The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Monday, June 01, 1953
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100 YEARS, 100 BANDS, 100 QUEENS in 200 PAGES Mason City's Story Told in This Issue
One hundred years, 100 bands, 100 queens in 200 pages!That's the story of this Centennial issue of the Globe-Gazette,
devoted to the mammoth task of presenting the stirring account of Mason City's first century of history. Published
on the eve of Mason City's giant Centennial celebration, which takes place June 7 to 14, this 212 page issue is a
significant event in itself. It is the largest newspaper ever published in Mason City and as such is a fitting
part of the city's observation of this historic event. Represent a YearIn the pages
of this newspaper are told, not only the account of those 100 years of the history of Mason City, but the spectacular,
colorful story that 100 queens and 100 bands from 100 communities surrounding Mason City are coming to have a part
in the celebration, each one representing a year in the city's history. With this are the stories of other events
in the celebration, the parades, processions of beautiful floats, historical window displays, a pavement dance,
a Centennial ball, choir and band concerts and special religious services that are a part of Mason City's observance
of this important milepost in its history. This issue, published to present the story of this celebration and
the history of this community the past century, is made up of 10 sections. It has a 40 page tabloid devoted
exclusively to a history of Mason City. Several sections carry interesting stories of many events of the past
century and one section is given over to the details of the program of the eight-day Centennial celebration.
30,000 CopiesTo print this issue was not a small undertaking. The 30,000 copies of the
newspaper that were printed required two carloads or a total of 83,000 pounds of newsprint. Spread out into one
sheet the width would extend from Mason City to Washington, D.C., a distance of more than 1,000 miles. Printing
of the Centennial newspaper required the casting of 376 stereotype plates, with a total weight of 15,792 pounds.
Of the 30,000 newspapers printed, 13,000 are in the mails to destinations in all of the 48 states, the District
of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, the Scandinavian nations and other countries. The remainder was delivered
by carrier salesmen, who had a tremendous job on their hands as each paper weighed 2.6 pounds. Tremendous
InfluxIndications are that Mason City will have a tremendous influx of former residents and other
visitors to take part in the celebration, which gets under way next Sunday, June 7, with a musical salute in
East Park. A special welcome for homecomers and visitors is set for Monday, June 8. The North Iowa Band Festival,
larger than ever with its 100 flashing bands and 100 gorgeous queens, will be the center of interest Tuesday.
Wednesday will be Transportation Day, with a parade through the business section of the city and a special program
at the airport at noon. One of the high moments of the week will be the historical parade and the coronation of
the queen of the Centennial Thursday. Friday will be turned over to a community-wide sports day. A church decoration
program, sponsored by the Garden Club, and a street dance is on the program for Saturday and Sunday, June 14, the
final day of the Centennial celebration, will be devoted to special services in the churches and a community sing
at East Park. As is pointed out more fully in other sections of this newspaper, this spectacular celebration is
being held in commemoration of the building of the first cabin in Mason City exactly a century ago by John
L. McMillin and his descendants down to the fifth generation are to be presented as part of the program. On
the pages of this edition are told the story of the arrival of the first white settlers and the procession of men
and women 100 years long that followed them to help make Mason City what it is today. Contained in this issue
is the story of families that braved the uncertainties of the prairie and the peril of sloughs and other dangers
to get here and who endured the primitive life of the [illegible] wilderness after their crude cabins were
erected. There are stories about the trouble the pioneers had with Indians, how they faced bleak tragedy when
the merciless blizzards swept across the prairies, how they lived beyond reach of medical care or any of the
refinements of life and how when that moment came they were willing to levy almost confiscatory taxes upon themselves
to bring a railroad to the village.
~ Pages 1 & 2
MASON CITY CENTENNIAL ACTIVITIES GETTING READY for COLOSSAL CELEBRATION
CENTENNIAL BUTTONS
[Page 36] Selling the Centennial buttons for the Chamber of Commerce is one of the contributions of the
Mason City Business and Professional Women to the celebration. Mrs. W. F. Isaacson, left, first vice president,
looks on as Mrs. J. E. Osborne pins a button on Miss Eva Scott. At 10 cents each the buttons are providing a
small margin of profit to help a little on the huge budget needed by the Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the Centennial celebration. Practically all of the $17,000 that makes the celebration possible was raised among the
business, professional and industrial men of the community.
![](http://iagenweb.org/cerrogordo/photos/MasonCity/CentennialEd/floatbuilding.jpg)
BUILDING FLOATS
[Page 37] Helping to build many of the floats for the Centennial historical parade is Warren Ruby,
high school art instructor. For several weeks Ruby spent his spare time constructing elaborately tinseled spars
and effects to adorn many of the floats. The workshop in his garage was filled with the results of the one man
production line.
