Our Past Is Present July 10, 2018

July 10, 2018

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

            Today’s story comes from an article written by Gaylynn Childs, our former Executive Direct and was taken from the book available at the Museum titled Set In Stone.

            In October of 1904, building and development was taking place all over town and at Fort Riley.  Construction was soon to begin on a new St. Xavier’s Catholic Church, and the new high school at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets had just opened.  However, the big news in Junction City that month in 1904 was the appearance of John Philip Sousa and his band at the Opera House.  Sousa and his band had performed in Junction City in 1902, however, the 1904 performance was to be a matinee concert only at 3:00 PM on October 7^th.  The group would arrive by train at 2:00 PM, perform at the Opera House and depart immediately to go to Salina where the musicians would spend the night. 

            John Phillip Sousa’s father was a Portuguese immigrant born in Spain and had been a trombone player in the U.S. Marine Band.  His mother was born in Bavaria.  John was born in 1854 and was the 3^rd of 10 children. 

            John began his career at age 17 playing in theater and dance orchestras and touring with a variety show while he (like his father) maintained his affiliation with the Marine Band and was the conducted the Band from 1880 until 1892.  Under Sousa’s baton, the band played frequently at the White House and the Capitol for state dinners, receptions and other diplomatic and public affairs.