Music a big part of history of Odessa, Harrington, points in between

Recently this writer viewed a photo of the Grand Social Brass Band that The Odessa Record published in its 1951 edition as the Golden Anniversary and reprinted in 8-18-1977. The photo, taken in 1901 or 1902 showed Art Kunkel, Garrett Bruchsen, Henry Reese, Joe Barto, Vincent Totusek (the band leader), Reinhold Weber, Louis Wraspir, Doc Kelley, Jake Wolsborn, Frank Quade and John H. Luiten.

The Odessa Historische Museum has a great collection of early photographs. The museum also has memorabilia from Al Wagner’s band, including an Odessa band hat. Gus and Ida Weber donated a photo of the Odessa Concert Band on a picnic at the Bob Alexander ranch which shows 14 men in the back row and seven men in the front. That photo was dated July 21, 1914. It might be interesting to note that Gustave A. Weber was born May 13, 1895 in North Dakota, one of 13 brothers and sisters. The museum also has a school program from Ritzville High School entitled “The Ritzy Revue” in which Lois Weber was shown playing a saxophone in the Ritzville band, dated December 16, 1937.

In 1901 Odessa could brag its Odessa Cornet Band providing music for balls; they held their regular practice sessions at Shaw’s hall. Fourth of July celebrations necessitated the appearance of the Odessa band. That year J.B. Ziegler was marshal of the day, of course, making an impressive speech. The parade began at 11 a.m. and moved down First Avenue while the band played the Stars and Stripes. Festivities included many speeches on national pride followed by foot races, horse races, tug-of-war and dancing for prizes.

The Odessa band serenaded a wedding couple at the Belle Key Hotel, when G.B. Kemp (owner’s son) married Miss Ada Krueger in April 1902. By June of the same year, another group of musicians living in and near Odessa met at The Record office and created a new band organization and chose R.W. Weber as leader and C.A. Kiehn as manager. These men were so determined they were practicing together every night. By the Fourth of July the Odessa Brass Band was to reveal is skill. “Bowery dance and band music all day and evening” was advertised, which implies more than one band was playing. By November of that year, “The Odessa band has been re-organized and it looks as if the boys mean business this time. A subscription paper was circulated recently and a neat little sum was subscribed by the citizens, to be used to purchase music, etc; for which assistance the members of the band wish to publicly thank the citizens. Regular practices will be held from now on and in a short time street concerts will be given. A list of the members of the new band follows: H.L. Gore, R.W. Weber and Jos. Barto, cornets; C.A. Kiehn, solo alto; A.W. Gore, bass; J. Totusek, baritone; Louis Wraspir and M. Totusek, altos; Vincent Totusek and Henry Janzen, tenors; John Miller, bass drum; P.P. Lille, snare drum. A.W. Gore is manager, H.L. Gore, leader; C.A. Kiehn, treasurer and Henry Janzen, secretary.” (Odessa Record: 11-28-1902) Weather permitting, the band was ready for the winter season.

In 1904, the plans for the Fourth of July at Odessa included a Wenatchee orchestra at one pavilion, Peter Luiten with the Harrington orchestra at the new Kriegler-Page building, and the third was Hopp’s Orchestra provided by Paul Allen in his hall. Many were disappointed that Harrington decided not to appear. The Odessa Band played at many of the “literaries” that were held for cultural and educational purposes. Besides, they had no TV and certainly no computers.

In 1907, Frank Young was their leader, but his name only appeared to say that he was leaving for California and that the band could not secure sufficient funds to hire a replacement and would be disbanded. California was closer than imagined, for in December 1907 Frank Young was engaged as instructor for a newly organized band at Lamona, as reported in The Record, as though the Odessa Band would not hear of this! In a short time Young added seven players increasing the Lamona Band to 26. Competition from Odessa was the McDaniel Family Orchestra, but little information on them is found. The Odessa Concert Band was again giving concerts in 1908.

In 1916 the Odessa Band boys were well pleased with the addition of four new members and $500 worth of new instruments; they could now boast a new set of bells and a saxophone quartet. The saxophone members were Herman Jasmann, soprano; A.R. Mead, tenor; Walter Deets, alto, and Gus Weber, bass. The other new member was Edward Webb, who played a clarinet. Their instructor was named Clark. By November 1916, the Odessa Concert Band lost its use of the Kriegler-Page building and purchased the Odessa Opera House from A.J. Rusho of Yakima. In January 1917, the band had invested money into the renovation of the Opera House and booked the Reese Brothers, a minstrel and musical comedy act, for which they sold a record-breaking 333 tickets.

In 1917, the Odessa Concert Band was informed by secretary Charles E. Ivy of the Lincoln County Pioneer Picnic committee that they had landed the job of furnishing the music for the year’s celebration to be held on upper Crab Creek. They won the honor against Spokane’s Reemer’s band which had won the bid the last several years. Ivy gave them the job even though they were not the lowest bidders but because they were able to furnish more pieces and were recognized for the reliability of their organization.

