The New Milford Cornet Band

The New Milford Cornet Band, when they performed in Syracuse, N.Y. on Aug. 22, 1891. Members were: WM. McManus, John Roberts, Roscoe Avery, Enoch Smith, John Hand, ? Stevens, Charles Culver, Lee DeWitt, Edwin Summers, Terry McManus, Charles Morse, Matthew Hand, Byron Ford, Dennis Taft, ? Chichester, & Dave McConnell.

According to A History of New Milford, the earliest record of the first band was in 1865, directed by Melvin Hager. The Hager Band won a prize for the best band in the Counter-Marching Contest at the Centennial Celebration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1876. The band presented its local concerts in the park and in 1879 it spearheaded a drive for the erection of the Pagoda there.

The band met regularly and practiced faithfully in a room in the upper story of the Pratt Wagon Shop at 247 Main Street. In appreciation of the band, the townspeople erected a flagpole across the street from the band room. The members were not all young men; many of the older, outstanding men of the community felt privileged to belong. The band drew musicians from the surrounding communities as well, for it was an honor to be one of its number.

In 1881, Melvin Hager went to New York City to live. The band continued as best it could without his strong leadership. The final blow came when fire destroyed the building at 247 Main Street, where their instruments and bearskin shakos were stored.

Through the years, whenever there was an interesested group and someone to lead, New Milford had its band. Probably the most popular one that is well-remembered now was the Summers' Band. This band was organized around 1897 with Edwin Summers, who played cornet, as the leader. Herbert Summers, one of the sons of Edwin, remembers learning to play the cornet and joining the band in 1909 when he was fifteen years old.

An incident is remembered by Frank Butterfield of a happening many years ago when the band participated in a parade in Susquehanna. While our band was counter-marching, the parade came to a halt and found themselves beside another band. Playing different tunes, each tried to out do the other in volume. John Roberts, in his exuberance on the bass drum, broke the drum-head, an incident long a subject of hilarity among the members of the band.

The band broke up shortly after it went to Montrose to give some of our boys a send off when they left to join the armed force to fight in World War 1. A History of New Milford, 1959.

Introduction | Gay's West Auburn Band | Brooklyn's Prize Band | Hamlin E. Cogswell | Great Bend Cornet Band | Harford Bands | Harford Soldiers' Orphan School | Kingsley Cornet Band | Canawacta Band | Lawsville Cornet Band | Gibson Cornet Band | The South Gibson Band | Montrose Band | Taylor's Band | The New Milford Cornet Band | Rush Cornet Band | Springville Silver Cornet Band | Erie Band Of Susquehanna

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