RADIOS TO CO-ORDINATE PARADE
[Page 37] "Walkie-Talkie" radios of "H" Company, Iowa National Guard, will be
used to co-ordinate the several miles of bands and floats in the North Iowa Band Festival parade. Getting the low-down
on the workings of the miniature radios from 2nd Lt. David Hirsch of Company "H" are, from left, Hurschel
O'Brien, starting chairman of the Band Festival parade; Jerry Burhite, Band Festival parade chairman; Vern
Kimball, safety and co-ordination chairman; Hirsch, and Don Tubbesing, spacing and policing chairman. The
Junior Chamber of Commerce is handling the arrangements for the parade.
HOSTESSES FOR FESTIVAL QUEENS
[Page 37] Pictured above are the hostesses for the 100 queens who are to contribute so much to the success of the
North Iowa Band Festival Tuesday of Centennial Week.From left, they are: Front row - Mrs. Cecil Boyer,
Mrs. Paul McAuley, Mrs. M. C. Paulson, Mrs. Robert Bergland, chairman; Mrs. Fred Andresen and Mrs. M. Chinkers;
Back row - Mrs. Lloyd Farrer, Mrs. George D. Atkinson, Mrs. L. W. Lichtenberger, Mrs. Bernard Payton and Mrs.
H. W. Crawford. Mrs. Warren DeVries, co-chairman, is not in the picture.
![](http://iagenweb.org/cerrogordo/photos/MasonCity/CentennialEd/ggfloat.jpg)
FLOATS TO DEPICT HISTORY
[Page 40] Floats depicting the history of Mason City over the past century will be a part of the
Centennial historical parade Thursday evening of the week of the celebration. This picture of the Globe-Gazette
float in the 75th anniversary celebration may give some indication of how history is portrayed in parades. It
shows the origin of the first written records on stone, then parchment and finally the daily newspaper.
111 QUEENS COMING
[Page 43] Talk about a Coronation. England has only one Queen, Mason City will entertain 111 queens.
What a procession it will make when the hundred festival queens appear in a grand procession on Roosevelt Field.
The picture at left] shows the 86 queens of last year.
THE NORTH IOWA BAND FESTIVAL TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1953
9:15 A.M. |
- | Concert, Central Park. |
10:00 A.M. |
- | Parade of Bands, Queens and Floats. |
12:15 P.M. |
- | Hanford Hotel - Luncheons for visiting bandmasters and their
wives, and for the queen candidates, Meredith and Mrs. Willson guests of honor. |
12:00 to 4:30 P.M. |
- | Band Concerts and Special Events, Central Park. |
2:15 P.M. |
- | The queens in Central Park. |
5:30 P.M. |
- | Roosevelt Football stadium opens for the grand finale of 100
bands and queens. Crowning of Miss North Iowa. Meredith Willson directs the massed bands. |
8:15 P.M. |
- | High School Auditorium, second showing of Women's Club play,
"Our Century." |
For three nights,
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Mason Cityans and visitors will have an opportunity to see "Our Century," Women's Club
play, at the high school.
BAND FESTIVAL, TUESDAY, JUNE 9 - 100 Queens and 100 Bands Are Coming
[Section 10, Page 6] A significant part of the Centennial celebration will be the Tuesday, June 9, program
when 100 bands and 100 queens converge on Mason City in the 15th annual North Iowa Band Festival.More than 5,000 band
members in colorful uniforms will be joined by school officials, parents, hosts of friends and others to make the day one
of the most spectacular of the week's celebration. While the program of marching and music goes on all day, there will
be two focal points of outstanding interest - the parade at 10 in the morning and the grand finale, with the massed band
concerts and the coronation of the new festival queen at the Roosevelt field, starting at 5:30 p.m. Reigning as queen
of the festival until that moment arrives when thousands watch with suspense the coronation of the new sovereign, will be
Miss Gwendolyn Johnson of Ventura. This 18-year-old, blue-eyed girl was the selection of the judges fro 86 candidates
last year. She has been at the State University of Iowa the past school year. Among the special attractions of the
festival will be the participation once again of Meredith Willson, who will be in the morning parade and, with Mrs. Willson, will
be guest of honor at a luncheon for visiting bandmasters at the Hotel Hanford at noon. He also will have a prominent part
in the evening event.
