The First Catholic Band of Cambria City (Chestnut Street) is probably the oldest band still active in the city and claims to be the first Slovak organization of its kind in the United States. This picture was taken in 1900, when the band was just nine years old and Joseph Miller was the leader. In bygone days the band toured between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
That's really cool--didn't know that. Wonder if I had any musically-inclined cousins...
ReplyDeleteDebra - all your gang was busy fighting wars in far off lands...
ReplyDeleteJust the PA Dutch ones. :o) I've only got the one line of Slovaks and they're mostly a mystery to me, unfortunately. Ironic, considering they're the newest arrivals.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if my Uncle Jimmy is in that picture, he's been down there forever.
ReplyDeleteRon - if I had Photoshop - I'd paste a picture of Jimmy on all of the guys and hand it to him in person - or better yet - I wonder if they still have that post it board in the doorway - I'd sneak in and post it up there and on his car....
ReplyDeleteThat would be too funny. I have photoshop, but not sure how to transpose faces on there.
ReplyDelete(Jim) My father and grandfather belonged to this band hall. My grandfather played cards there. He would take my brother and I there for a coke after evening Mass at St. Rochus, conveniently across the street.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, who is your father and grandfather? I used to tend bar there and perhaps I know them.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if you had to be exactly Slovak to be in the band?
ReplyDeleteBarb,
ReplyDeleteAt that time you had to be slovak to be a member whether it was social or active. It wasn't really until the 70's and 80's that ethnic clubs accepted any kind of member. That was when their core base membership was dying off - it's still thay way today.
Lisa
My 2nd great grandfather Julius Babuschak is pictured in the band and holding a trumpet.
ReplyDelete