| News & announcements Saving your history Early accounts Maps Nearby towns People Churches Schools Municipal Organizations Businesses The mines Transportation Streets Buildings Entertainment Celebrations Sports Ethnic groups |
Home -:-
Site map -:- Links -:- Print
resources -:- Contact |
| History
of Freeland, Pa. St. Ann's Band history from 1944 |
|
Here is a short history of St. Ann's Band that appeared in the Hazleton Plain Speaker, Saturday, September 9, 1944 - contributed here by Charlie Gallagher. St. Ann's Band, of Freeland, has been invited to attend the United Mine Workers of America convention to be held at Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, which starts on Tuesday, September 12th. The band will entrain for Cincinnati at White Haven on Sunday afternoon at 2:45 o'clock via the Black Diamond. Prior to their departure for White Haven, the band will assemble at headquarters on Ridge St., where they will form in a farewell street parade. This year's invitation of the band by the International Executive Board of the United Mine Workers through Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Kennedy is the third for the Freeland band. It comes as a reward for the tireless efforts of the North Side band on behalf of the union. For the past forty-four years, St. Ann's Band has been closely connected with any call on behalf of the union cause. Back in the crucial 1900-1902 organizational drive of the anthracite region by the late John Mitchell, St. Ann's Band won a spot in the hearts of coal miners throughout the coal belt. In the initial campaigns of Mr. Mitchell it was the music of the Freeland band that was inspirational in the formation of the spectacular miners' marches and mass meetings of that era which contributed so much toward the unity of the anthracite miners. During the famous strike of 1902, St. Ann's Band went on a tour of eastern cities climaxing the drive with a forty-day stop at Coney Island, New York. The tour served a two-fold purpose. It drew large crowds who contributed to a relief fund for the home folks and won a following for the coal miners that seemed to be lacking when the drive started. The success of this tour led to the band adopting the custom of having annual encampments at interesting resorts and cities in the nation. Most recent of the camping sites of the band was Enna Jettick Park, Auburn, New York. War-time restrictions forced a temporary discontinuance of this annual trek, however. From 1909 to 1922 St. Ann's Band was the regimental band of the C. T. A. U. Regiment of the Diocese of Scranton. During the last war the band played an important part stirring up local patriotism. It accompanied local draft contingents to camps and was the only civilian band permitted inside Camp Meade, Maryland. When the war was over it played in welcoming parades up Broadway and received tremendous ovations. In World War II the band has likewise done its part in the war effort and has taken part in the majority of flag raisings and honor roll dedications throughout the region. Besides this work on the part of civilian members, the band has a large representation in the service. During its long existence, St. Ann's Band has won fame and brought glory to Freeland. As might be expected from a capable musical organization, it has served as a training school of professional musicians who have won wide distinction. Among the musicians who have made good in other locales are the following: Edward Johnson and Frank DePierro who joined Sousa's famous band; Harry Mayberry, who became conductor of the Salvation Army Band in New York City; John Cordaro, a house man for the National Broadcasting Co.; Freddie Farrar, brother to George Farrar, director of, St. Ann's Band, who plays with the distinguished Don Voorhies' dance orchestra; John Wadlinger, Leo Poncheri who played with Paul Whlteman's Orchestra at one time; Emil Rushinko, now a member of Bob Sherwood's Orchestra; "Lefty" Feist now with Johnny Long's Band; George Farrar, Jr., who played with the Norfolk, Virginia, Symphony Orchestra prior to his enlistment in the Army; and many others, too numerous to mention. Aside from the orchestral connections of ex-St. Ann's Band musicians, Leo McDonald, a musician of note, served as press agent for Admiral Richard E. Byrd on his recent South Pole expedition. Leading the band in the coming engagement will be George Farrar, of Freeland, a member of a distinguished family of musicians. Mr. Farrar, assistant postmaster at the Freeland post office, led the band on the 1940 trip and took over leadership of the organization shortly after the return from the 1942 trip. He has been doing a magnificent job and today has the band on a pinnacle that rates it with the best St. Ann's Bands of former years. The official staff of the band is comprised of: Joseph Malloy, Drifton, president; Joseph Kushner, Freeland, vice president; David McNeils, Freeland, recording secretary; Emmett Thomas, Drifton, manager and treasurer. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/115672522/ [Note that a photo of the band at the 1944 convention mentioned at the beginning of this piece is on the St. Ann's Band page. |