Stengel BackBruce Stengel, who delighted the thousands at the 1952 festival
is coming back this year. He will appear in the morning parade and at the evening event at the Roosevelt stadium.
The parade will follow the route of other years, the queens, bands and floats converging on State and Delaware at which point
the column moves south to 5th S. E., then west to Federal and North to Hotel Hanford. The queens, each one representing
a community taking part in the festival with a band entry, will be feted throughout the day. Following the parade they will
attend a luncheon at the Hotel Hanford and at 2:15 p.m. will be introduced at Central Park. Concerts will be held
throughout the day. Before the parade the Mason City All Grade Band, under the direction of Stanley L. Davis, will play.
In event of rain the parade will be held in the late afternoon. If it rains in the evening the finale will be held in the
Roosevelt Fieldhouse.
~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday's Events9:15 a. m. - Concert, Central Park - Mason City All Grade School
Band, Stanley L. Davis, conductor. 10 a. m. - Parade of Bands, Queens and Floats. 12:15 p. m. - Hanford Hotel -
Luncheons for visiting bandmasters and their wives, and for the queen candidates, Meredith and Mrs. Willson guests of
honor. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. - Band Concerts and Special Events, Central Park. 2:15 p.m. - The queens appear in Central
Park and are presented from the band stand. 3:15 p.m. - Continuation of the Central Park concerts. 5:30 p.m. - Roosevelt
Football stadium opens for grand finale entry of 100 bands, Bruce Stengel of Wisconsin and his Baton, the Manchester Marching
Band, Crowning of Miss North Iowa, Meredith Willson, the massed bands. 8:15 p.m. - High School Auditorium, second
showing of Women's Club play "Our Century."
QUEENS OF OTHER YEARS COMING BACK TO FESTIVAL
[Section 10, Page 7] Twelve North Iowa Band Festival queens have been named since the plan of having
royalty at the big musical events was adopted in 1938. Most of these coming to the Centennial Celebration.The festival,
which will be held Tuesday, June 9, will have as its reigning queen Miss Gwendolyn Johnson of Ventura until the new queen
is selected. Miss Johnson was named as the 1952 queen. She has been at the University of Iowa the past year.
Miss Morgan FirstThe first of the queens was Miss Shirley Morgan of Sheffield, named in 1938. She is now
Mrs. Res. Harrison of Indianola, and has three children. She, with her husband and two oldest children, will be here at
the festival. She wrote to Mrs. Helen De Sart, chairman of the committee, that she was "thrilled to be coming to such a
gala affair." The 1939 queen was Marjorie Smith of Clarion, now Mrs. John A. Ellsworth of Omaha, and in 1940 Miss
Charlotte Anne Foss of Belmond was the queen. The latter is now Mrs. Henry A. Winter, Jr., of Denver, Colo. The 1941
queen, Miss Alberta Joslyn of Clear Lake, now Mrs. Reeves Hall of Independence, is planning to attend the festival with
her husband, son of Editor W. Earl Hall of the Globe-Gazette, and children, David, Ann and James. Miss
Bethel Lashbrook of Osage, the 1942 queen, wrote she would attend the festival, stating she still remembered how
"nicely the queen candidates were treated." No Festivals During WarAfter a four year
interval during the war the festivals were resumed in 1946, when Miss Marilyn Fowler of Greene was named queen. She is
now Mrs. Arvid Lindell and still lives at Greene. Miss Elaine Broessel of Monona, the 1947 reigning beauty, is now
Mrs. Glen Drahn of Belle Plaine. She and her husband, head football coach at Belle Plaine, have two little girls. She is
making plans to attend the festival. The 1948 queen, Miss Shirley Eyler of Clarion, was graduated as a United States
Air Line stewardess March 13 and is not expecting to come. Miss La Donna Glieden of Luverne, 1949 queen and now
Mrs. Robert Reibsamen of Corwith, writes that she will be here. Miss Kay Cayou of Liverore, choice of the 1950 event,
is attending Stephens College at Columbia, Mo., and plans to be here for what is expected to be the biggest festival
of them all. The 1951 queen, Miss Audrey Madson of Hampton, is attending St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. She is
eagerly looking forward to coming and having a part in the festival on this Centennial Year.
