The 1955 Band Trip to New York
This story started in 1954 when the band of Knightstown High School practiced all summer long to compete in the Band Day at the State Fair in August. We worked very hard - early morning and then in the evening. Many people came out (mostly in the evening) to stand along the streets and watch the practices. It was hot and muggy, but when you are in high school, none of that seems to make a huge difference. We approached the State Fair as a competition that was serious and took a lot of work. When the big day came, the only other band in the State of Indiana that was judged better than our band was Muncie Central. We came in second, but were not disappointed. After the competition, Muncie Central was asked if they wanted to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC in the spring, or if they wanted to go to New York to the Grand Conclave of the Masonic Lodge. Happily, Muncie Central went to the Cherry Blossom Festival.
One man in our town, Willard Avery, was the top person (or one of them) in the Masonic Lodge and he arranged for us to go on the trip to New York in the summer of 1955. There were many people involved in getting the whole thing off the ground. Of course, there was the band director, Wilburn Elrod, but his job was getting the band ready. Other citizens took charge of many of the details. The one that stands out in my mind is Norman Reeves. Somehow, the leaders of the community took it upon themselves to start fund raising because we had to pay our own way. The men and women involved made arrangement for the bus to take us, someone else got a rebuilt hearse donated to carry the uniforms and instruments, the people at the hearse company painted the vehicle red and black and they lettered it “Knightstown High School Band.” What a sight that was coming down the street in school colors. Someone else had to make all the hotel and meal arrangements and we band members had to do a lot of work to raise money. We had bake sales, sold stuff, did car washes and I don’t remember everything else we did.
However, what is striking about this trip and being in the mid-50’s, is that it wasn’t just a band trip - it was a complete town effort. There were people that made sure there were plenty of chaperones, people who made tours possible, and others who worked in the background to make sure everything ran smoothly. There were several parents who made the trip with their families - I know my Dad decided to take the rest of my family because he said if his daughter was going to march down 5th Avenue, he was going to be there to see it.
We traveled all night and when we got to New York City, we were amazed. I don’t think any of us had ever been in a city like that before and we were in awe. We got all our stuff in the hotel and then the fun started. We got to do all the regular tourist stuff - like the Empire State Building, China Town, etc. Our meals were excellent and we acted like tourists, but we were warned to behave ourselves. I think that the actual parade was on a week night evening and it was very long. We had our pictures taken, people cheered and clapped and quite frankly, nothing like that would probably happen to any of us again. I think besides being in the parade, the highlight of the trip was on our last day there. Arrangements had been made for us to board a ship that held more people than live in Knightstown, and we went up the Hudson River to West Point Academy and toured. I’ll never forget that part of the trip. We were all very impressed and it was so military, but above all, it was absolutely beautiful up there. On the way back from West Point I think some of us realized that we were homesick and were very ready to board our bus and come back down to earth after such a whirlwind trip.
I don’t know how many high school kids will ever have an experience as unique as this one was and how grateful we all were to be able to participate. I know this is just a short narrative, but it is what stands out in my mind. If you have other particular memories of that week, feel free to add to the information. I just remember how strongly the town pulled together and made it possible for us and sometimes we miss the togetherness that the trip represented.
Pat Nicholas - July 31, 2007
