Trending
If you can imagine, a time before radio and television, how did people entertain themselves? Well, they sang and played instruments. Upon the arrival of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the North West Territory, in 1788, he was received with a chorus of voices. Marietta College had a band and Mozart Society that gave concerts by the 1840s. St. Luke's Episcopal Church claimed to have the first organ in 1843 and the first musical club. The Little German Band led Washington County recruits in parade as they departed for the Civil War in 1861.
Music, concerts, and parades were common events all over Washington County. In Lowell, a bandstand was built along the canal in the late 1800s to accommodate performances. Concerts by the Lowell Band were so well attended that sometimes they had to move from the bandstand to the nearby Opera House. The Stanleyville Band was organized after World War I and the players used their uniforms as band attire.
The Marietta Band traveled up and down the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers to perform in towns and parades. The tradition of the local band appealed to musical families with the players often being fathers and sons passing down the love of music. Band concerts were held in the East Muskingum Park to great crowds. Daniel Becker Sr., Carl Becker, Daniel Becker Jr., Jacob Mueller, Jacob Becker, and Louis Mueller were given most credit for the band's organization. The photograph shows the band on the road for a performance at Steubenville in 1888. Most of the players were of German descent. The inspiration to form a band occurred after the 1854 visit of the traveling Little German Band that arrived by steamboat. This band, mostly the Schlicher family, had left Germany in 1852. The Becker family brought great distinction to the musical community. Carl Becker remembered the 1880s as the "golden age" when his father, brothers, and sisters played before a variety of audiences. Daniel Becker Sr. led the family and tutored many young musicians in Washington County. The men played string and horn instruments, while the women played piano. Daniel Becker Jr. was known nationally for his mastery of the flute. The Marietta Orchestra provided culture and entertainment for many years while performing at the grand Auditorium on the second floor of city hall. This opera house seated 1,500 people. The large stage allowed for a variety of local productions as well as traveling professional groups. One of the biggest events of the year was the musical program of 125 trained voices and the orchestra performing the Messiah. Later, this performance was held at The Hippodrome under the direction of Marietta College. The 2023 97th annual Messiah will be held at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption.
H. L. Theis, musician and composer for over 50 years, was associated with the Marietta Band and Orchestra. His daughter, Corinne, wrote the song, "Orange and Black" for Marietta High School.
Near the corner of Seventh and Ephraim Cutler Streets, the Thomas H. Cisler home opened its doors for the annual The Marietta Back Society concert honoring the music of German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Thomas Cisler, of local brickyard fame, formed the society about 1923. It met each month to read and play music with Lillian, his daughter, featured in playing the Cisler pipe organ. Lillian E. Cisler continued the Marietta Back Society until 1993.
Jann K. Adams is a WCHS member. To learn more about the Washington County Historical Society services and membership call 740-373-1788 or visit wchshistory.org.