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FESTIVAL STARTS AS SMALL MUSIC EVENT BACK IN 1936
[Section 10, Page 7] The North Iowa Band Festival, which now brings some 4,000 high school musicians to
Mason City every June, had its inception in a modest musical event back in 1936.That year the Iowa Bandmasters
Convention was held in Mason City and the Chamber of Commerce invited a few school bands to participate in a parade,
concerts and other events during the day and an evening show at the Roosevelt Stadium, at which 17 bands performed in
a massed concert. The event was so pleasing to Mason Cityans that they decided to try it the following year without the
bandmasters convention. This time 27 bands responded. From that time on the number of bands grew steadily until the number
reached the 50 mark in 1941 and 1942. Discontinued During WarThe festival was then discontinued
during the war. When it was renewed in 1946, it was one of the big events of Mason City's celebration of the Iowa
Centennial. Since then the number continued to grow until in 1952 when 85 bands and queen candidates came to the festival.
Noted band leaders have been invited to lead the great massed band performances. Frank Simon, well known band master
and teacher and former conductor of the Armco band heard on the radio for many years, came on two successive years. Karl
L. King of Fort Dodge, Iowa's famous march composer, was the guest conductor in 1951, and Gerald Prescott, director of the
University of Minnesota bands, was here for the 1952 event. Meredith Willson HereIn 1948 and in
1950 Meredith Willson, Mason City's native son, distinguished composer and conductor, as well as the one-man Chamber of
Commerce for this community, returned for the festival and a prominent part in its festivities. He and Mrs. Willson rode
at the head of the parade and later reviewed it. He was the central feature for the bandmaster's luncheon and his compositions
were sung and played at the finale.
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100 QUEENS AWAIT CENTENNIAL BAND FESTIVAL
Listed in Order of Appearance In Parade
[Section 10, Pages 8 & 9]
FESTIVAL FINALE, TUESDAY, JUNE 9 - Thousands to Watch Queen Coronation
[Section 10, Page 10] Thousands will gather at the Roosevelt field Tuesday evening of Centennial week
for the grand finale of the 15th North Iowa Band Festival, at which will take place the coronation of the new queen
and the concert by more than 5,000 band members from 100 communities surrounding Mason City. C. D. "Chuck" Hilton will be
the master of ceremonies.Other colorful events of the evening will be the marching demonstration by the Manchester
High School Band under the direction of Erling B. Hanson, the greetings to the home folks by Meredith Willson and two
performances by Bruce Stengel, the amazing baton expert from Wisconsin. To Direct Band
Willson will direct the Mason City Municipal Band in his newly composed Centennial March, which is to be aired as a salute
to the nation over Paul LaVelle's Cities Service program on NBC Monday evening, June 8. The one big event of the
evening program, made up of many colorful numbers, will be the naming of the new queen from among the 100 contestants. Following
this will come the coronation by Meredith Willson. The massed band numbers will be directed by both Willson and
Carleton L. Stewart. The numbers will be selected from the following: "Officer of the Day," Lyone and Healy; "The Thunderer,"
by Carl Fischer; "Queen City," Fillmore; "Our Director," Walter Jacobs; "Washington Post," Carl Fischer, and "Iowa Band
Law."
~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday Night
5:30 p.m. - Roosevelt Field opens to the public. Grand entry of bands begins immediately.
6:45 p.m. - Entry of the colors, color guard, queens and attendants, "Star Spangled Banner."
7 p.m. - Processional of the reigning queen, Miss North Iowa of 1952 (Miss Gwendolyn Johnson of Ventura), queens of
other years, 1953 queens and hostesses.
7:30 p.m. - Bruce Stengel of Wisconsin and his baton.
7:45 p.m. - Marching demonstration - the Manchester High School Band - Erling B. Hanson, director.
8 p.m. - Meredith Willson greets the home folks and the band members, and directs the Mason City Municipal band in
his Centennial March.
8:15 p.m. - Miss North Iowa of 1953 is announced and crowned.
8:30 p.m. - Bruce Stengle and his flaming batons.
8:45 p.m. - Massed band numbers directed by Carleton L. Stewart and Meredith Willson.
~ ~ ~ ~
Reserved for BandsAll the permanent stadium seats and the bleacher on the north side have been
reserved for visiting bands and their chaperones. Bleachers will be available for the public on the entire west and south
sides. The platform for the bands, queens and visiting notables will be on the east side of the field. The visiting
bands will come to the baseball field, then through the southeast gate, starting their entries at 5:30 p.m. at 6:45 the
entry of the colors, color guard, queens and attendants will take place, followed by a processional of the reigning
queen, Miss Gwendolyn Johnson of Ventura, the queens of other years, the 1953 queens and hostesses. The queens will
circle the field and take their seats on the platform, with Miss North Iowa of 1952 - Miss Johnson - on the throne.
