A Short History of The Cambridge Band
The Cambridge Band
THE NATION'S OLDEST INDEPENDENT
MILITARY STYLE MARCHING BAND
CELEBRATING SESQUI-CENTENNIAL THE SUMMER OF 2003
Researched & Written by Dave Thornton, Manager
From the pages of Cambridge's first newspaper, The Washington County Post
The Early Years
The Cambridge Band first formed in 1853, to serve as regimental band of the 30th NYState Militia, then headquartered in Cambridge. Since then it has existed more or less continuously, suffering the ups and downs that befall any small-town band.
In 1861, the musicians marched to the Civil War, providing inspiration around the camps and signals of commands on the battle field.
There followed 30 years of service at firemen's rallies and reunions of old soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic, as well as at such civilian gatherings as church suppers and torch light political parades.
In 1894, musicians of the Cambridge Band played and fought in the Spanish-American War.
In 1917, the Cambridge band "disbanded" temporarily to fight the "Hun" in World War (I).
When those musicians returned, they organized a Sons of the Legion Band, which won several State Legion titles.
Then when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Cambridge Band and the Sons of the Legion Band marched away as soldiers, sailors, marines and aviators to help fight and win WW II.
When the war ended, the returning musicians of The Cambridge Band led a victory parade through the Village.
Since that date, The Cambridge Band has been present for most every patriotic and commemmorative occasion to occur in Southern Washington County and Western Vermont, as well as representing the Great Fourth District at State Legion Conventions.
Surely, no band in America can rival this long history of Service and Dedication to the United States of America.
The Antebellum Band
The earliest week by week records of activity in the towns of Cambridge, Jackson and White Creek begin in 1849. This is the year that the weekly newspaper, The Washington County Post, was removed to Cambridge from Salem.
At this time, brass bands were only beginning to evolve in the United States.
There is no mention of the Cambridge Brass Band until February, 1854, when it was feted with an oyster supper fund-raiser at Fenton's Hotel on Cambridge Corners.
Fenton's Hotel would later be known as The Union House. It stood at the northwest corner of Main and Union Sts.
Copies of the Washington County Post for the years 1852 and 1853 have been lost. But the fact that The Cambridge Brass Band was established in 1853 is affirmed by the following quotation taken from the February, 24, 1854 issue of the WCP:
This band organized about a year ago and has already made considerable progress.
By 1854 the Nation was taking to brass bands in a big way. Their popularity would grow for the next 100 years.
SETS IT APART
What sets the Cambridge Brass Band apart is that, in this entire Nation, it is apparently the only band, (perhaps there is another somewhere) that has survived true to its origins.
Others have survived, but by metamorphosing into concert ensembles and bugle corps. No other that can trace its roots so deeply into local history has remained what it began as: An independent, military-style, marching band.
LOCAL "GUARD" UNITS
One reason for the early development of a local brass band was that State militias had begun to spin off "Guard" units. These unofficial drill teams were largely ornamental, along the lines of those in "The Student Prince".
In Old Cambridge, "The Cambridge Valley Guards" were made up of the elite from the 30th State Militia Regt. head-quartered here. It is logical that both the Guards and the State Militia would see the desirability in supporting a brass band.
That July, 1854, when Col. John S. Crocker alerted his 30th militia of a coming drill, the announcement included a rallying call for "musicians", as well as musketeers.
POPULAR RESORT
In those days, Cambridge boasted direct rail connections with both Troy and Albany. While this lasted, it brought many groups from Albany to Cambridge for recreation and vacations.
Typical was a visit in September of 1854 by Albany Hook and Ladder Co. # 2. They came to the country "44 muskets strong" for a day of target shooting.
It was the duty of The Cambridge Valley Guards and the Cambridge Brass Band to escort and play for such visiting fire and militia units.
The Washington County Fair moved from Village to Village in those days. The Fall of 1855 it was in North White Creek, with The Cambridge Brass Band leading the parades.
Despite a huge snow storm, in early March, 1856 the Fenton House was "respectably filled" for the oyster supper benefit to the Band. The "Universal sentiment of favor toward the Cambridge Brass Band must have been highly flattering to the members of it," wrote Editor Crocker.
A committee was formed to write a resolution favoring the Band and expressing the community's warm feelings toward it.
The committee was composed of the leading "lights" of Old Cambridge, including Leonard Wells, whose brother Gideon would one day serve in the Lincoln Cabinet
When Woodlands Cemetery was dedicated in 1858, cows and pigs still roamed freely through the Village. Leading the procession to the new burying ground was the "Cambridge Valley Brass Band".
