1891 Los Gatos City Band in Uniform

Name/Title

1891 Los Gatos City Band in Uniform

Entry/Object ID

PAR022

Description

The Los Gatos City Band had its ups and downs. Organized in 1883, it dissolved in 1885 "due to financial constraints." In the following years, it was reorganized and dissolved several more times. The man standing in the middle of the back row is probably Miles Pepper, brother of William A. Pepper, proprietor of the Union Meat Market on Main Street. Miles served as Drum Major for the band. On July 4, 1891, while making deliveries for his brother's market, he was killed by a train when his horses panicked at the sound of the whistle and ran across the tracks in front of the oncoming engine. The band headed the funeral cortege for Miles, which was about three-quarters of a mile long. Reorganized yet again in 1905, "the boys" met for practice in the old stone mill and later at the Hose House, using their own instruments. Although their uniforms were spectacular, their musicianship was of mixed competence. Nevertheless, they performed concerts at the Post Office, the El Monte Hotel, the Lyndon Hotel, the Ford Opera House, and Bunker Hill Park. Zephyr Macabee is in the second row, fourth from left. PAR022

Collection

Parades

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1891

Dimensions

Height

19 cm

Width

22 cm

Location

* Untyped Location

Los Gatos Public Library

Copyright

Notes

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