Later in the program when the new queen is announced she will ascend the throne and reign over the remainder of the
program. QUEENS, TWIRLERS and MEREDITH WILLSON COMING TO BAND FESTIVAL
[Section 10, Page 17]
HUGE ORGANIZATION WORKING ON PREPARATIONS FOR CITY'S CENTENNIAL
[Section 10, Page 18] Hundreds of men and women on numerous committees have been at work for weeks on
preparations to celebrate Mason City's Centennial the week of June 7 and 14.Although sponsored by the Chamber of
Commerce, the celebration program will be the work not only of that organization and the 50 or more committees set up to
carry out the myriad of details, but of many other groups and individuals. Heading the list of committees are
Gen. Hanford MacNider, honorary chairman; John D. Vance, general chairman; and D. G. Klempnauer and Leslie Hawkins,
vice chairman of the general committee. Also on the general committee are E. C. Jones, George C. Senn, Dr. Hardly F. Pool,
Enoch A. Norem and Lester Milligan, secretary. [Following are the committees for the Band Festival:]
Publicity | | E. C. Jones, chairman
Bob Altman, Max Boyd, Kenneth Carey, Bob Carson, Charles J. Casey, Hal De Gursh, Gail Grippen, Leslie G.
Hawkins, C. D. Hilton, Roy B. Johnson, D. G. Klempnauer, Ed Lamson, Jack Larson, Max Minott, N. J. Moreland, R. I. Mott,
Allen D. Patton, Henry Pendergraft, Howard Stewart, R. L. Stoyles, W. M. Temple, Enoch A. Norem and Donn White. |
Window displays | | Joe F. Hanes, chairman |
|
Distinguished guests | | W. Earl Hall, chairman
Frank Currie, C. A. Parker, Ward Hamilton and Dr. C. O. Adams |
The band festival committee, of which W. L. Nichols is chairman and Dan G. Klempnauer, co-chairman, is made up
of the following committees:
General committee | | Norman Allison, Leo Allstot, Paul Behm,
C. E. Blanchard, H. H. Boyce, G. W. Burhite, Robert Carson, Al Cornish, J. J. Fitzgerald, Oscar Jewell,
E. C. Jones, Roy B. Johnson, Harley Klemas, Charles Kraft, Roger Lyons, Carl J. Merkel, Henry T. Paine, C. A. Parker,
Grover Reip, Leo Risacher, Keith Sanborn, Bob Sawyer, Ken Schmidt, R. W. Selby, L. H. Shepoiser, Steve Stahl,
Carleton Stewart, Joe Simon, Thomas Teas, John D. Vance, H. E. Van Essen, C. F. Weaver, Maynard Nelson, Don Hubacher,
Guy Zach, Enoch A. Norem, Mrs. Robert Bergland and Mrs. Warren De Vries. |
|
Noon luncheon & reception | | Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Stewart
Mayor and Mrs. Howard E. Bruce and a group of festival committee members and their wives.
|
|
Festival parade | | Under supervision of Junior
Chamber of Commerce G. W. Burhite, general chairman Vern Kimball, co-ordinator & safety
Clayton Schultz, bands Hap Turner, floats Bob Betts, queen's cars Don Tubbesing, policing
Bob Huffman & Bob Guild, concessions Hurschel O'Brien, starting. |
|
First aid stations | | Janet Baird & Red Cross workers. |
To Be Hostesses
Festival queen hostesses | | Mrs. Robert Bergland, chairman
Mrs. Warren DeVries, co-chairman Mrs. Paul McAuley, Mrs. B. L. Payton, Mrs. H. W. Crawford, Mrs. L. W. Lichtenberger,
Mrs. Fred Andresen, Mrs. M. C. Paulson, Mrs. Cecil Boyer, Mrs. M. Chinkers, Mrs. Lloyd Farrer, Mrs. Eddie Jones,