In August Editor Crocker stopped the press to get in the announcement of the competion of the trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable.
At an impromptu gathering at the Coila UP Church, the Cambridge Valley Guards fired salutes on their muskets and the Cambridge Band played appropriate airs.
That December the Cambridge Band accompanied Col. John S. Crocker to Salem to play festive music at the execution of Martin Wallace, "the last Irisher hanged in Washington County".
That August, 1859, The Albany Northern Railroad dropped a full passenger train through their tressle bridge south of Schaghticoke. The carnage and resultant law-suits led to the company's collapse and demise, and the end forever of direct rail service between Cambridge and Albany.
Thus, it also signaled the end of the Village as a destination for excursionists from west of the Hudson. Thereafter, The Cambridge Valley Guards would be little heard from, and although the Cambridge Band would carry on., both would shortly be swallowed up and largely digested by The Civil War.
REAL WAR COMES
After the opening shots of the Civil War, nothing is heard of The Cambridge Brass Band for the duration. The musicians, who were well schooled in "toy soldiery", were quick to join up and march away to what everyong seemed to think would be a "grand adventure"
THE CIVIL WAR
ENDS
The Cambridge Cornet Band resurfaced in the late stages of the war. One evening in January 1865, they serenaded friends and let it generally be known that they had returned. A week later the Band provided the music when Rev. Taylor of the White Presbyterian Church, was given the annual donation. The musicians were "highly applauded".
In February the Cambridge Cornet Band provided music for a Ladies Aid Society "fair" at Union Hall. The Society had worked hard in the war to accumulate, pack and ship items needed by the boys fighting.
When it was announced that Lee had surrendered to Grant at Appamattox Courthouse, after four long years of the bloodiest carnage, The Cambridge Cornet Band took to the streets and serenaded the comunity all night.
Then on June 23rd, when companies I and G of the 123rd NY Vols returned from the War, The Cambridge Band was there to greet them and add to the celebration.
THE POST-WAR
YEARS
In Old Cambridge, the years immediately following the Civil War were filled with optimism and dynamism. Industry boomed. Businesses expanded. Wages rose (as war-fired inflation gradually heated up). And work was plentiful.
The Cambridge Band came into the busiest period of its early history.
NICHOLS ARRIVES,
THE MODERN ERA!
In 1876, Prof. G. K. Nichols came to town.
The arrival of this dedicated and talented leader and musician ushers in the Modern Era of The Cambridge Band, truly its strongest, most consistent and finest period of existence.
NICHOLS ORGS THE
COILA BRASS BAND
In February, 1876, Prof. Nichols announced that he was organizing a Brass Band in Coila. He began with 10 musicians, several of whom were his own children. It was the beginning of an era of good, sometimes even reliable local music that would extend to the Second World War.
CAMBRIDGE BAND SURFACES
AS RICE SEED CO. BAND
At the end of 1878, the Cambridge Band renamed in honor of JB Rice. I'm sure they expected generous patronage when they changed the name to "The Rice Seed Co. Cornet Band".
And Rice did not disappoint them.
So, for a short while, The Cambridge Band would be known as the Rice Seed Co. Band.
But by 1880, The Cambridge Band had resumed its name and was prospering. They purchased new coats and provide us the first written description, however limited, of a Cambridge Band uniform:
THE UNIFORM
Scarlet coats with gold trimming, and blue pants.
NICHOLS
In 1887, the Coila and Cambridge Bands merged, under the leadership of G.K. Nichols. this begins what we call the "modern" era, with a Nichols or Nichols descendant in the Band right down to the current parade or concert. Usually a Nichols descendant is also the Band Manager.
Such is the case today. Tink Parrish, the 83 yr. old "manager emeritus", is the great grand-son of that same G. K. Nichols.
The Cambridge Band in the 21st century continues to perform the original march arrangements it has played since before WW II --- nothing "simple" for us!
We still wear the scarlet coats and the blue pants with red stripe. Our shoes are white, as are our garrison hats.
We still continue the tradition of "jam sessions". When there is a break in the action or a pause in the parade, you can depend upon the master musicians of The Cambridge Band to strike up some tune that was around when our grandfathers made music.
What you get when you hire The Cambridge Band is master musicians playing as a part of an organization that in the Year 2002 will be 149 years STRONG!
