From the minutes of the Washington Band
1856 – Nine men from Annville, under the leadership of John Henning, organize the Washington Cornet Band of Annville. The band of brass instruments rehearsed in the Washington House tavern at the west end of town, hence the name.
1858 – Washington Silver Cornet Band was incorporated.
1861-1863 – 2 members are lost during the Civil War.
1876 – The band is reorganized by Levi Sheffy.
1876 – The band performs in Philadelphia. During the trip, instruments and uniforms are damaged, and injuries are sustained by band member Joseph Reinhard.
1877 – Band passes motion that a notice be put up in the practice hall – ‘No smoking until after practice’.
1877 – Band plays for commencement services at Lebanon Valley College.
1878 – Band performs at the Perseverence Band Fair on ‘Whitmonday’ (June 10), and later that summer performs at the Avon Park Band Tournament.
1879 – First evidence (in the minutes) that woodwinds are in the band – specifically clarinets.
1880 – Band votes to march in the Lebanon Parade, and if any band member gets drunk during or after the parade while in uniform, they will be expelled.
1881 – Band pays $35.00 for a wagon.
1856 – Nine men from Annville, under the leadership of John Henning, organize the Washington Cornet Band of Annville. The band of brass instruments rehearsed in the Washington House tavern at the west end of town, hence the name.
1858 – Washington Silver Cornet Band was incorporated.
1861-1863 – 2 members are lost during the Civil War.
1876 – The band is reorganized by Levi Sheffy.
1876 – The band performs in Philadelphia. During the trip, instruments and uniforms are damaged, and injuries are sustained by band member Joseph Reinhard.
1877 – Band passes motion that a notice be put up in the practice hall – ‘No smoking until after practice’.
1877 – Band plays for commencement services at Lebanon Valley College.
1878 – Band performs at the Perseverence Band Fair on ‘Whitmonday’ (June 10), and later that summer performs at the Avon Park Band Tournament.
1879 – First evidence (in the minutes) that woodwinds are in the band – specifically clarinets.
1880 – Band votes to march in the Lebanon Parade, and if any band member gets drunk during or after the parade while in uniform, they will be expelled.
1881 – Band pays $35.00 for a wagon.
College Avenue, Annville, PA – 1883
1888 – Band buys an ‘Organ Box’ to keep the torches for concerts.
1889 – Band buys new white ‘pantaloons’ for Decoration Day.
1894 – Band votes to disband, citing lack of support from the community. However, the minutes continue the next week like nothing ever happened.
1899 – Band buys a clarinet from J. W. Pepper for $2.30.
Bellegrove, PA – 1900
1900 – Band has a ‘trolley party’.
1906 – Joseph Carmany is elected musical director. Carmany would remain the musical director for 45 years, from 1906 through the end of the 1951 concert season.
1906 – Joseph Carmany is elected musical director. Carmany would remain the musical director for 45 years, from 1906 through the end of the 1951 concert season.
Fredericksburg, PA – 1908
1908 – Band votes to prohibit both smoking and chewing tobacco during practice.
1909 – First mention of a telephone in the practice hall.
1909 – Band plays at Hershey Park on August 28 for the Daughters of America.
1910 – Band puts electric lights in their practice hall.
1912 – Band provides music for dancing at ‘Kramer’s Hall’.
1912 – Band accompanies Lebanon Valley College football team for a game in Myerstown.
1913 – Band votes to not allow smoking in the band hall starting in 1914.
1914 – Band elects Alfred Mills president of the band, even though he is not present at the meeting.
1914 – Band plays for Rocherty Church picnic for the first time.
1909 – First mention of a telephone in the practice hall.
1909 – Band plays at Hershey Park on August 28 for the Daughters of America.
1910 – Band puts electric lights in their practice hall.
1912 – Band provides music for dancing at ‘Kramer’s Hall’.
1912 – Band accompanies Lebanon Valley College football team for a game in Myerstown.
1913 – Band votes to not allow smoking in the band hall starting in 1914.
1914 – Band elects Alfred Mills president of the band, even though he is not present at the meeting.
1914 – Band plays for Rocherty Church picnic for the first time.
Post Office, Lebanon, PA – 1918
1919 – Band votes to stop fining members for missing rehearsals.
1920 – Band moves rehearsals to basement of Odd Fellows Lodge.