Mrs. George Atkinson and Mary Zultner. |
|
Festival queen committee | | C. E. Blanchard, chairman
W. J. Burger, Carl Merkel, S. R. Clough, Carl Skaggs, Chuck Hilton, W. H. Hammitt, Grover Reip, Marcus Lundbert, D. G.
Klempnauer and C. A. Pope. |
|
Distribution of tickets & supplies to bands | | Thomas C. Teas. |
|
Morning standby program in case of rain | | Ralph Geer. |
|
PA system at park & stadium | | George Miller. |
|
Boy Scouts participation | | Peter S. DeJong. |
|
Parking of cars & buses | | H. H. Boyce & Chief Leo Allstot. |
|
Bleachers & general arrangements at the schools | | Charles
Kraft, L. H. Shepoiser, Hazel Coon, P. O. Brunsvold, A. G. Krager and numerous employes (sic) of school system. |
|
Concerts in Central Park | | Bill Yenerich & members of
Toastmasters. |
|
Ushers for festival parade reserved seats | | Carl Klath
& members of Lions Club. |
|
Hostesses at school buildings for band festival | | Mrs. Steve
Vician & members of the Mason City Woman's Club. |
|
Hosts to Bruce Stengel | | Roy L. Bailey & Richard L. Bailey. |
To Name Queen
Judge to name Miss North Iowa - C. F. Weaver, president of the Chamber of Commerce, chairman, and the following heads
of civic groups:
L. H. Shepoiser, Rotary | | Dr. R. F. Kunz, Kiwanis |
C. E. Gilman, Lions | | Stanley Haynes, Exchange |
Guy Zach, Junior Chamber. | | |
In addition to these there will be five votes from the women's committee.
Meredith Willson reception committee - Dr. and Mrs. H. F. Pool, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Arthur, Mrs. Edna Bryant, Dr. and Mrs.
William Egloff, Mr. and Mrs. W. Earl Hall, Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Klempnauer, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Laird, Mr. and Mrs.
Lester Milligan, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Weaver, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Vance, Mr. and Mrs. Carleton
Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh H. Shepard and Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Nichols. Committees on festival night finale -
Color guard & flag raising | | Tyler Stewart. |
| Seating of bands | | A. E. Smith & members of the 40 and 8. |
| Parking of buses & getting bands into stadium | |
Dick Mettler, Bill Wagner and Ed Corless with members of the Rotary Club. |
| Ushers at field | | Fred Wagner & members of
Kiwanis Club. |
| Head usher on the field | | Roy B. Johnson. |
BAND STARTED GETTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN 1929
CONTEST TRIPS BEGAN UNDER G. PRESCOTT Start Playing in Elementary Grades
[Section 10, Page 20] The Mason city high school band, which last [1952] December was invited to play before
a national band clinic in Chicago, began getting nationwide recognition in 1920.That year the band under the direction
of Gerald S. Prescott went to Flint, Mich., to enter its first national contest. Mason City received eighth place in that
contest and the next year was given a third at a national contest in Tulsa, Okla. In the fall of 1931 Prescott, who is
now [1953] director of the University of Minnesota bands, was succeeded by Carleton L. Stewart. Under Stewart's leadership
the high school band and orchestra entered nine national contests in addition to state contests and received a first division
rating each time, except one year when the orchestra made second division. Division ratings came into use instead of
placings. First Class RatingsNo national contest was held in 1932, but the Mason City band
won first place in the state. In 1933 the band was in the first division at Chicago and the next year the national band
contest was held at Des Moines and the orchestra meet at Ottawa, Kan. Mason City went to both, receiving first division
ratings. Stewart continues to regard the 1934 band the best produced under his direction. In 1935 the orchestra got
second division rating at the national, the only time a Mason City school musical organization failed to make first
division in a national contest. Product of TeachingIn 1936 the band went to Cleveland and
in 1937 the orchestra was at Columbus, Ohio, getting top honors. In 1938 regional contests replaced the national and in
that and the following two years the Mason City band and orchestra got first division ratings at Minneapolis. in 1941 and
1942 both musical groups were at the St. Paul regional meets getting similar awards. With the war the contests were
discontinued. Mason City's pre-eminence in band and orchestra is the product of a teaching system that starts boys and
girls playing instruments in the grades and continues through the junior high schools, as well as the high school. This
with the fact that skilled instructors have been provided has contributed to the excellency of this division of
school work. As visible evidence of Mason City's interest in band and orchestra music was the construction of
the Music Hall in the Central School grounds in 1934.
5,000 BAND MEMBERS IN FESTIVAL
Five thousand band members from 100 communities in North Iowa and southern Minnesota will converge on Mason City
Tuesday, June 9, for the North Iowa Band Festival. For all of them it will be an event to which they have looked forward
throughout the year. Together they will make a mighty musical program at the massed band concert at the Roosevelt field in
the evening. The festival will be a big event for the bandmasters also. They will be guests, together with their wives,
a a luncheon at the Hotel Hanford at noon, at which Meredith Willson will be the speaker. Participating in the musical
event with the visitors will be five Mason City bands, municipal, high school, two junior highs and the grade school
organizations. Following are the bands participating in the festival and their directors.
