This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

    Chapter on Watertown Bands/Orchestras 

Imperial Band

 

Watertown Military Band

 

Watertown Municipal Band

Founded 1915

 

Watertown City Band

 

1906      Military Band

  

(Sitting l-r): A. Krueger, G. Krueger, E. Vick, A. Zimmermann, W. Schmidt, Ed Reichert, F. Kopp, W. Simon, A. Polzin, D. Ickmann, George Wencke.

Standing, l-r: F. Newbauer, J. O'Brien, A. Radtke, P. Wackholtz, Mr. Herzog, Prof. Thacker, T. Sonmann, H. Borchardt, T. Grabow, A. Bayerlein.

 

1909      Imperial Band

05 28          Memorial Day participants    WG

 

1910      Military Band

   

 

c.1910

Military Band, 1910 approx, also see Homecoming Dance, postcard

Military Hall, 1910 approx, also see Homecoming Dance, postcard

 

1911      Imperial Band AND Military Band

Both at 1911 Homecoming Days

08 10       Military Band Plays at State Fair

H. S. Wheller, director of the Military Band, has closed a contract with the special attraction committee of the Wisconsin State Fair Association to have the Military Band play during the state fair on Wednesday.  This is quite an honor for our Watertown band and speaks well for it as a musical organization, and the boys have every reason to feel proud of having been engaged to furnish the music on so important an occasion.   WG

 

1914      Wheeler Made Director

10 01       H. S. Wheeler, director of the Watertown Military Band, has accepted a position as musical director of St. John’s Military Academy at Delafield.  He will have charge of the band, orchestra and chorus.  The new connection will not be allowed to interfere with Mr. Wheeler’s many interests here, as he will go back and forth each school day.

 

c.1914   Watertown Imperial Band

  

 

1915      WATERTOWN CITY BAND FORMED

The Watertown Municipal Band's history dates back to 1915, when members of the Imperial Band decided to change the name to the Watertown City Band and incorporate the same. On Sept. 14, 1915, the first meeting was scheduled, but in the meantime the military band disbanded and wanted to join so the meeting was postponed to Sept. 28 at the Imperial Band rooms at the intersection of Jones and North First streets.

 

Military Band Quarters

 

The Watertown City Band was organized in the old brewery office on North First Street, but the quarters were too small so they moved to East Madison Street, above the former Military Band quarters.  The band later remodeled the third floor of the former Farmers & Citizens Bank for its rehearsals.

 

1921      Watertown City Band  

 

 

1959

07 21       Municipal Band concert dedicated to the 105th Cavalry   WDT

 

1964

06 04       ARNOLD LEHMANN named conductor of Municipal Band

Prof. Arnold O. Lehmann, director of music at Northwestern College, has been named conductor of the Watertown Municipal Band and will make his first public appearance in his new capacity at Thursday night’s opening concert of the summer series at Riverside Park.  Announcement of Prof. Lehmann’s acceptance of the offer to conduct the band was made today.  He succeeds Gerald Stich of Waterloo who resigned because he will be attending a summer school.  Since coming to Watertown to take over his duties at Northwestern College, Prof. Lehmann has developed an outstanding musical activities program and has presented, as part of his duties, numerous college concerts, many of them for the public.  WDT

 

1965

01 02       ROLAND HARDER ELECTED PRESIDENT

Roland Harder has been elected president of the Watertown Municipal Band.  The election was held at the Legion Green Bowl at a dinner meeting following a concert which the band presented at Bethesda Lutheran Home on New Year's Day.  The concert was made possible through the Music Performance Fund.  Other officers elected are:  Vice president, Wayne A. Saniter; secretary, Bonnie Rupnow; treasurer, Ray Fredrich; manager, Arthur Rupnow; trustees, Lorenz Wesemann (three years). Ben Pieper (replaces Arthur Rupnow who resigned to run

 

 

Cross References:

               Benny Maass, secretary of the Watertown City Band

File on Bands

Band Shell

 

 

 

 

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History of Watertown, Wisconsin

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