The Emigsville Band is a concert band based in Emigsville, York County, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1872 as the Acme Cornet Band of Emigsville.[1][2][3][4][5] It is one of the oldest community bands in York County that is still active today.[3][5][6]
The Emigsville Band | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | Acme Cornet Band of Emigsville |
Origin | Emigsville, Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania, United States |
Genres | Concert band |
Years active | Founded: November 8, 1872 Incorporated: June 24, 1878 |
Website | theemigsvilleband |
History
editThe roots of the Emigsville Band can be traced to the late 19th century.[7] The band was founded on November 8, 1872.[2][3][8][9] Henry L. Dinderman served as the inaugural director.[5][6] At the time, the band rehearsed in an old schoolhouse in the village of Emigsville.[5] They would perform at various community events, parades,[10][11] and local gatherings.[2][12][13][14] The band was officially incorporated on June 24, 1878 as the "Emigsville Cornet Band."[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
The band initially consisted of 16 men[3] who were employed with the Acme Wagon Works company. During the Industrial Revolution, it was common for employers to have their employees play in a part of an eponymous community band.[3][8]
After a brief hiatus, the band reorganized on September 6, 1906 with 18 charter members.[1][2][3][4][5][9][22][23][24][25] During this period, the band met in the boiler room of the Acme Wagon Works,[15][26] formerly known as the Acme Wagon Company.[5][8]
In 1918, the band purchased lumber from a company that had gone out of business in York. Hauling the wood by horse-drawn wagon,[26] the band members built the Band Hall in its current location. The total cost of this effort was $1,800.[9]
The band has historically used its Band Hall to host a variety of community events. In the 1910's, the band hosted a series of fairs each year.[27] In the 1930's, the band performed at Sunday school picnics.[28] They also hosted an annual business show[5] and Halloween show[29] in the hall. From the 1930's to the 1960's, the band held annual carnivals and ox roasts[10][30][31] for the residents of Emigsville in the summer months.[32] In the fall, the band hosted turkey suppers in conjunction with the Ladies Auxiliary group.[3][33][34] In addition, the band would perform concerts in the venue.[8][35]
From the early 2000's to the present day, the band frequently performs at retirement communities.[36][37] They also continue to perform at church picnics, community events, parades,[38] and fairs.[39][40][41]
Current band
editToday, the band has a membership of about 80[41] volunteer[42] instrumentalists,[43] ranging from teenagers to individuals in their 80's and 90's.[24][44] The band maintains a flexible membership policy by welcoming musicians of all ages and musical proficiencies.[16][20][45][40]
The band rehearses every Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at its Band Hall from February through May. The regular concert season typically runs from May to the end of October.[40] After the annual banquet on the first Monday of November, rehearsals and performances resume for the holiday concert series, which concludes around Christmas.[8][43]
Band Hall
editThe Emigsville Band owns their Band Hall located in the town of Emigsville.[8][15][16][18][19][22][23][46][47] This building has served as the rehearsal space for the band since its was moved to its current location in 1918.[9][43] It officially opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1918,[9][48] at which time the band had 22 members.[43]
The band rents the Band Hall out to a tenant to offset costs. Currently, the Roundtown Baptist Church rents the building while maintaining a contractual obligation to allow the band to practice on Monday evenings.[21][47]
Musical repertoire
editThe Emigsville Band's musical repertoire includes American patriotic music, sacred/religious music,[23] contemporary selections like marches, show tunes, medleys, and popular songs.[10][15][26][36][49][50]
Traditions
editFrom the band's incorporation in 1878 until the COVID-19 pandemic, the band had an annual tradition of performing Christmas carols on Christmas Day for the residents of the village of Emigsville.[2][26][44][51] After the pandemic, the tradition transitioned into providing free community Christmas concerts in the Band Hall. This was done in an effort to accommodate a greater audience as well as a greater turnout of band members.[8]
Current Leadership
editAt its annual banquet and business meeting on the first Monday of November, the band elects its officer board.[18] The 2025[8] officer board is as follows:
- President: Douglas Kirk
- Vice President: Matthew Malehorn
- Director: Jim Rowlands
- Assistant Director: Michael Kirk
- Business Manager: Barry Boyer
- Treasurer: Curtis Crane
- Secretary: Christopher Morningstar
- Trustees: Nathan Blackford, Julie Heindel, Jim Rauch
Discography
editThe band has released several albums:
- Live at the William Penn Memorial Museum (1974)
- The Best of 2006
- The Best of 2007
- The Best of 2008
- The Best of 2009
- The Best of 2022
- The Best of 2023
- 50th Anniversary Concert: The State Museum of Pennsylvania (2024)
References