Alden A. O Larson | | Alexander Bob Lightbody | |
Algona Russel Gaster |
|
Allison W. W. Schaefer | | Armstrong Wilbur C. Harris | |
Ayrshire Murray B. Elmore |
|
Belmond Roland Brom | | Bricelyn, Minn. "Cee" Turner | |
Bristow Kathryn Carol Benesh |
|
Britt Ray Bartholomew | | Buffalo Center Theodore Post | |
Burt Walter C. Spade |
|
Carpenter William J. Walsh | | Chapin William Zabilka | |
Clarion Daryl L. Hanson |
|
Clear Lake Ludvig Wangerg | | Colwell O. K. Conklin | |
Corwith Daryl Stansbury |
|
Cresco Mervin N. Lysing | | Crystal Lake Leo Mormon | |
Dows Alfred Jacobs |
|
Dumont P. D. Kauffman | | Elma Ramon Huhns | |
Elmore, Minn. Bobby Griggs |
|
Emmons, Minn. "Cee" Turner | | Fenton Loren O. Barker | |
Fernald Mrs. Estelle Miller |
|
Fertile Peter Farmakis | | Floyd Donald Whitcomb | |
Fonda Myron Teague |
|
Forest City Sigard J. Fardal | | Franklin Cons. Sidney Stott | |
Frost, Minn. Bobby Griggs |
|
Garner Barbara Rankin | | Geneva William W. Zabilka | |
Gillette Grove Warren P. Slocum |
|
Goldfield Ralph L. Drollinger | | Graettinger Warren L. Jones | |
Grafton Elmer L. Schey |
|
Grand Meadow, Minn. Robert W. Aarsvold | | Greene Edwin M. Houck | |
Hampton L. Maurice Feese |
|
Hanlontown Wayne Pringle | | Hansell Roger P. Thornton | |
Hayfield J. J. Fitzgerald |
|
Ionia O. K. Conklin | | Kanawha Stanley Bulka | |
Kensett Wayne Pringle |
|
Kiester, Minn. Elwin Eichhorst | | Klemme Charles D. Whitford | |
Lake Mills Dean R. Olson |
|
Lakota, Ind. V. A. Barrett | | Ledyard Wilbur C. Harris | |
Livermore Carl F. Hansen |
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Lone Rock Marilyn D. Bauman | | Luverne James A. Larson | |
Lyle, Minn. C. M. Swenson |
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Manchester Erling B. Hanson | | Manly Ralph J. Arnold | |
Marble Rock Wyman Marquardt |
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Mason City High School Paul W. Behm | | Mason City Grade School F. Stanley Davis | |
Mason City Monroe Jr. High J. J. Fitzgerald |
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Mason City Municipal Carleton L. Stewart | | Mason City Roosevelt Jr. High Henry T. Paine | |
Merservey Miss Alice Foikedahl |
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Meville Gordon E. Luedike | | Nashua R. J. Mussehl | |
Nora Springs Leslie R. Krafft |
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Northwood Charles H. Kirsch | | Orchard O. K. Conklin | |
Osage Ken Carpenter |
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Panora Duane Veach | | Plainfield O. K. Conklin | |
Plymouth Peter Farmakis |
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Radcliffe Harvey Von Wald | | Rake E. E. Fisher | |
Renwick W. Keith Baessler |
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Rock Falls Elmer L. Schey | | Rockford Robert V. Grindle | |
Rockwell Charles Bush |
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Rockwell City Anthony V. DeMaro | | Rodman Robert J. Bailey | |
Rolfe William Kloster |
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Rudd M. E. Anderson | | Ruthven T. A. Christiansen | |
Scarville Martin A. Hjelmeland |
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Seneca Mrs. George Anne Voigt | | Sheffield F. A. McCoy | |
Spirit Lake Lorier V. Olson |
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St. Ansgar Merlin L. Johnson | | Swaledale Miss Betty Hubbard | |
Swea City Edward E. Stewart |
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Thompson Steven A. Rich | | Thornton Mrs. Mildred Thomson | |
Titonka Harold Gartner |
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Truman, Minn. John E. Berg | | Ventura H. Milo Hall Jr. | |
Welcome, Minn. Henry H. Hansen |
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Wells, Minn. GeraldE. Swanson | | Wellsburg Romaine C. Baskius | |
West Bend David L. Larson |
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Whittemore Donald E. Conrad | | Woden J. R. Tisdale | |
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CHAMP TWIRLER USES "FLAMING BATON"
[Section 10, Page 23] Bruce Stengel, the medical student from Marquett University, who had become one
of the top baton twirlers of the nation, will again be a special feature at the North Iowa Band Festival Tuesday of
Centennial Week.A national twirling champion, 21-year-old Stengel has earned numerous awards at parades, football games,
stage shows and music festivals through the country. He will lead the morning parade and appear at the grand finale at
the Roosevelt field, at which he will give two performances, the latter one with flaming batons. Stengel started his
career in twirling early in life. He combined twirling with dancing and and piano lessons while in the grades at Suring,
Wis., where he got his start. Before high school he had appeared at the Wisconsin State Fair and on the stages of the
Bay and Orpheum Theaters in Green Bay, Wis. He was a regular attraction with the Green Bay city band at the age of 9.
