THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

August 22, 1991

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Peg Holzman put in several hours researching Waupaca City Council minutes to find out when the Waupaca bandstand was built.  It seems that Peg had received a query from a lady in New London, asking if she knew when the bandstand was built, and this prompted her search for the answer.

            The minutes of the Waupaca City Council for June 17, 1898, state:  “Whereas the city of Waupaca has two bands and whereas there is no bandstand in the city of Waupaca, therefore be it resolved that a committee of three, two appointed by the Mayor, and the Mayor as chairman of said committee, to investigate the advisability of said city to erect a bandstand in the courtyard.  A.R. Lea, Secretary.”

            On June 27, 1898, the committee reported that it found general approval for a bandstand.  They offered a resolution authorizing the city to spend $250 for it.

            On July 18, 1898, it was reported that the committee had let the contract for building the same at a cost of $275 and authorized that another $25 more be appropriated.  All voted aye.

            The City Council continued in assisting the city band for band purposes such as concerts.

            In August of 1904, $7.50 was appropriated to light the bandstand, and on June 18, 1907, $25 was appropriated to help pay the expense of a Fourth of July celebration.

            In the Waupaca Centennial 1857-1957, that was published in 1957, can be found this story about one of Waupaca’s earliest bands.

            This band was a group of country boys from the Town of Farmington who practiced in the Barton School House under the guidance of Lee Dana, who received the enormous amount of $3 a week for his instructions.  The Barton School House is now the Farmington Town Hall, at the intersection of State Highway 54 and County Trunk Q, approximately four miles west of Waupaca.

            Four Smith Brothers – Alfred, Fred, Dave and Ed – were all born on the old homestead, then called the Hill, which is on Smith Lane, were the four surviving children of William and Elizabeth Smith.

            These four brothers formed the backbone of a musical group that played together for nearly a decade.

            The most outstanding achievement of this musical group took place when they played for a G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) encampment in Milwaukee that was headed by General William Sherman of Civil War fame.

            Their big moment came when this band of country boys from the Waupaca area was chosen from among 52 bands from all over the north to go with General Sherman as he addressed large crowds in various halls.

            One of the group had remarked that they didn’t get anything but their expenses, but they didn’t want any more, as they had made a name for themselves.  On the day of the great encampment in Milwaukee, they marched and played for six consecutive hours.

            A little background on the Smith Family.  The father, William Smith, was born in Wales in 1840, and came to America when only 12 years of age.  He first settled in New York state where he met and married Miss Elizabeth Evans in 1857.  In 1858, they came to the Town of Farmington, Waupaca County, to make their home near the Chain O’ Lakes.  It was here that they became the parents of six children.  Only four survived to adulthood.

            In 1897 or 1898, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith erected the first main building which was named Locksley Hall, on Round Lake.  This became a very popular summer resort.  This later became known as Locksley Lodge.

            In 1948 and 1949, the Waupaca County Post published the memoirs of the Chain O’ Lakes, by Fred M. Smith, the Patriarch of the Lakes.

            Fred M. Smith and his wife built the Brinsmere Inn, also another popular resort before the days of the automobile, when people could travel long distances to other areas of the state.

            There was another band that started in Waupaca in the 1880’s, directed by J. H. Hudson.  They gave regular weekly concerts and played at celebrations on patriotic holidays, baseball games and at the roller skating rink over Cristy’s store.

            Charles Carroll, from the east, was another outstanding director of the 32-man Waupaca City Band from 1918 to 1935.  In 1936, the Waupaca schools established a regular band department.