The history of Waupaca's community involvement is rich with musical talent. The settlers in the area provided a wealth of family entertainment through their various musical talents. Fiddlers were especially enjoyed at dances and special occasions.
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Early Bands in Waupaca
The earliest reference located at this time to a Waupaca band is found in Freeman Dana Dewey’s history “Waupaca” when he describes the village’s Fourth of July celebration of 1852 which was held on the hill on the north end of Main Street. There were three members to the band - Mr. Darling on a fife, with Isaac and Azarial West on drums. At noon a parade that included the band went from the hill to Vanduzee’s Exchange Tavern, which is thought to have been in the area of Fulton and Jefferson Streets, and back to the hill for dinner.
In the Spring of 1855 the Exchange Tavern was being operated by J.J. Jones and was designated as Waupaca’s electoral voting place. The rivalry between Waupaca and Weyauwega in this election showed up in much chicanery on both sides (one man voted under eighteen different names) with a Weyauwega contingent who came to steal the ballot box being escorted back to their wagon, given a friendly drink of whiskey and a send-off by Waupaca’s martial band which on that occasion was down to the fife and one drum.
According to Wayne Guyant, the first community bands in the Waupaca area began in the post-Civil War era. The most notable band of this period was comprised of the Smith brothers: Alfred, Fred, Dave and Ed who took lessons under Lee Dana at the Barton School House in Farmington Township. This group played together for approximately nine to ten years. One of their more exciting accomplishments came when they were selected from fifty-two contestants to travel throughout the North with General William Sherman for his various speaking engagements.
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While they did not make any money during this time they were thrilled to have been able to make a name for themselves as a band and at the Milwaukee G.A.R. encampment they marched and played for the veterans and their guests continuously for six hours.
The Waupaca Band of 1887
In November 1887 J.H. Hudson organized a band that quickly gained a reputation throughout the region. It appears they later incorporated the band legally in order to solidify the group and to encourage band members to maintain a high standard in their performances. Leading the organization was J.H. Hudson as president; William Rice as vice-president; Merritt B. Scott as secretary and treasurer and Frank R. Whipple as the general manager.
The band consisted of J.H. McCullough, Solo B Flat, and Leader; Wm. Donstan, E Flat Cornet; George Kingsbury, 1st B Cornet; George Nordvi, 2d B Cornet; Jeff Woodnorth, Flugel Horn; A. Williams, B Clarinet; John Colure, E Clarinet; Ed Williams, Solo Alto; Grant Sherwin, 1st Alto; Robert Scobey, 2d Alto; Jos. Rosche, 1st Tenor; Wm. Rice, 2d Tenor; M.B. Scott, Baritone; Geo. Bridgeman, Bass Trombone; J.H. Hudson, Tuba; Leslie Bronson, Snare Drum; Andy Poll, Bass Drum; F.R. Whipple, Drum Major.
Eventually they were giving weekly concerts, playing at various celebrations such as patriotic holidays, baseball games and during roller skating events held on the upper floor of the Cristy store (on the southwest corner of Main and Union Streets). While they did not get much payment for playing at the ballgames and during patriotic holidays they were given free passage on Waupaca’s trolley to and from the event and a free pass to the event itself.
The Waupaca Band Organized in 1894
According to Carol Cartwright, the “Waupaca Band” was officially organized in 1894 and a city band remained in effect until 1936. In 1894 the band consisted of the following persons:
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J. Woodnorth, president; M. B. Scott, secretary; J. H. McCullough, director: J. H. McCullough - Solo B flat Cornet; Charles Hall - B flat Cornet; George Larson - B flat Cornet; John Colrue - Clarinet; Soren Sorenson - Piccolo.; L. Anderson - E flat Cornet; John Jensen - Solo alto; J. Woodnorth - Alto; Bert Stout - Alto; Will Hearn - Tenor; Alfred Nordvi - Tenor; M. B. Scott - Baritone; Joe. Hudson - Tuba; George Caldwell - Tuba; Cal. Howard - Tenor drum; Leo Cook - Bass drum; F. E.
They were also on hand to welcome back the curlers in 1895 when the Waupaca team won the Pfister Trophy at Milwaukee. During much of this time Edwin Smith played under Wright at Waupaca. In later years Smith would remark that he never “never met another so talented a musician as Dell Wright who possessed so even and amiable a disposition”. Wright later went on to play under John Phillip Sousa as part of the United States Marine Band and afterwards in Sousa’s own band.
While the name of the director of the Waupaca City Band from 1905 to 1915 is not known at this time, newspaper accounts show the band continued to be very active. Besides the weekly concerts, civic programs, and such they played at some weddings, on the lead boat of the illuminated parade of boats on the Chain o’ Lakes, ball games, and annual programs of various benevolent organizations.
Professor Charles G. Haight was hired in May 1915 to serve as director the Waupaca City Band during its weekly Thursday evening concerts and other special occasions. The Common Council had appropriated $400 for his position but a promenade concert was held in the opera house in early June to raise any additional funds which might be needed to fully secure Haight’s services. He came to Waupaca through the assistance of Professor Philip Laffey of Chicago. Haight had been the director of the official band that played at White City Park in Chicago through the summer of 1914. Prior to that he had spent many years on the Pacific coast aboard the training ship “Hartford” and served as the assistant director on the ship “Cottage Highlander”. Charles “Charlie” T.
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