Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1917 — Rensselaer to Lose Band; Loss of Membership Reason. [ARTICLE]

Rensselaer to Lose Band; Loss of Membership Reason.

That Rensselaer is to lose her band in the immediate future is almost a certainty. The organization which has given the citizens of the county such splendid entertainment during, the past six or seven years will no doubt pass out of existence with the close of the regular band concert season, two weeks hence. The only method of procedure to be adopted, if we are to have concerts next summer, is the addition of new material to fill the gaps caused by the departure of many of the members. If a sufficient number of young men could be obtained to fill the ranks and. given training during the coming winter months the local organization could be saved. At present there are but nine members in the organization and some of these are to leave the city very soon. Despite the fact that there are so few members, the concerts during the past several weeks have been very good and the young men are deserving of much credit. The present Rensselaer band was organized about seven years ago by the late Otto Braun and grew to healthy proportions, there being at one time about thirty members. Dur ing the past year, however, owing to many of the members leaving the city the numbers had dwindled until the surviving members find it very hard to keep up the former enthusiasm and also to make the progress that is so much desired. The present professor, Mr. Wolfe, of Wolcott, would no doubt "be glad to break in new members during the winter mdnths and it is probable an attempt along this line will be made. A town without a band is in sad straits indeed, and it would certainly be too bad if Rensselaer was not to be represented by a musical organization. f / —