History

Music got off to a slow start in Salem because the Quakers considered it frivolous and
even irreligious. There is a story that an old Quaker upon hearing the sound of a violin,
traced the music to its source and broke the instrument over his knee, declaring it was
sinful. Music was not unheard in the early days, though. Most traveling shows had their
own bands and many wagoners could perform on the fiddle or flute. Epic songs were
commonly sung by the young folks.

Going back to the 1870s and '80s in Salem history we find that our city had a fairly
good band. The problem was that members gradually dropped out and the organization
ceased to exist. Then, for a decade or more, Salem had many bands. They sprang up
in the spring and died in the fall. Each would solicit money from the public to buy music
and uniforms, then disband. Members would usually keep whatever band property they
had in their possesion. Citizens soon got tired of financing bands that gave little or
nothing in return, so the bands of the early 1890s were often without uniforms, and had
to play with very poor instruments. The expression "down at the heel" was used to
describe their condition.

1896 - 1900's

1910's

John W. Hundertmarck joined the Quaker City Band in 1900, as a very young man, and
in 1908, he was made its director. Under his leadership, it became one of the finest in
the State, until his resignation in 1933. Shortly after that, it disbanded until October,
1946, when a new Quaker City Band was organized under the auspices of the American
Legion with George Chappell, Jr., as director and manager, Charles Snyder, president,
and Dan Holloway, vice-president. In 1947, uniforms were purchased and the band
gave many fine concerts in Salem and neighboring towns.

1950's

In 1952, Mr. Chappell resigned, and Wayne Wilson was appointed director. Since his
untimely death the same year, Chester Brautigam (has) directed the band. They have
won a steadily increasing reputation for their musicianship, service and discipline. In
1954, after winning the state championship, they competed in Washington, D.C., in the
national American Legion Band contest and won second place. In 1955, they duplicated
their accomplishment at Miami, Florida. At this time it contained about sixty men, some
of whom were outside the community.

One of Salem's proudest moments of history happened on Saturday, Sept. 14, 1957.
On that day our Quaker City Band, under the direction of Chester M. Brautigam, won the
coveted 1957 American Legion National Championship at Atlantic City, N.J. The Band
had been runners-up the two previous years - in 1954 at Washington, D.C. and in 1955
at Miami, Florida. Now, it had finally captured top honors in strong competition at the
American Legion's national convention. For four consecutive years it held the Ohio
Legion championship.

1971-2001

Howard "Doc" Pardee became the ninth director of the American Legion Quaker City
Band, a position he held for 30 years and which resulted in the planning and
construction of the band shell at Waterworth Memorial Park. He and Earl Orashan -- his
neighbor, good friend and an architect -- enjoyed bringing their dream of this band shell
to completion. They were assisted by US Navy Seabees and many enthusiastic donors
of money, materials, equipment and labor. Later dedicated as the Orashan Memorial
Civic Center, it is now the scene of summer Sunday evening concerts by the New
Quaker City Band and other musical groups, as well as a Shakespeare-in-the-park
setting for the Community Theatre.

2006

2007