Our Past Is Present May 26, 2017

May 26, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Our “Community Band” will be playing free band concerts at the Opera House every Sunday at 7:00 PM and admission is free.  We hope you will plan to attend and enjoy the music played by our local musicians in the air condition comfort of the C.L. Hoover Opera House located at the corner of Seventh and Jefferson Streets in Junction City.

            Today’s story is about the early beginnings of summer band concerts.

            It seems that in early June of 1912 at a meeting of local businessmen someone suggested that an effort be made to secure the two Fort Riley bands to alternate in giving weekly concerts in the City Park during the summer.  The suggestions met with hearty approval and it was decided to circulate a petition asking the two bands to give the proposed concerts.   Although summer band concerts had not been held for several years, it felt this would be a good idea. With the Sixth Field Artillery and Thirteenth Cavalry Bands stationed at Fort Riley, the weekly concerts would be made a big feature and would attract many people from the surrounding countryside into town on Friday nights.

            The petition was to be circulated at once and then be presented to the authorities at Fort Riley.  During the summer the Post Bands were in great demand in other towns in the state for fairs, chautauquas and other attractions, so each band made several trips each summer and were not able to accept all offers.  In case permission was obtained, there would be a small charge to defray expenses so the band could play in Junction City.