Edited 8-8-2021 to fix misspelling of a name.
A couple years back, when I was working with the Derrick and News-Herald I stumbled upon a little story. It was one of those times I realized how much the fabric of society weaves a cloth so well that it blends into who we are.
I met Dick Eshelman.
I was told he was a member of th Silver Cornet band for 75 years.
Holy crap, I thought.
How the heck old are you?. He wasn't shy, hell, he was a piccolo player so he didn't know what shy was, he said he was just shy of 90. And he was there doing what he loved, playing in his beloved band.
His son, Tom, said Thursday night a few things that solidified how things like the Silver Cornet Band truly make a community what it is.
I met Dick Eshelman.
I was told he was a member of th Silver Cornet band for 75 years.
Holy crap, I thought.
How the heck old are you?. He wasn't shy, hell, he was a piccolo player so he didn't know what shy was, he said he was just shy of 90. And he was there doing what he loved, playing in his beloved band.
His son, Tom, said Thursday night a few things that solidified how things like the Silver Cornet Band truly make a community what it is.
"He loved this band," Tom told the crowd in Bandstand Park for the 165 anniversary of the band's founding. Dick Eshelman started playing in the band when he was 15. When he passed away last year the family had him laid out with his uniform and beloved piccolo. Those items will be forever displayed in DeBence Music Museum to honor his service to this historic band and part of Franklin culture..
He is likely the longest tenured member of the band.
Tom spoke of his dad and mom, Miriam, as being centered around the Silver Cornet band so much that they lived and breathed music.
"They were very much a big part of the fabric of this community through their support of music and the arts. So in order to continue their support, the [Eshelman] family is dedicating a new sound system for the Franklin bandstand in their memory." Tom said clearly over the new speakers.
"It's so nice to hear everything so clear way in the back," said Ronnie Beith who oversees most of the events and marketing for the city of Franklin.
He is likely the longest tenured member of the band.
Tom spoke of his dad and mom, Miriam, as being centered around the Silver Cornet band so much that they lived and breathed music.
"They were very much a big part of the fabric of this community through their support of music and the arts. So in order to continue their support, the [Eshelman] family is dedicating a new sound system for the Franklin bandstand in their memory." Tom said clearly over the new speakers.
"It's so nice to hear everything so clear way in the back," said Ronnie Beith who oversees most of the events and marketing for the city of Franklin.
During this 165th birthday celebration of the band, they decided to have their annual photograph taken by Garrett Kline. He too is a local staple providing to quality photos for many of the events. They then went on to play their usual repertoire of tunes with Peter Greene's historical renderings tossed in-beteen.
Though Eshelman's tenure is remarkable, there are many others who have dedicated years of service. Band director Terri Wittreich interrupted Peter Greene as he gave a run down of the years people in the band had been playing. She said she had been waiting a long time to hand out the 50 year membership pins to three individuals. "Come on up kids," she said to Pam Hoover, Elizabeth Young and the band's emcee and historian Peter Greene.
The Silver Cornet Band is one of the oldest community bands that still exist in the country. They have a modest but rich history filled with characters and dedicated members of Franklin's history.
There will be one more chance to hear them play before the summer wraps up on August 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Bandstand Park. If you want to feel what being apart of the historic fabric of this year having survived through a pandemic, that will be the place to be.
The Silver Cornet Band is one of the oldest community bands that still exist in the country. They have a modest but rich history filled with characters and dedicated members of Franklin's history.
There will be one more chance to hear them play before the summer wraps up on August 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Bandstand Park. If you want to feel what being apart of the historic fabric of this year having survived through a pandemic, that will be the place to be.
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