********************************************************** ROTARIANS, DO YOU KNOW...? The JTHS Band was organized in December of 1912 at the request of Mr. H.A. Stillman, then a member of the Joliet Township High School Board of Education. In 1913, A.R. McAllister, a manual training teacher who played the cornet, was asked to organize a band. Three Joliet Rotarians, who were also members of the school board, Al Oldhaver, Herb Spencer and Art Montzheimer, purchased the musical instruments and band uniforms from Rotarian George Wiswell’s Music Store. Thus, the storied band's legacy began in a manual training (industrial arts) room. Nail kegs were used for the band’s chairs, but the dreams of the group were not so humble. By January 1914, there were 18 boys in McAllister’s band and the band made its first appearance in April at a basketball game. By 1917, it was recognized as the finest high school band in the State. In 1924, the band was invited to St. Louis as the official band of the 40th district Rotary convention. If you have any stories, memories or history notes for this space, please email to Tim Brophy at: tmb777@aol.com. Thank you!
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