Community bands were once a part of the cultural social activity of almost every city and village in Pennsylvania. The bands were a popular form of entertainment, whether performing a concert or in a parade. Everyone took great pride in their community band.
This pride is still a factor in rivalry over which is the oldest band in America. The Allentown Band, of Lehigh County, and the Repasz Elks Band, of Williamsport in Lycoming County, both lay claim to being the oldest continuous band in the U.S.
The official inception date of the Allentown Band is July 3, 1828. The Repasz Elks Band dates from August 17, 1831. I asked the Business Manager Earl R. Williams, to explain the three-year difference and why the Repasz Elks Band should be considered for the title of the oldest band: “We (Repasz Elks) are the oldest continuous band,” said Williams. “We know the Allentown Band is the oldest to be organized; they are not the oldest continuous band in existence because they disbanded on several occasions and then reorganized.”
In turn, Warren Wilson, president of the Allentown Band said, “As far as I’m concerned, we are the oldest in continuous existence. If the Repasz Elks Band feels differently, let them prove it and give us documentation.”
It’s difficult to trace the history of town bands over the past 150 plus years. Some bands were formed and later reorganized or merged with others. Some lost vital records in fires at their band halls. Another factor in trying to determine the oldest band is that some of these volunteered their services as official bands of military units during wars, which interrupted their civilian status.
Reference is made to the Allentown Band during the Civil War by local historians. William Minninger, band leader at that time, held the band together with a few remaining members. According to the records, the band reorganized after the war. The band was again affiliated with the military between 1885 and 1900. There are no records of the group disbanding during its switch from civilian to military band.
On the other hand, during 1935, the Repasz Band needed a permanent home for rehearsals, while another band, the Elks Band, needed financial support. The two bands merged creating the Elks Repasz Band. In 1960, the band changed the name to Repasz Elks, the present name.
Which band is the continuous one now through this merger? Were the majority of players members of the Repasz Band or the Elks Band? Historians can’t give us a clue.
The contenders vying for third, fourth, fifth and sixth oldest bands in Pennsylvania, if not in the nation, also run a close race.
The Ringgold Band, of Reading, Berks County, was formed on June 28, 1852. Historians record that this band reorganized in 1866 after the Civil War, as did the Allentown Band. In 1901, the Germania Band was incorporated into the Ringgold Band. With this reorganization and incorporation of another band, could the Ringgold Band vie for third oldest?
The Franklin Silver Cornet Band of Franklin, in Venango County, was first mentioned in the “Venango Spectator” newspaper on May 7, 1856. It appears the group disbanded for about 18 months in 1919 and reorganized in 1920. This band discounts those months of disbandment and celebrates their founding year as 1856. Would they now be considered the fourth oldest in the land?
A few months after the Franklin Silver Cornet Band, the Washington Band, of Annville in Lebanon County, was organized on August 2, 1856. Historians state that while the Civil War restricted the operation of this organization, it was not disbanded. So, it seems that would be the fifth oldest band.
Next in chronological order is the Hazleton Liberty Band, of Hazleton in Luzerne County, formed on Oct. 18, 1859. This band enlisted as a unit in the Union Army in 1861 and became a regimental band. In 1863, the band membership reenlisted as the 198th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
According to the band president and historian, Harold J. Koch, two sources support the account that this band played when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House. However, another band has claimed the same honor. The Hazleton Band returned home after the war years, maintaining its organization. Do the war years, when the band played under a different name, now exclude this band from sixth place?
Pennsylvania has nearly 100 community bands. I focused on the six which have been in existence the longest.
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to everyday stories.