Dave Thornton
THE NATION'S OLDEST INDEPENDENT
MILITARY STYLE MARCHING BAND
CELEBRATING SESQUI-CENTENNIAL THE SUMMER OF 2003
Researched & Written by Dave Thornton, Manager
From the pages of Cambridge's first newspaper, The Washington County Post
The Early Years
The Cambridge Band first formed in 1853, to serve as regimental band of the 30th NYState Militia, then headquartered in Cambridge. Since then it has existed more or less continuously, suffering the ups and downs that befall any small-town band.
In 1861, the musicians marched to the Civil War, providing inspiration around the camps and signals of commands on the battle field.
There followed 30 years of service at firemen's rallies and reunions of old soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic, as well as at such civilian gatherings as church suppers and torch light political parades.
In 1894, musicians of the Cambridge Band played and fought in the Spanish-American War.
In 1917, the Cambridge band "disbanded" temporarily to fight the "Hun" in World War (I).
When those musicians returned, they organized a Sons of the Legion Band, which won several State Legion titles.
Then when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Cambridge Band and the Sons of the Legion Band marched away as soldiers, sailors, marines and aviators to help fight and win WW II.
When the war ended, the returning musicians of The Cambridge Band led a victory parade through the Village.
Since that date, The Cambridge Band has been present for most every patriotic and commemmorative occasion to occur in Southern Washington County and Western Vermont, as well as representing the Great Fourth District at State Legion Conventions.
Surely, no band in America can rival this long history of Service and Dedication to the United States of America.
The Antebellum Band
The earliest week by week records of activity in the towns of Cambridge, Jackson and White Creek begin in 1849. This is the year that the weekly newspaper, The Washington County Post, was removed to Cambridge from Salem.
At this time, brass bands were only beginning to evolve in the United States.
There is no mention of the Cambridge Brass Band until February, 1854, when it was feted with an oyster supper fund-raiser at Fenton's Hotel on Cambridge Corners.
Fenton's Hotel would later be known as The Union House. It stood at the northwest corner of Main and Union Sts.
Copies of the Washington County Post for the years 1852 and 1853 have been lost. But the fact that The Cambridge Brass Band was established in 1853 is affirmed by the following quotation taken from the February, 24, 1854 issue of the WCP:
This band organized about a year ago and has already made considerable progress.
By 1854 the Nation was taking to brass bands in a big way. Their popularity would grow for the next 100 years.
SETS IT APART
What sets the Cambridge Brass Band apart is that, in this entire Nation, it is apparently the only band, (perhaps there is another somewhere) that has survived true to its origins.
Others have survived, but by metamorphosing into concert ensembles and bugle corps. No other that can trace its roots so deeply into local history has remained what it began as: An independent, military-style, marching band.
LOCAL "GUARD" UNITS
One reason for the early development of a local brass band was that State militias had begun to spin off "Guard" units. These unofficial drill teams were largely ornamental, along the lines of those in "The Student Prince".
In Old Cambridge, "The Cambridge Valley Guards" were made up of the elite from the 30th State Militia Regt. head-quartered here. It is logical that both the Guards and the State Militia would see the desirability in supporting a brass band.
That July, 1854, when Col. John S. Crocker alerted his 30th militia of a coming drill, the announcement included a rallying call for "musicians", as well as musketeers.
POPULAR RESORT
In those days, Cambridge boasted direct rail connections with both Troy and Albany. While this lasted, it brought many groups from Albany to Cambridge for recreation and vacations.
Typical was a visit in September of 1854 by Albany Hook and Ladder Co. # 2. They came to the country "44 muskets strong" for a day of target shooting.
It was the duty of The Cambridge Valley Guards and the Cambridge Brass Band to escort and play for such visiting fire and militia units.
The Washington County Fair moved from Village to Village in those days. The Fall of 1855 it was in North White Creek, with The Cambridge Brass Band leading the parades.
Despite a huge snow storm, in early March, 1856 the Fenton House was "respectably filled" for the oyster supper benefit to the Band. The "Universal sentiment of favor toward the Cambridge Brass Band must have been highly flattering to the members of it," wrote Editor Crocker.
A committee was formed to write a resolution favoring the Band and expressing the community's warm feelings toward it.
The committee was composed of the leading "lights" of Old Cambridge, including Leonard Wells, whose brother Gideon would one day serve in the Lincoln Cabinet
When Woodlands Cemetery was dedicated in 1858, cows and pigs still roamed freely through the Village. Leading the procession to the new burying ground was the "Cambridge Valley Brass Band".
