The Western Musician, June, 1904

Fort Dodge can claim the honor of having among her residents some of the distinguished musical talent of the United States, and beside one or more institutions for the training of those who desire musical or vocal instruction.  The 56th Regiment band, stationed in Fort Dodge, is a hummer, and gives a street concert each Friday evening.  We expect to furnish one of their excellent programs in our next letter.

The Western Musician, July, 1904

In musical circles all seem quiet and not much doing, although the 56th Regiment Band keeps quite busy.  On June 22, 23, and 24 they played at Guthrie, 18 men.  On July 4, the band played at Eagle Grove with 30 men.  at this place there was a large celebration and the band boys did themselves much honor.  The 56th Regiment Band now numbers 34 men, and all are uniformed in new suits of regulation make, furnished by the Western Uniform Company of Chicago.  The annual encampment of the 56th Regiment, Iowa National Guard, occurs at Des Moines, Ia., July 14 to 21.  The boys expect to return from the encampment bringing many laurels, as this is considered one of the best if not the best band in the national guard of the state.

On September 3 the 56th Regiment band leave for the exposition at St. Louis, where they have an engagement for ten days as the official escort of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Sunday, July 3, the band gave a sacred concert at Olson Park from 2 to 5 o'clock.  Sixteen men from this band will play at the county fair at Fonda, Iowa, August 3, 4, and 5.

One of the attractions of this band at home this summer is their Friday night open air concerts.  As announced in our letter last month, we herewith give one of their recent programs, rendered July 1:

The Western Musician, August, 1904

The 56th Regiment Band, Iowa National Guard, was organized in February, 1900, and mustered into service in June, 1902.  Today it is one of the best bands in the state, if not the best.  This band has recently returned from regimental camp at Des Moines, where from all reports, many laurels were added to their already handsome bouquet.  On September 3 the boys go to St. Louis for an eight-day stand as the official escort of the Modern Woodmen of America.  The band has an itinerary of thirty-four members, but the full compliment were not present at Camp.  The accompanying photo gives the personnel of the band as photographed by a Musician represntative after dress parade and shows their new uniforms.

Clarinets - Carl Quist (Eb), Claude Schaffner, T.B. Kershaw, C.P. Bechtel, Ray Brown, Jay Swain, James T. Watson
Piccolo - O. Grant Mason
Cornets - M.P. McDermott, Joe McGinnis, Gilbert Pray, Carl Bechtel, C.S. Carey
Trombones - Ned S. Young, W. Sproul, J. August Luidquest, Fred Chiquet, Fred Schamp
Baritones - F.R. Prauge, Henry Sharfenberg
Horns - A.C. Smith, C.H. Habenicht
Basses - Guy C. Watson, F.F. Rogers, Emil Loescher, A.R. Hutchison
Drums - J. Lee Porter, Frank Bennet, G.W. Tremain
Drum Major - Lon C. Pray
Unknown - Fred Loeber, Geo. H. Bishop, Ed C. Webber

The Western Musician, September, 1904

The 56th Regiment Band, Iowa National Guard, left Fort Dodge, September 3 for a ten days' sojourn at the St. Louis fair, going as special escort to the Modern Woodmen of America.  There were thirty-five of the boys in line as they marched to the train, clad in new uniforms.  The boys on their return will be welcomed in appropriate manner by admiring friends, as it expected they will reflect credit on their home town during the sojourn in the Anheuser-Busch city.  At the last concert previous to their departure the following program was rendered to an audience of more than one thousand people: