying loose in the incomplete band record book.
The last meeting recorded in the book was dated August 20, 1952, and was a business meeting held at the Civic Building in Troy, President Charles Smith presiding. New officers were elected:
President Floyd Schaffnaker
Trustee Sam Davies
Trustee Richard Wilson
Trustee Byron Van Noy
Secretary Joan Grimm
Treasurer Manley Wilson
Manager Manley Wilson
There was a discussion about selling the band hall to Lorenzo Davis and also Sam Davis was appointed to represent the band on the Troy Community Chest Drive. No action was taken on the selling the band hall to Davis.
The last two entries in the record book before this one were dated October 3, 1939 and October 10, 1939. As Francis Wilson was moving to Auburn, NY., Carlton Guild was elected Director to succeed him. It was reported that there were 28 members present at the Oct. 10th rehearsal.
Written By -- A. Carlton Wilson, Troy, PA -- December 20, 1991
Submitted to site by Ben Briggs
Typed by – Pat Smith Raymond
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| L to R - standing: "Herm" Pierce, Jim Tobin, Clarence Wheeler, Bob
McMahan, Rolla Holcombe.
Second Row - sitting: Arthur Case, Fred Jenner, Steve Hickok, Sam Johnson, Percy King, James Mack. Front Row - sitting: George Mitchell, Newt Boyce, Bob Weigester, Erny Boyce. |
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| Left to Right: Jas. Biesel, drums; Julia Costello, piano; Anna Case, violin; Harry S. Mitchell, banjo; Henry B. Van Dyne, saxophone; Tony Orbank, cornet; Henry Sherman, trombone. |  |
The above picture of the Boilermakers taken thirty years ago this winter.
This famous old orchestra was formed about 1914 and was probably the first
“Jazz Orchestra” in Northern Pennsylvania. With various changes of
personnel, the orchestra remained active until about 1921. During
these years the Boilermakers played for hundreds of dances in Troy, Canton,
Sayre, Towanda and other towns.
For several years they furnished music for the annual Charity Ball
held in Towanda on Christmas night, and once made a trip to Renovo to play
at a Masonic party following which the Renovo Masonic Glee Club returned
the compliment by coming to Troy by train at their own expense and giving
a concert in the Troy Masonic club rooms.
For several years the orchestra played for dances that were held following
the basketball games in the old gym at the Civic Building and during World
War I they played for innumerable dances thus raising several thousand
dollars for the Red Cross. During the years the orchestra was in
existence the members played without charge for any party the proceeds
of which were for charity or any public cause. In cases where the
orchestra did receive compensation, the money was used for public benefit.
The Boilermakers presented the Troy schools with a piano, music racks,
and stage flood lights for the auditorium of the Van Dyne Civic Building.
As an echo from the past, they even made a small contribution to the boys
of World War II when a long forgotten balance that has lain dormant for
over thirty years was discovered in the bank and given to the U. S. O.
From time to time the personnel of the orchestra changed as members
left Troy or others with musical talent came into this community.
While it may not be a complete list, one of the members of the Boilermakers
recalls playing with the following at one time or another in the orchestra:
Frank Flick, Trombone ) for whom the Brooks-Flick American Legion Post
is named); Julia Costello – one of the finest pianists and singers ever
in Troy; the old “Maestro” and March King, Henry Sherman, an artist on
the trombone; Ralph Burr and his hot cornet; Anna Case-Still (?) Troy’s
leading violinist; Dr. George Boyer at the piano and double on the violin;
Pat Ballard – violin, clarinet, and drums; John Canedy, piano; Harry Mitchell,
banjo; Tony Orbank, cornet; Mrs. James Briesel, violin; Mrs. Edward Overton,
Towanda, violin; Benjamin Mitchell, Troy, banjo; Marion Sweet (now Mrs.
Jack Barrett), banjo; Peg Joralemon (Mrs. Edward Fanning), piano; Carlton
Guild – youngest of the Boilermakers, saxophone; Francis Wilson, bass viol
and accordion; Herman J. Pierce, drums; Mrs. Roy Soper, Sylvania, violin
(with Roy calling for square dances and little Rexy (prominent Troy Mortician)
asleep on the floor under the piano.
Claude Guthrie, famous old time square dance caller who was “guest
artist’ when the Boilermakers played in the old Moose Hall at Cross Roads,
and probably others whose names after thirty years or so, the writer does
not recall. Many members of this old orchestra have passed away,
others have moved to other towns, but there are still in Troy enough of
the old Boilermakers to put together an orchestra even though their music
might not be bebop or roll the “Hep Cats” in the aisles.
--Picture and story through the courtesy of Henry B. Van Dyne
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Photo and label from Don Stanton March 2010
Written on the back: Boilermakers of Troy On the piano:
L to R:
The orchestra active from 1914-1921, mostly fund raising projects playing for dances etc. They never charged for their services. |
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| It was made up of local youngsters.My husband and his twin sister played
the fiddles.Leon Evans was from Granville
Center.They played for different events .They rehearsed at the
Leroy
school.Some of them went on to play in the Canton
High School band and orchestra.
Submitted by Phyllis LONG Rockwell First Row: Pauline Evans, Betty Bly, Julia Knapp, Leon Evans Second Row: Bruce Morse, Erma Evans, Betty Rockwell, Jack Riley, Bob Rockwell, Betty Duart |
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Troy Paper Nov 5, 1953.
Front Row, left to right: Durkin McKean, Clarence Selleck, Ed Selleck
A picture of the West Burlington Band, circa 1880, taken in front of the home occupied by Howard Smith Sr. |
I was looking at your web site last night and came upon some photos
of the West Burlington Band. Much to my surprise in the photo was
Ed Selleck - he was a drummer in the Civil War and we have the drum he
used - probably the one in the photograph. He is
Martin and Brent's GG Grandfather.
Take good care
Grace
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Engine Company Band of Troy PA
From Don Stanton |
| Troy High Harmonica Band: From the left, first row, Stephen Cornell,
Earl Campbell, Rex. Overacker, Lincoln Raplee. Second row, George
Mott, Joe Overrein, Marvin Stanton, Warren Porter.
News clipping of the Troy High Harmonica Band. . I don't
have a date on this one, but my grandfather, Rex Overacker graduated in
1942 so it was probably between 1939-1942.
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Tri-Counties Page 6503