1923 – Band moves rehearsals to above the present-day Allen Theatre.
1925 – Band buys a Chevrolet truck for $700.00.
1920 – Band moves rehearsals to basement of Odd Fellows Lodge.
1923 – Band moves rehearsals to above the present-day Allen Theatre.
1925 – Band buys a Chevrolet truck for $700.00.
North Hall, LVC, Annville, PA – 1931
1931 – Band purchases Zeller’s Implement Shop and moves rehearsals to its new home. This building remains the band’s home to this day.
1933 – Band secures licquor license for the Social Club to sell drinks.
1937 - A kitchen and a beer cellar are installed in the basement of the band hall.
1939 – Band buys some Bach instruments from Loser’s Music.
1933 – Band secures licquor license for the Social Club to sell drinks.
1937 - A kitchen and a beer cellar are installed in the basement of the band hall.
1939 – Band buys some Bach instruments from Loser’s Music.
North Hall, LVC, Annville, PA – 1940
1940 – Band purchases a sound system.
1942-1944 – Band sends candy and other items to its members serving overseas during World War II.
1948 – Band votes that the President give members a warning who were drunk at a previous engagement.
1951 - Raymond Deaven defeats Joseph Carmany as director of the Washington Band – 20 votes to 5. Deaven would continue as the band’s director from 1952 through the 1980 concert season.
1942-1944 – Band sends candy and other items to its members serving overseas during World War II.
1948 – Band votes that the President give members a warning who were drunk at a previous engagement.
1951 - Raymond Deaven defeats Joseph Carmany as director of the Washington Band – 20 votes to 5. Deaven would continue as the band’s director from 1952 through the 1980 concert season.
Lebanon Valley College – 1956
1956 – Band celebrates its 100th anniversary with a concert at the Hill Church grove.
1957 – First time that the minutes mention women in the band. However, there is photographic evidence of women earlier in its history, at least as vocalists with the band.
1966 – Band purchases a 1964 Ford van to use for engagements. The van is used through the 2010 concert season.
1975 – Band decides to allow women into the Social Club, after a committee figures out how to create a men’s and women’s bathroom.
1957 – First time that the minutes mention women in the band. However, there is photographic evidence of women earlier in its history, at least as vocalists with the band.
1966 – Band purchases a 1964 Ford van to use for engagements. The van is used through the 2010 concert season.
1975 – Band decides to allow women into the Social Club, after a committee figures out how to create a men’s and women’s bathroom.
Lebanon Valley College - 1980
1981 – Bill Lemon is appointed director. Lemon would direct the band from 1981 through the 1986 seasons, and again from 1990 through the 1995 seasons.
1987 – Harlan Daubert is appointed director. Daubert would lead the band from 1987 through the 1988 season.
1987 – Band members are reminded that there is no smoking during rehearsals.
1989 – John Grumbine is appointed director of the band. Grumbine would lead the band for the 1989 season.
1990 – Bill Lemon returns as director of the band. Lemon would serve through the 1995 season.
1991 – Band votes to not allow smoking during rehearsals.
1992 – After much financial and legal trouble, the band closes the Social Club.
1996 – Mike Yeagley is appointed musical director. Yeagley continues to lead the band to the present.
1996 – Band plays its first known Christmas Concert at the Allen Theatre.
2001 – Band performs at Hersheypark for a fundraiser for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
2006 – Band performs a 150th Anniversary Concert at Miller Chapel on the campus of Lebanon Valley College.
2011 – Band purchases a new van.
1987 – Harlan Daubert is appointed director. Daubert would lead the band from 1987 through the 1988 season.
1987 – Band members are reminded that there is no smoking during rehearsals.
1989 – John Grumbine is appointed director of the band. Grumbine would lead the band for the 1989 season.
1990 – Bill Lemon returns as director of the band. Lemon would serve through the 1995 season.
1991 – Band votes to not allow smoking during rehearsals.
1992 – After much financial and legal trouble, the band closes the Social Club.
1996 – Mike Yeagley is appointed musical director. Yeagley continues to lead the band to the present.
1996 – Band plays its first known Christmas Concert at the Allen Theatre.
2001 – Band performs at Hersheypark for a fundraiser for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
2006 – Band performs a 150th Anniversary Concert at Miller Chapel on the campus of Lebanon Valley College.
2011 – Band purchases a new van.
Annville-Cleona High School - 2013