While in high school Stenel was named to the Arion National Foundation for outstanding musical achievement. At Camp
Randall in 1947 Stengel walked off with the Wisconsin twirling title and 23rd medal at the age of 15 years. He appeared
at Chicago's giant music festival at Soldier's Field in 1948 after winning a preliminary tournament and took second place
before a crowd of 95,000. At the 1949 city centennial winter carnival at St. Paul, Stengel was alternate drum major for
the Milwaukee Railroad's Hiawatha band. ~ ~ ~ ~
Concert Program in Central Park
Bands will play in Central Park throughout band festival day. Following are the schedule of events in the park:
9:15 a. m. - Mason City Grade School Band, F. Stanley Davis, Director.
10:00 a. m. - Parade. 12:30 p. m. - Garner, Barbara Rankin, Director. 1:00 p. m. - Buffalo Center, Theodore Post,
Director. 1:30 p. m - Hampton, L. Maurice Feese, Director. 2:15 p. m. - Queens are presented from the platform.
3:15 p. m. - Kiester, Minn., Elwin Eichhorst, Director. 3:45 p. m. - Truman, Minn., John E. Berg, Director.
4:15 p. m. - Osage, Ken Carpenter, Director. ~ ~ ~ ~
BAND PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLES IN EARLY DAYS
[Section 10, Page 24] Mason City has had many bands during its century, including the Rainmakers Band, so-called
because it never failed to rain when that organization had a concert.Near the turn of the century it was the "Citizens
Band," organized in the fall of 1896 with Harry Keeler as director. Keeler had been a member of several bands since the
days he played cornet at Manly while still in knee-pants but this was the first Mason City organization of which he
was director. In the fall of 1899 an attempt was made by Capt. E. W. Clark and others of the National Guard, just
returned from the Spanish-American War, to have the Mason City unit become the regimental band. That honor fell to
Webster City, however, because it was the residence of the colonel commanding. Give Benefit Concert
A benefit concert was given April 3, 1899, by the Citizens Band at Parker's Opera House - admission, 25 cents. "A good
band is the cheapest band best 'ad' a town can have," says the program provided by Will H. Hathorn, one of the members.
"This band was organized last fall with the intention of making it a permanent organization. Instead of trying to induce
outside musicians to locate here, young men of sterling qualities from our own city were interested, thereby establishing
an organization composed of home people to get the benefit derived from the drill and training imposed at the
rehearsals. For Everybody"The program presented are not for the private delection of a
few cultured musicians, although we trust that they too will find some things of interest to them, but the main purpose
is to please the people and by pleasing the people, enlist their good will and lead them gradually to a higher plane of
musical understanding and appreciation. "We can only succeed in this most laudable enterprise through the
encouragement and kindly support of the citizens, both of which we have received so far and confidently expect in the
future." Assisted in ConcertThe band was assisted in the concert by Mrs. W. D. Allen,
soprano, and Mrs. George Bowen, contralto. W. B. Terrill was president of the band and J. W. Adams, manager. The
members included: Piccolo - "Shorty" Bowman; clarinets - Joe Dent, Joe Kennedy, Slocum, Fletch Emery, Harry Dyer, "Dad"
Sheetrz, Geyer, Oscar Sumner, Long, Smith, Charles E. Hathorn; saxophones - Henry J. Steinberg, Will Terrill, Edward
Loomer and McCleary; cornets - Harry Keeler, Lawton, Pat Cronin, Bahn, Charlie Prusia and Willis Bagley; trombones -
Burr C. Keeler, John H. Greve, Carl Smith and Rollin Duffield; baritones - Wesley Thomas and Irving Smith; horns -
Joe Adams, Johnson, William H. Hathorn and Stewart; basses - Frank Smith and Sheriff Jake Confer; drums - Ernest Hitchcock
and Cliff McMillan.
QUEENS COMING BACK
[Section 10, Page 25]
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Unless otherwise noted, photographs courtesy of The Globe-Gazette.
Some of the photographs did not scan well. In such a case the photograph has
been substituted with a clearer copy if available.
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, November & December of 2014
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