Community Bands
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May 31, 1925
contributed by Carolyn Clausen
contributed by Carolyn Clausen
unknown date
contributed by Carolyn Clausen
Contributed by Mary Aumon
by Larry Blocher [class of 54]
History of the Bands of Hanover
Many years ago Hanover had two, what was know as Senior Bands. There was the
P.O.S of A and the K of P. The P.O.S. of A is known as the Patriot Order Sons of
America. They had a lodge hall above the old Peoples Bank that was located at
the south east corner of Frederick St and Center Square. It is the building
before you get to Whitmans Pharmacy. There was also a lodge in Pleasant Hill
next to the old Pleasant Hill Fire Company and I think it is still there but the
one in Hanover is no longer in existence. I played in this band in 1948 with Ed
Fissel who was also in the class of '54 There were a lot of kids that went to
Hanover that played in this band until it broke up somewhere around 1975.
The K of P lodge was located in the first block of Carlisle St. First above
the old Murphy's 5 & 10 store. Then they moved across the street above the
Hanover Shoe Store which was at the corner of the first alley from the square.
The K of P is known as the Knights of Pythias Lodge. The band was formed back in
the 1800's and known as the Uniformed Rank Knights of Pythias Band. I joined
this band in 1949 and played in it until the lodge closed their permanent lodge
hall in 1956. When the lodge hall was closed the band had no place for
rehearsals and the Moose Lodge asked the band to become "their" band which we
did in 1956. The Moose Lodge paid to have the bass drum repainted and bought arm
patches for our uniforms and bought a Moose Lodge banner to be carried in all
our parades. They gave us a rehearsal hall and gave a monetary donation each
year for us to purchase new music. We stayed with the Moose until we broke up in
1995.
Here is some additional information on local bands.
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K of P Band was formed in October, 1903 with 16 members. In 1904 they merged with Co 7 K of P band in Lancaster, Pa. and had a total of 21 members. By 1910 they had 57 members and were the largest K of P Band in the USA. In 1935 they had a concert that featured the renowned Frank Simon. ( My earlier note filled you in after 1935).
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The POS of A Band was formed in 1913.
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The Lyric Band was formed 11-1-1932 with 36 members with Harry Swartzbaugh as the director. (There was bad blood between the Lyric and K of P band because so many members of the K of P band did not want to join a union. As you know the Lyric was a union band until several years ago when they remitted from the union. Most of the Lyric's members were from the K of P which caused the hard feelings). In 1938 the Lyric purchased the "old" YMCA building which they still own today.
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In 1921 the Hanover High School Orchestra was organized.
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In 1929 the Hanover High School band was started and the first director was Harry Stegner. (When I was kid I remember his music store on Baltimore St.)
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There was a book written in 1998 by a Ginger Myers entitled "Hanover Harmonies" which lists most of the above information.
Larry Blocher, March 2004