edit- ^ a b "Emigsville Band Marks 'Golden Horn' Year". Sunday News. 1956-06-10. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c d e Lumsargis, Maxine (February 2012). "A Glimpse of Manchester Township History" (PDF). Manchester Township – York County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Emigsville Band entertains Sunday". The News-Chronicle. 1974-08-30. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Band at Emigsville: Organization Formed and Officers Elected Last Evening". The York Dispatch. September 6, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Emigsville Band to Sponsor Seven-Night Affair in Local Hall". The Gazette and Daily. August 24, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Plan Business Show". The York Dispatch. 1939-08-25. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ Lindenmuth, Kaylee (July 28, 2024). "Community band festival highlights musical heritage". WHTM-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Small towns and what worked: New generation of Emigsville Band tells 150-year story". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e "Emigsville band officers". The York Dispatch. 1980-11-20. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c "Emigsville Looks for Busy Week-End". The Gazette and Daily. 1935-05-22. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ "Parade at New Cumberland". York Daily Record. 1875-08-31. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Farquhar Park Concert". The York Dispatch. 1921-09-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Article clipped from York Gazette". York Gazette. 1873-07-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "A Band Festival". The York Dispatch. 1876-08-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c d "Emigsville Band To Celebrate 80th Year". The York Dispatch. 1986-10-07. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c "Band marks 116th year". The York Dispatch. 1994-02-10. p. 54. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ "Court". The York Dispatch. 1878-06-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c "Article clipped from York Daily Record". York Daily Record. 2006-03-07. p. 35. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Emigsville: Seeks members". The York Dispatch. 2006-01-10. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Emigsville: Band welcomes newcomers". The York Dispatch. 2010-01-29. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Band wants musicians". The York Dispatch. 2009-01-29. p. 39. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Emigsville band calls for musicians". York Daily Record. 1980-02-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c "Newest 'Combo' In County". Sunday News. 1953-08-09. p. 32. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b "Emigsville Band On the Scene 75 Years". The York Dispatch. 1981-08-22. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Band For Emigsville". The Gazette. September 8, 1906. p. 8. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Emigsville Band On the Scene 75 Years (cont.)". The York Dispatch. 1981-08-22. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "'Round York County". The York Dispatch. 1919-11-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Sunday Schools Hold Picnics". The Gazette and Daily. 1937-08-02. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Complete Plans for Halloween Social at Emigsville Hall". The Gazette and Daily. 1937-10-27. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Emigsville Band Plans Ox Roast". The Gazette and Daily. 1957-05-01. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Ox Roast". The Gazette and Daily. 1949-06-15. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Festival Tonight at Pleasureville". The Gazette and Daily. June 16, 1951. p. 13. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Band, Auxiliary Elect Officers". The Gazette and Daily. 1964-11-18. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Public Turkey Supper Oct. 9 at Emigsville". The York Dispatch. October 7, 1965. p. 36. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Emigsville Band To Give Concert". The Gazette and Daily. 1948-04-24. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Outdoor Concert Featuring the Emigsville Band". York Daily Record. 2021-05-19. pp. A10. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Article clipped from The Sentinel". The Sentinel (Pennsylvania). 2012-08-10. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "St. Pat's parade Saturday". The York Dispatch. 2006-03-06. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Tap the fun at annual Micro Brew Fest". The York Dispatch. 2000-07-20. p. 49. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b c "Over a century of community music: The Emigsville Band". fox43.com. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ a b "Emigsville Band celebrates decades of making music for central Pennsylvania community". fox43.com. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "In York, music of community bands fading away". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1990-07-29. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c d "Emigsville Band – About". www.theemigsvilleband.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ a b "Band plays through time". York Daily Record. December 27, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ "Emigsville Band Rehearsals Begin". The Evening Sun. 2010-01-28. p. 40. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Emigsville Band needs musicians". The York Dispatch. 1985-02-06. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b "Emigsville Band: Needs musicians". The York Dispatch. 2008-01-29. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "To Observe Holiday". The York Dispatch. 1918-11-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Emigsville Band to visit Codorus park". The Evening Sun. 2007-06-13. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "York Co. Reverberates With Christmas Music As Traditions Continue". Sunday News. 1965-12-26. p. 52. Retrieved 2023-12-14.