News: Greenwood (Old Band Boys - 31 May 1933)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pfunder, Burch, Armstrong, Hunt, Masters, Mead, Palms, Shoemaker, Smith, Tripp, Meek, Varney, Volk, Oelig, Carter, Judge

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 01 Jun 1933

An informal afternoon on Mrs. Burch's lovely lawn on Memorial Day, provided an opportunity for renewing old acquaintances that will long be remembered by those "old timers" who spent the day in Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) this year.

The concerted efforts of Malcolm Pfunder (who proposed trying to interest former band members to return and participate in the Memorial exercises, and who wrote the letters), and the local members and friends who supplied the addresses of as many as possible to obtain, bore bounteous fruit and Greenwood profited by having some very good music from them in the parade from the Hall to the cemetery, and a short concert in the band stand preceding the ceremonies in the hall. "Doesn't it seem good to have them", "Isn't it wonderful that som many were interested to come", were on everyone's lips. Whle the school band led the parade from the schoolhouse to the hall, the adult band, with the several visiting old members, joined in the march to the cemetery and furnished the music part of the way. With two "honest to goodness" Greenwood Bands in the parade this year, it seems now incredible that two years ago there were not enough musicians available to make any pretense of a band and our Memorial Day parade wound its way to the cemetery unaccompanied by music for the first time in nearly forty years. The old band members who played in the adult band this year were: Glen Armstrong, Hale Hunt, Roy Masters, Hixon Mead, Harry Palms, Malcolm Pfunder, Carl Shoemaker, Charles Smith and Charles Tripp.

Several of the older residents joined in arranging the garden party to help them meet as many of their old friends as possible. The plan of passing the word to all residents and visiting old timers worked splendidly. By two o'clock the band was assembled, and soo the lawn was a colorful mass of merry visitors. The band played a shor musical program, chatted and renewed acquaintances between numbers, and perfected an organization with Harry Palms as president and Malcolm Pfunder as secretary, that will direct its efforts to further developing the idea of a reunion of the old band for Memorial Day here each years. The joy the boys got out of playing together again (some of them playing here for the first time in 23 years) and the pleasure the listeners experienced, won everybody to the idea of lending a hand in the effort to gather in old friends for a day together each years at this time. Among former band members who were here without instruments were Hugh and Ralph Meek, Dale Varney, Perry and Alonzo Volk and Fred Oelig. Reminiscences of Greenwood's social life for fifty years back were reviewed merrily throughout the afternoon.

The weather was ideal, sun shining much of the time. Refreshments of lemonade and assorted cookies ere served from little tables scattered over the lawn. An old picture of the Greenwood band, made on Mrs. Burch's lawn was passed around and viewed with interest. Dad Carter, Val Volk, Hixon Mead and Charles Tripp were the four members playing this year who were on this picture, taken when the band was first organized under the direction of John Judge, 38 years. ago.

When the crowd dispersed about 4 o'clock, some starting on their homeward drives, others remaining with friends overnight, they disbanded with the feeling of satisfaction, which comes with having had a part in the most enjoyable afternoon with the pleasant anticipation of repeating the experience next year, and with a determination to help more get here to enjoy it every year

It would be impossible to give names of all out of town "old timers" who were present, for there was no provision made for registration, but for a matter of record an early effort will be made to prepare a list that will include all that were in attendance and next years everyone will be invited to register.
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Greenwood people do appreciate the effort old timers make to visit us on Memorial Day and are especially appreciative of the visit of the "old band boys" and their music this year.