A Look Back: Historic big bands in Utah

Tribune file photo

The first band in Nephi, Utah, 1870.

Tribune file photo

This is a scan of the back side of the photo of the Huntington band listing the names of the members of the band.

Tribune file photo

This photo shows Huntington, Utah's, band in 1895. Pictured in the photo are: Back row, Milas Johnson Jr., Edward Johnson, William Green Sr., Ulysses W. Grange, Peter Johnson Jr., middle row, Charles Johnson, james V. Leonard, Amos Johnson, Louis W. Johnson, Earnest J. Grange, front row, Oliver Harmon Jr., James Johnson, Milas Wakefield and Henry A. Fowler.

The letter dated Nov. 13, 1947, is from Mrs. Gerald O. Morgan accompanied the photo of the Huntington band in this gallery. She was the daughter of band member Ulysses W. Grange. In the letter she asks that the photo be returned to her. The full text of the letter says: "Kenilworth, Utah Nov. 13, 1947. Dear sirs, The picture I am sending in is the first band organized in Huntington, Utah. It is 52 years old, and they are all dead except two. I am sure the relatives of these men will be thrilled if it should be put in the paper. There names are on the back. Also the names of the two that are still alive. I would like the picture back because my father is one of them. His name is Ulysses W. Grange and it means a great deal to me. Yours truly, Mrs. gerald O. Morgan, Kenilworth, Utah, Box 122."

Tribune file photo

Birrell's Band, 1890s. The band was officially called the Juvenile Tabernacle Choir. The band leader Henry Charles Birrell and all the members of the band were boys in their early teens.

Tribune file photo

This photo of Grantsville's band was shot on Christmas day, 1882.

Tribune file photo

The St. George College Band, 1913.

Tribune file photo

This photo of Mercur, Utah's, Junior Boys Band is from the early 1900s. A note on the back of the photo says: "About once a week the band boys would parade from the band hall up the street to a corner and give a band concert for the town's entertainment."

Tribune file photo

The Salt Lake City Police band at the 1927 Utah State Firemen's Convention in Springville, Utah.

Tribune file photo

This photo of the Mammoth Silver Band is from sometime between 1903 and 1906. The band was made up of miners.

Tribune file photo

This undated photo shows the Morgan Brass Band.

Tribune file photo

Morgan Brass band, 1902.

Tribune file photo

Park City Independent Band, 1915. The members of the band were: front row: George Gidley, Bill Blacker, Ray Bircumshaw, Alfred Blacker (leader), Willard Bircumshaw, Joe Marriott, Bill Lewis, middle row, sam Denver, Bert Thomas, Reed Johnson, Wid Bircumshaw, Tom Birbeck, jack Whitla, back row, Joe Kemp and Rex Walton.

Tribune file photo

Park City Brass Band, 1895

Tribune file photo

This undated photo shows the Walker Opera House Band.

Tribune file photo

Brigham City Military Band, 1892.

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Tribune file photo The first band in Nephi, Utah, 1870. Tribune file photo This is a scan of the back side of the photo of the Huntington band listing the names of the members of the band. Tribune file photo This photo shows Huntington, Utah's, band in 1895. Pictured in the photo are: Back row, Milas Johnson Jr., Edward Johnson, William Green Sr., Ulysses W. Grange, Peter Johnson Jr., middle row, Charles Johnson, james V. Leonard, Amos Johnson, Louis W. Johnson, Earnest J. Grange, front row, Oliver Harmon Jr., James Johnson, Milas Wakefield and Henry A. Fowler. The letter dated Nov. 13, 1947, is from Mrs. Gerald O. Morgan accompanied the photo of the Huntington band in this gallery. She was the daughter of band member Ulysses W. Grange. In the letter she asks that the photo be returned to her. The full text of the letter says: "Kenilworth, Utah Nov. 13, 1947. Dear sirs, The picture I am sending in is the first band organized in Huntington, Utah. It is 52 years old, and they are all dead except two. I am sure the relatives of these men will be thrilled if it should be put in the paper. There names are on the back. Also the names of the two that are still alive. I would like the picture back because my father is one of them. His name is Ulysses W. Grange and it means a great deal to me. Yours truly, Mrs. gerald O. Morgan, Kenilworth, Utah, Box 122." Tribune file photo Birrell's Band, 1890s. The band was officially called the Juvenile Tabernacle Choir. The band leader Henry Charles Birrell and all the members of the band were boys in their early teens. Tribune file photo This photo of Grantsville's band was shot on Christmas day, 1882. Tribune file photo The St. George College Band, 1913. Tribune file photo This photo of Mercur, Utah's, Junior Boys Band is from the early 1900s. A note on the back of the photo says: "About once a week the band boys would parade from the band hall up the street to a corner and give a band concert for the town's entertainment." Tribune file photo The Salt Lake City Police band at the 1927 Utah State Firemen's Convention in Springville, Utah. Tribune file photo This photo of the Mammoth Silver Band is from sometime between 1903 and 1906. The band was made up of miners. Tribune file photo This undated photo shows the Morgan Brass Band. Tribune file photo Morgan Brass band, 1902. Tribune file photo Park City Independent Band, 1915. The members of the band were: front row: George Gidley, Bill Blacker, Ray Bircumshaw, Alfred Blacker (leader), Willard Bircumshaw, Joe Marriott, Bill Lewis, middle row, sam Denver, Bert Thomas, Reed Johnson, Wid Bircumshaw, Tom Birbeck, jack Whitla, back row, Joe Kemp and Rex Walton. Tribune file photo Park City Brass Band, 1895 Tribune file photo This undated photo shows the Walker Opera House Band. Tribune file photo Brigham City Military Band, 1892.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· September 15, 2015 4:15 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Salt Lake Tribune occasionally presents images from its archives in a special series called A Look Back. This week's installment features photos from the Tribune archive of big bands during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Every gallery of the series is available at http://www.sltrib.com/topics/lookback.