Our Pioneer Heritage

"Pioneers in Picture and Story"

Tooele - Most pioneer communities tried to organize a brass band. Tooele was no exception, and when their band leader finally moved to Idaho, the colonists felt that an important part of their entertainment was missing. Then Alvin McCuistion asked each former band member to donate thirty dollars and the band was reorganized and additional instruments were purchased. Alvin McCuistion and John M. Shields played first cornet; Dr. F. M. Davis and Robert McLaws, second cornet; Solomon Isgree, alto; Nels Johnson, bass horn; Sam Johnson, clarinet; Frank Beesley, trombone; Herbert Vowles, tenor born; John Marsden, piccolo; James Kirk, cymbals; Richard Henwood and Tohn Fraser were bass drummers; Robert M. Shields, snare drums. William H. Elkington, James Gollaher and William H. Vowles were also members.

On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the band customarily serenaded the citizens, and were sometimes invited in for refreshments. They always stopped at Volenvider's, where they were served food prepared in the prettiest kitchen in town; with intricate woodcarvings on cupboards and woodwork, it looked like a kitchen brought over from old Switzerland.

Ofttimes wine was served, and the men going from house to house sometimes became overly filled with a variety of things.

A story is told that one time they went to a home where they were served dried-peach pie. The filling lacked sufficient sugar, and the crust was a little tough. When no one was looking, several of the band members slipped the remainder of their pie into the big bass horn. Nels Johnson did not see them do this, so when they were about to leave, he said, "Let us play one more time for these good people." "No, it is too late," one of them said. He persisted, but when he blew into the horn, no sound came out. Puzzled, he turned the horn upside down and out poured the pieces of pie.

The band never again received an invitation to partake of refreshments in that home.