West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Top row, left to right: Robert Bretting, Louis Bothell, George Wolters, Bernice Reid, Max DeMarce, Dale Christison, John Reid, Dorothy Kleinert, Floyd Bothell, Pauline Hendricks, Helen Barnhart, Robert Preiss, Leslie Schooley.

Second row, left to right : Betty Lee Leonard, drum major, Mary Edith Kirby, Virginia Smith, Gaylord Wilson, Willard Henderson, Margaret Carey, Virginia Huskins, Leota Maurer, Inez McMahon, Jane Buckman, Catherine Brooke, Kathryn Sneeringer, Bernie Knudsen, director.

Bottom row, left to right : Russell Orr, Calvin Maxson, Carl Geertz, Billy Pagel, Lester Henderson, Marjorie Morris, Lois Kaylor, Dorothy Holmes, Juanita Wilson, Bernice Schaapveld, Darlene Wachs.

************

The West Liberty School has had instrumental music for a number of years but according to records, in the fall of 1926 Miss Lois Gill established the first definite orchestra that led to the modern music development. December 1, 1927 the first practice was held for a school band , under the direction of Elmer Zeigler and it made its first appearance April 4, 1928. In 1930 Mr. Zeigler was hired by the board to give lessons one day a week and instructions were free to the students. The band was organized and the following officers were elected : Mabel Hormel,president; Cecil Wilkins, vice-president, Francis Jack, secretary. Lela Ridenour, Juanita Jack and Esther Stafford followed in office the following semester.

Concerts at Kimberly Park, Morning Sun, football games, and entrance to the state contest at DeWitt seems to have been the activities carried on. Mr. Zeigler was here for four years, and made a very definite step toward instrumental development.

In 1932 Mr. Wenger was hired by the school board to give free instruction one day a week. He remained here for two years.

There were no band activities in 1934 or 1935.

In 1936 a determined board led by Supt. K. C. Smith decided that instrumental music was too important to be left out of a school's curriculum, so for the first time in our school's history instrumental music was given the place of other curricular subjects. Mr. Seltenrich was given a full time job of reorganizing our school band and did a fine piece of work.

In 1937 the board elected Mr. Bernie Knudsen, a graduate of Iowa State Teachers College as band director and a regular member of the high school faculty. During 1937 and 1938 the band was brought back to prominence in school activities and many inovations were begun under Mr. Knudsen's guidance; outstanding of which are, the marching band, the concert band, the brass sextette, Clarinet quartette and such soloists as Betty Lee Leonard, John Reid and Dorothy Kleinert.

During the last twelve weeks of this year instrumental instruction has been given to the 4th, 5th and 6th grades of the West Building.

Band Mother's Organization

A Band Mother's organization was started in the fall of 1937 under the leadership of Mrs. Margaret Jack and Director Knudsen.
The climax to this year's work of fund-raising activities came when the order was given for uniforms for the band.

---