In August Editor Crocker stopped the press to get in the announcement of the competion of the trans-Atlantic Telegraph Cable.
At an impromptu gathering at the Coila UP Church, the Cambridge Valley Guards fired salutes on their muskets and the Cambridge Band played appropriate airs.
That December the Cambridge Band accompanied Col. John S. Crocker to Salem to play festive music at the execution of Martin Wallace, "the last Irisher hanged in Washington County".
That August, 1859, The Albany Northern Railroad dropped a full passenger train through their tressle bridge south of Schaghticoke. The carnage and resultant law-suits led to the company's collapse and demise, and the end forever of direct rail service between Cambridge and Albany.
Thus, it also signaled the end of the Village as a destination for excursionists from west of the Hudson. Thereafter, The Cambridge Valley Guards would be little heard from, and although the Cambridge Band would carry on., both would shortly be swallowed up and largely digested by The Civil War.
REAL WAR COMES
After the opening shots of the Civil War, nothing is heard of The Cambridge Brass Band for the duration. The musicians, who were well schooled in "toy soldiery", were quick to join up and march away to what everyong seemed to think would be a "grand adventure"
THE CIVIL WAR
ENDS
The Cambridge Cornet Band resurfaced in the late stages of the war. One evening in January 1865, they serenaded friends and let it generally be known that they had returned. A week later the Band provided the music when Rev. Taylor of the White Presbyterian Church, was given the annual donation. The musicians were "highly applauded".
In February the Cambridge Cornet Band provided music for a Ladies Aid Society "fair" at Union Hall. The Society had worked hard in the war to accumulate, pack and ship items needed by the boys fighting.
When it was announced that Lee had surrendered to Grant at Appamattox Courthouse, after four long years of the bloodiest carnage, The Cambridge Cornet Band took to the streets and serenaded the comunity all night.
Then on June 23rd, when companies I and G of the 123rd NY Vols returned from the War, The Cambridge Band was there to greet them and add to the celebration.
THE POST-WAR
YEARS
In Old Cambridge, the years immediately following the Civil War were filled with optimism and dynamism. Industry boomed. Businesses expanded. Wages rose (as war-fired inflation gradually heated up). And work was plentiful.
The Cambridge Band came into the busiest period of its early history.
NICHOLS ARRIVES,
THE MODERN ERA!
In 1876, Prof. G. K. Nichols came to town.
The arrival of this dedicated and talented leader and musician ushers in the Modern Era of The Cambridge Band, truly its strongest, most consistent and finest period of existence.
NICHOLS ORGS THE
COILA BRASS BAND
In February, 1876, Prof. Nichols announced that he was organizing a Brass Band in Coila. He began with 10 musicians, several of whom were his own children. It was the beginning of an era of good, sometimes even reliable local music that would extend to the Second World War.
CAMBRIDGE BAND SURFACES
AS RICE SEED CO. BAND
At the end of 1878, the Cambridge Band renamed in honor of JB Rice. I'm sure they expected generous patronage when they changed the name to "The Rice Seed Co. Cornet Band".
And Rice did not disappoint them.
So, for a short while, The Cambridge Band would be known as the Rice Seed Co. Band.
But by 1880, The Cambridge Band had resumed its name and was prospering. They purchased new coats and provide us the first written description, however limited, of a Cambridge Band uniform:
THE UNIFORM
Scarlet coats with gold trimming, and blue pants.
NICHOLS
In 1887, the Coila and Cambridge Bands merged, under the leadership of G.K. Nichols. this begins what we call the "modern" era, with a Nichols or Nichols descendant in the Band right down to the current parade or concert. Usually a Nichols descendant is also the Band Manager.
Such is the case today. Tink Parrish, the 83 yr. old "manager emeritus", is the great grand-son of that same G. K. Nichols.
The Cambridge Band in the 21st century continues to perform the original march arrangements it has played since before WW II --- nothing "simple" for us!
We still wear the scarlet coats and the blue pants with red stripe. Our shoes are white, as are our garrison hats.
We still continue the tradition of "jam sessions". When there is a break in the action or a pause in the parade, you can depend upon the master musicians of The Cambridge Band to strike up some tune that was around when our grandfathers made music.
What you get when you hire The Cambridge Band is master musicians playing as a part of an organization that in the Year 2002 will be 149 years STRONG!
Dave Thornton
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