The Band Tradition -- Old Pictures
Most of you know that my son, Matthew, is in the marching band again this year. Band camp is getting started, and soon, they will be in 12 hour days. I will be struggling to help feed them and sewing diligently as a Uniform Mom. My husband is in the Pit Crew and pulls the Chow Wagon.
Getting them to contests is a MAJOR ordeal. The band has a semi-truck, loaded with uniforms and instruments, the Chow Wagon, which is an ancient concession stand, where we serve them meals, a trailer for the tractor that pulls all the equipment out onto the field, and various other trailers with a golf cart, a 4 wheeler, etc. We drive down in convoy, so to speak, followed by the tractor-trailer and the school buses. A lot of equipment for 130 members!
Back when times were simpler, my dear Grandpa was in the band, along with his brother, my Uncle Louie. My Great Grandmother, made their uniforms, and packed lunches for them in their lunch buckets. They marched in parades, and played concerts on the court square. On Christmas Eve, Grandpa and Uncle Louie played Christmas Carols, up in the bell tower of the old court house, which, Thank God, is still standing...
The picture is in a LOT worse shape than I remember it being the last time I saw it, almost 40 years ago... Grandpa's face in the tear, on the bottom row, and Uncle Louie's face is covered by dots. (Bottom row, 2nd from the right).
They both played cornet, and I have them both, naturally, since we throw nothing away in my family. They both still play and are quite valuable, compared to musical instruments of today. Plus, they are sterling silver. But, somehow, I can't sell either one of them. Mama and I both played them, and Matthew started out on Uncle Louie's cornet, which was in better shape.
This is Grandpa, as a young man:
I think he was darling, bu then, I would. I loved him, (and always will).
Grandma Scherer, his mother, made his tie and his suit. I never ever knew he had so much hair!
This is my dear Uncle Louie, as I remember him:
I remember this day, very well-- I was 5 years old. Uncle Louie was a fine musician, self-educated. I adored him! He played cornet, violin, organ, flute, piccolo, French Horn, and Xylophone. All that unbridled talent skipped me, of course. Uncle Louie was a reader for the Viking Press, an amateur photographer, and just an all around good guy.
So was my Grandpa, but he worked so much, he didn't have time for hobbies. Grandpa's hobby was redesigning Grandma's kitchen, so that her cabinets were low enough for her to use, (and what I wouldn't give for those old cabinets, today)! Moving the stair case in their house from one end to the other, so that they could have a bathroom, that he installed. Rewiring coal oil chandeliers so that they could be used with 1) gas, and then 2) electricity.
They were very special! Band members... I have very good friends from my band days, 40+ years ago. I hope that Matthew will, too!
Thanks for coming by!
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I'm scanned in some humdinger pictures this weekend! I'll share them, as I get them sized, and fixed...
Thanks, all of you, for your patience. If I had family, I'd be pestering them. As it is, I have to pester you!!!
Much love!
HAHAHA!
No, that was my little electric T-bird. It started life as a show case model for a Ford dealership, and my Daddy bought it, fixed it up, and made it so it would go no faster than walking speed, (it would go 35 mph when he brought it home). I was in parades with it, and all... It was quite fun! 1960. That's when his picture was taken. He set the camera and Aunt Lois, his sweet wife, snapped the picture!
It really was!!! I had a ball with it!
And, the best part, it still lives! When I outgrew it, Daddy sold it to buy the wood for a play house, which he made. A darling little gingerbread play house. Then, he sold that, with the money, bought me a chandelier for my room. The chandelier lives in my dining room!
See? What fun!
I hope so, too! It was probably junked, years ago. It was made of Real Metal.
It's wonderful that you have so many of your family photos to remember everyone by. And don't try to sell thosecornets. They are also part of your family history. I have my childhood violin and I hope to pass it on one day (my daughters ended up playing cello).
BTW grandpa was a handsome man!
Oh thank you, Perrie! He was to me, for sure! Down right dapper!
He met Grandma at a church picnic, and offered to drive her home in the buggy. Her little feet didn't touch the floor, and he said, he fell in love that very instant!
I can't sell any of this stuff. Nor the flute, the piccolo, etc. We could have a band of our own, we have so many instruments...
LOL, that was my model T-bird. It was a model at a Ford dealership. Daddy bought it and fixed it up, and I played in it for years! Uncle Louie loved it, and managed to get me in the Hawesville Parades every year. I was Little Miss Hancock County, a Christmas Elf, and a bunny for Easter... It was so much fun!
Uncle Louie sure was a talented guy . I can't seem to master even one instrument ...
I bet you could play tambourine!
Yes both your grandpa and your uncle look like very nice people and I have quite a few family pictures as well. Maybe one day.
Hey.....how's that latest instrument coming along? It looked complicated.
Great song!
I'd love to see them!
Well, it's not here yet, and won't get here until November. I'm trying to arrange some music in readiness... That's hard!
Thanks, Buzz! Yes, very lucky! I'm still on suitcase #1-- only 8 more to go!