The Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 78from Seaforth", lie liad all the
fun and I got all the notoriety!
Soon after a young pilot came
over to our table and asked to and was going to talk to his father
speak to me. It turned out that he in Montreal that night and he,
wasthe son of Bill Chapman (Continued on Page. 6)
The 33rd Regiment Battallion Band, before W.W. I
Remember the battle of /Duncan's CrosWag?
Seaforth bands have glorious history .
(By Frank C. J. Sills)
Over the years very little has
been said about the bands and
people whirperformed in Seaforth
so I thought I'd attempt to put on
paper some of, the information
derived from hearsay and also 34
years- experience as a member of
the now defunct Seaforth
Highlanders.
Seaforth has a rich musical
heritage , that started' 'in the
obscure past right up to the
present where it is still carried on
by the High School Trumpet Band
and a recent attempt to revive a
Citizens Band.
I'm not certain of the origins of
the bands but early on they had
several prior to 1871. In that year
a Mr. Chisolm was bandmaster of
a Citizens Band. Iwthe 1880's the
Citizens Band and the Salvation
Army Band were very active and
competitiv e. So much so • that
there were hard feelings between,
them.
Speaking to Bert Cluff one day
he told, me of the great rivalry
between the two organizations
with each trying to outdo the
other. It developed into an actual
fight that Bert referred to as the
battle of Duncan's Crossing
having taken place at the-torner
of Gouilock and -Main, Streets
where the Dominion Bank is now
4
located. Bert was just a young lad
and actually witnessed the fray.
Battle
It seems that both bands were
out that evening - the Town Band
performing near the corner on
Main Street when the Salvation
Army Band came around the
corner. Finding the rival in their
way they lost no time in lowering
• their banners and marching
through the other organization.
The result was a wild melee of
fists flying and instruments going
in all directions. Some of Bert's
recollections were •seeing our
grandfather (George A.) rushing
out of Johnsons Hardware (where
Stewart Bros. are now located)
and making a frantic effort to pull
sh#t the iron shutters over the
gtass windows in order that they
wouldn't be broken. Spectators
got into the act and he recalled
that Mra vidson came rushing
up from the Commercial Hotel to
see what was going on. Spotting
him, some malcontent, who had
probably been refused drinking
privileges at the hotel, took the
opportunity of sneaking up
behind him and giving him • a
terrific belt over the head with a
stick with the result that Mr.
Davidson was knocked colder
than a cucumber. All in alt it must
have been quite a fracas and not
performed in the harominious
cords you would expect from a
meeting of musicians.
Official Band
Seaforfh's musical talent was
such that it became the official
band of the 33rd Regiment and
carried out this function for many
years until the beginning of
World War .I when many of the
members entered and went
overseas with the 16st Battalion
as their- Battalion Band,
Some of the early members of
the 33rd Regiment Band around
1891 were Tommy. Scott, Malcolm
McLeod, Frank Faulkner, the
Murray boys, Billy Freemand and
Mr,. Anderson. I believe one of
the leaders was a Charles Stewart
who came here _from New York
and was an accomplished clarinet
player. Naturally there were other
leaders and I' feel that Harry
Hinchley of Pembroke could
supply some of the names. One
other leader was William
Chapman Sr. who had the
monument works. His son Bill
was the leader of the 161st
Battalion Band. I learned this
particular information by
accident.
About 8 years ago I Was part of
a group of members of Boards of
Governors and staff -that had a
"Think-In" at the Skyline Motel
in Toronto.-In the evening one of
the professors and myself decided
to relax by dropping in to the
hotel bar where Diamond Lil was
performing. She spotted my
companion and asked him to
come up on the stage and sing a,
cosy duet with her. When it was
over she asked over the mike
what his name was. He being a
quick thinker said "Frank Sills
BEST WISHES
Seaforth
on your
100 Years of Progress
We have served the
FULL SELECTION
of
WORK BOOTS. & SHOES
SAFETY & REGULAR
PUNCTURE RESISTANT SOLES
We can Service any Shoes we Sell
community for
60 Years
ove\
JACK THOMPSON'S
th
GRAVE S FOOT EAR SERVICE
WALLPAPER and PAINT
enjamin Moore Paints — Sunworthy W Up
Phone 627=6566 Seaforth
8 MAIN ST. SEAFORTH
Service also by appointment.
;,:::•:;ak,•;:;;;Aat.VSM,
THE 0-IURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 26, 1975 —5
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