ALGONA HARP ORCHESTRA

Old news clippings may be my Achilles heel.  When I come across a stack of them, I just can’t resist thumbing through them in the hope that I will come across something that I haven’t seen before or that sheds light on a subject that interests me.  I happened upon one that did just that recently.  It was all about the Algona Harp Orchestra.  I had read about the orchestra playing at the opening of the Durdall Hotel in 1900, but had no idea of its history until this clipping came to light.  It reignited the spark to find out more about them.

Pat Cady, August Sterzbach, Fritz Granzow,
Mart McCall and Joe Powers

THE FORMATION OF THE ORCHESTRA

Although it is not quite clear exactly when the Algona Harp Orchestra was organized, by 1896 it was managed by August Sterzbach.  By day Sterzbach was a butter maker at the Algona creamery, but was a violinist with the group.  The harp was played by Mart McCall who was a registered pharmacist and worked at Ehlers Drug Store.  Other members included G. W. “Pat” Cady on cornet, Fritz Granzow on clarinet and another unidentified member on bass. 

The orchestra had a steady following.  They had to have an extensive repertoire of musical selections as they played at a wide variety of occasions.  The group played on a traveling “circuit.”  Travel was by train and their circuit covered a large area.  In addition to Algona, they played at all of the smaller communities in the county and cities outside the county as far away as Hampton and Ceylon, Minnesota. 

PERFORMING

No occasion was too big or too small for the ensemble.  They became a staple at

Algona Courier, October 15, 1909

store openings or holiday celebrations, special events such as the Chrysanthemum Show put on by the W.C.T.U. each November, and private parties held in local homes.  They played at the grand opening of the Durdall Hotel in 1900.  Each Thanksgiving they would furnish the music for the grand military ball held at the armory hall.  The New Year’s Eve ball was also a big community event each year at which they shared their music.

Members of the orchestra changed from time to time.  A violinist by the name of Joe Powers played with the group for a period of time.  He lived at the Durdall Hotel and the orchestra would perform at Sunday dinners at the hotel to pay for his room and board.

They often played during various stage productions presented at the Call Opera House.  The entertainment at the theatre would range from Shakesperian plays such as Othello to comedies and the harp orchestra had to be able to play whatever music was necessary for the occasion.  When playing at the Call, the group would sometimes expand to include one or more of the following:  John Scott, violin; Kate Smith, violin; Oscar Johnson, violin; Charles Nicoulin, clarinet; Moore Smith, cornet; Glen Brunson, Euphonium; Mr. Jones, cello; Mr. Kyle, French horn; Prof. Benjamin, piano; and Frank Ostrum, drums. 

Back:  Hugh R. Smith, euphonium; and Mart McCall, harp
Front:  Moore Smith, cornet; John Scott violin; Chas. Nicoulin, clarinet
Algona Advance, January 19, 1905

Dance clubs were popular at the time and most communities formed one.  The Algona version was called the Ideal Dance Club and many well-known citizens were members.  They had regular gatherings, but on several occasions each year a very special event was held.  On one occasion in February of 1904, the Algona Harp Orchestra was the musical entertainment at a Ladies’ Masque Ball in honor of Valentine’s Day held in the ballroom of the Durdall Hotel on the west end of State Street in Algona.  The grand march began at 8:30 in the evening. Over 100 people were in attendance, all clad in a variety of costumes.  Spanish girls, Indian maidens, Little Red Riding Hood, Japanese ladies, and the Queen of Spades were in attendance as well as Uncle Sam, police officers, clowns and dominos.  The crowd danced to the strains of the music offered by the Algona Harp Orchestra in the beautifully decorated ballroom until the unmasking at 10:30 p.m.  A luncheon of sandwiches, coffee, cake and ice cream followed.  Many of the more notable names in the community were members of the club – Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Chrischilles, Col. and Mrs. Robert Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Dewel, Dr. and Mrs. Sheetz, and many others.

Several times a year the group would present a sacred concert at a local church, usually the Congregational Church or the Methodist Church.  Often they would join their talents with the church choir and organ.

THE MUSIC ENDS

Members came and went.  Although the group usually consisted of five musicians, at times it would be as few as three.  The orchestra would reorganize several times through the years and others who also shared their talents with the group were Edith Bowyer Whiften, Charles Crammond, Hugh Smith, Glen Brunson and Durwood Walker. By the early 1920s, the ensemble had disbanded for the last time and the Algona Harp Orchestra was no more.

The orchestra brought a lot of enjoyment to the area during its existence.  From the most relaxed events such as a barn dance to black tie affairs at the Call Opera House, the ensemble managed to entertain audiences far and wide.  As an article published in the Algona Advance on January 19. 1905, stated, “The orchestra have a fine repertoire of music and are constantly receiving all the late popular pieces as fast as they are published.  Our citizens are, and should be, proud that Algona possesses a musical organization of such rare merit.”

Until next time,

Jean

If you enjoyed this post, please don’t forget to “like” and SHARE to Facebook.  Not a Facebook user?  Sign up with your email address in the box on the right to have each post sent directly to you.

Be sure to visit the KCHB Facebook page for more interesting info about the history of Kossuth County, Iowa.

Reminder:  The posts on Kossuth County History Buff are ©2015-16 by Jean Kramer.  Please use the FB “share” feature instead of cutting/pasting.