The following article appeared in The Sheridan Settler publication of 1954, which commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Town of Sheridan’s first recorded settlement. Although Sheridan no longer has an organized town band, music is still in the air this summer. A community band concert is planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 27th at the town’s Municipal Complex. Plan on tapping your feet to some classic Sousa marches! Historical Society volunteers will also be selling hot dogs and beverages for those interested.
From The Sheridan Settler, 1954
A generation and a half ago Sheridan had many native musicians and took justifiable pride in its well-organized and colorfully outfitted band which led every Memorial Day parade and performed on various occasions.
Brother Odd Fellows [from the Sheridan chapter of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows] also boasted of an orchestra with Henry Miller playing the “fiddle,” Alfred DeLand the “bass viol,” Will Craswell the flute, Will Johnson the trombone and John Griswold adding harmonizing chords on the piano.
Barn dances, the popular amusement of that period, were well patronized on Saturdays. The town furnished its own musicians and callers for these occasions.
Little Edith DeLand went to Dunkirk one Saturday night with her father. They were unusually late in getting home. The only explanation which was forthcoming that night was that the berries hadn’t sold well and peddling had taken more time than usual.
The next morning strange noises were heard in the kitchen. First there was a stomping of small feet, then a childish shout, followed by more stomping. Mother went to investigate. Upon questioning, Edith explained that the night before on their way home from Dunkirk Papa and she had stopped at the Newell homestead where there were some musicians and a lot of people. Papa was urged to stay. First he would holler some silly thing and all the people would hop one way. Then he shouted something else, and everyone hopped in another direction. It was great fun, and Edith was merely showing her little sister how it was done. Needless to say Edith did not accompany her father on his next Saturday night trip to Dunkirk.
