1863
Lawrence City Band
There were 125 people meeting in Boston under the sponsorship of the Emigrant Aid Society, and the musicians with their horns must have each made very personal decisions as to what they were going to take with them. Frank Savage was to learn on the day of departure that he, his brother and two cousins were each traveling to Kansas and each carried his musical instrument. Thus two cornets, a fife and a bugle have the distinction of being the first band to start the trek to the new territory.
The Kansas Conference of the Methodist Church was held in Lawrence in 1860, and the Methodist Sunday School arranged for a concert by the band. It must have been a success, for Gov. Charles Robinson was so moved and amazed by what could be done with their battered old instruments, he started a campaign to raise money for new instruments.
People gave freely, the new instruments were purchased, delivered and the band practiced diligently from a score in order to present the first concert with their new instruments on Aug. 20, 1863. The next day came Quantrill’s Raid—three musicians were killed. Joseph Savage survived the raid and was riding to his farm north of Lawrence when he saw upon a fence post one of the horns belonging to the band. The marauders had found it in one of the homes and for some reason took it along as they left Lawrence, probably not wanting to carry it any farther. The horn was bent and slammed on to the post for all to see.
It was at least a year before the bandsmen were ready to pick up their instruments and bring forth melodies enjoyed by the people, but from this time onward there has always been a band in Lawrence, Kan., playing concerts for the populace.
Bands
1864-Militia Band
1877-1880 Lawrence Cornet Band
1884 -Bell’s Military Band
1888-First Regiment Band
From 1900-1906, Buch’s Military Band had 28 musicians and gathered funds and provided labor to build the gazebo in South Park. Lawrence High School Band Director, Byron C. Donmeyer, established the Lawrence Boys Band in the 20s.
Lawrence High School Band
Haskell Band
1964-Present – Lawrence City Band
Conductors
J. C. McCanless (l907)
Russell L. Wiley and Clarence Sawhill (l930)
Charles Kassinger (1964)
Kenneth Bloomquist (l965)
Dr. William L. Kelly (1970-1991)
Robert E. Foster (l992-present)
The continual musical excellence of the band was recognized and proven when the Lawrence City Band, under the direction of Dr. Kelly, received the Sudler Scroll award in 1989 from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Since l970, the Lawrence City Band has been using the gazebo in South Park, named in Dr. Kelly’s honor, for a series of eight excellent summer band concerts.
Adapted from “History of the Lawrence City Band” by Barbara Kelly.
Step Sponsored By: The Citizens of Lawrence