Lamona had a “new” band in 1907, with 19 members: Roy Chandler and Melvin Heath (solo cornets); Clair Yake, Edwin Johnson, Otha Yake and Harry Sicklesteel (cornets); William and Tony Calliott (tenors); Buy Stafford (trombone); J.R. Chandler and Chas. Packard (baritones); E. Yake (bass); C.W. Davis (tuba); Ira Winchell (meliphone); John Calliott (alto); L.E. Pittman (clarinet); Herman Tewinkle (bass drum) and Arthur Yake (snare drum). This became Young’s Orchestra of 1908, when he failed to go to California. In 1914, “music was rendered by the Totusek orchestra of Irby” at the Lamona Opera House. In 1923, Lamona again had its own orchestra, Ted Harms, mandolin; John K. Hope, violin; Jack Hein, Jr., guitar and banjo; Miss Nettie Slemp, piano.

At Downs in 1902, the Business Men’s Association gave a good ball in the evenings and Prof. Reynolds’ orchestra furnished the music. “There will be another hot time in Downs” on that day in November 1902. “The band being organized at Downs will undoubtedly be one of the best in Lincoln County. It has some good talent and a number of enthusiastic members.” (Citizen: 12-19-1902). The Downs Band in 1904 was under the direction of Prof. Cooper. There is a photo of the Downs Brass Band in the Harrington Museum. The men in the photo were not identified, but the drum had the name of the band. The Brinkman family in the early 1900s near Downs were shown in a photograph of eight adults and one child celebrating in some fashion with noisemakers including a megaphone, slide viewer, coffee grinder, square bottle and alarm clock. The photo speaks volumes about the fun they created.

The Mohler Opera House filed for Articles of Incorporation August 1, 1899 with the signatures of the following businessmen: D.S. Yarwood, Thomas Crowley, Edward Yarwood, Harry Ochs, Milton Lacey, Eli Yarwood, O.G. Williams, Andrew Huff and Eugene Page; the trustees being Williams, Page and D.S. Yarwood. In 1901, music at the literary was by the Mohler String Band. Names of the band or its members did not appear in news items until 1908, when a grand masquerade ball was given in January with music by Ivy’s four-piece orchestra. In 1914, the Mohler Harmony Orchestra was organized with W.B. Parr, first violin; C.L. Snider, second violin; K.C. Snider, cornet and T.A. Phillips, trombone.

Harrington, by comparison to Odessa, was an earlier settlement with its first brass band performing as early as November 1897. By 1900, their instructor was Prof. Frank Henry who in 1901 had weekly open air concerts on Saturday evenings. One advertisement highlighted “Chicken Pickin’s” by Thos. Allen, a cornet solo by Prof. Henry, “Old Kentucky Home” by Martin, a medley overture arranged by Henry, “Queen of the Isle” by Dalby, “The Pride of 97,” “The Jolly Serenaders,” “Cake Walk” and others. In 1901, the bandstand shown in many early Harrington photos was erected by a contractor named McKenzie near the corner of 3rd and Main streets. In 1905, they bragged that a new set of bells had been added to the Harrington Orchestra, and F.M. Carver was the “manipulator” of them. Whatever the holiday, whatever the occasion, be it a New Year’s celebration or an amateur baseball game, music was the accompaniment. In 1907, some of the musicians of the Harrington Orchestra were Dr. Martin, violinist; Miss Prescher, pianist; Lloyd Lighthizer, bass viol; E.R. Gordon, cornetist. The Harrington Cornet Band advertised in the 1908 R.L. Polk Business Directory. The Harrington Opera House was a busy enterprise in those early years, with frequent lecture circuits appearing when “the Harrington orchestra rendered several pleasing selections.” The 1910 Polk Directory listed the Harrington Cornet Band with J.R. Scott as leader. That year they lost Lloyd Lighthizer, who moved to Spokane, but they said of him, “Lloyd’s equal is not found.”

In 1912, “The Harrington Brass Band has been re-organized under the direction of Ed Gooley, Sr. Members of the band are: cornets Cecil Gwinn, Donald Jones, Gooley Brothers, Fred Graff, Depre Morgan; altos S.W. Jones, C.E. Cormana; saxophone Fred Johnston; slide trombone Rex Gwinn and C.O. Hoisington; baritone Brant Talkington; B flat bass Charley Grimes; tuba W.W. Gwinn.” This group then played patriotic music, the Boys of 1776, at the Opera House in February. In 1914, they had functioned without a leader, but W.H. Howcroft with his clarinet was leading the group to continue providing great music which was appreciated by the townspeople.

Harrington’s Band went through the same transitions and reorganizations as did Odessa’s Band. By 1917, S.E. Wright was hired as Bandmaster, and Harrington again could boast, “Harrington has a band!” Officers of the band were identified: Fred Johnson, chairman; Rex Gwinn, secretary; H.O. Jones, treasurer; Wright, bandmaster. Their membership included Fred Johnson, Laws, Rex Gwinn, Cecil Gwinn, W.W. Gwinn, Claud Cormana, Lighthizer, Ed Stonerook, Frank Charlton, Morgan, James Cox, Wm. Daniels and Wright. These men leased the Harrington Opera House for the coming year where they would practice, perform and earn money with other productions.

Harrington, Odessa and all major points in between, including Mohler, Downs and Lamona had an opera house that was a center of cultural activity more than 100 years ago. All points between our two towns have lost their opera houses, lost their visibility and have rolled into history. Harrington and Odessa continue to be small centers of activity where music is still appreciated. Were it not for the Odessa Historische Museum, the Odessa Record and the Harrington Citizen, we would not have this information about the musical careers that preceded us. But we can rest assured that 100 years ago, New Year’s Eve was being celebrated by these local musicians, even in the towns that are long since gone.