A Musical Community

From its beginning, Millinocket has been a musical community…bands, choirs, soloists and more. The earliest schools presented musical events, there was a town band. There were musical stars and other music performances at the ballfield. Music was a large part of everything happening in the booming town and down through the years.

In the early days, Millinocket was isolated and the first “music stars” were locals. In 1901, there were several people offering music lessons (voice and pianoforte).

Each of the churches had a choir. The Laverty book states that “one day five pianos arrived in town. Rufus Buffalo Stanchfield was a busy salesman, promoting McPhail pianos out of Bangor.”

            A town band was organized in 1903 under the leadership of Ray Harlow. This band participated in local parades, gave concerts at the bandstand and at various activities through the years. The bandstand was donated to the town by GNP in 1928 and for many years weekly summer concerts were held there

            For a time in the early days, musical talent was brought in from New York. Chapman Concerts were held at the local Pavillion (building located in large area along Central St. across from current museum to Millinocket Stream). Chapman concerts brought accomplished musicians to town and they also featured local talent… Emma Gonya, Margaret Flanagan, and Ruby Tree and others. The Chautauqua educational programs were also popular. They performed in a huge tent on the ball field where locals could listen to “fine music” and lectures.

            The first school band was named the George W. Stearns band and information appears in the 1928 SHS yearbook The writer was talking to a stranger at some local event…these are his words. “Yes, that is our band. The conductor is Mr. Noyes, who is the organizer. It isn’t an experienced band at all, in fact, it has only been in existence a

year. Yes, we think it’s a winner. Aren’t those suits stunning!” The writer continues… “Through the influence of Mr. O’Connell, the town voted $500 to be used for a band. Mr. Noyes was secured as director and teacher. Rehearsals are held every Thursday night and in June they made their first appearance at assembly. Last fall they played at some football games and we sure did feel collegiate when we paraded behind the football team to the athletic field. This fall the town voted money for the new suits they are wearing for the first time tonight. Aren’t they snappy!”

            In the late 1930’s, Angelo Tsika joined the music department at SHS. He created a marching band which participated in local parades and in 1954 represented Maine in the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. In the 1940’s, there was an attempt to bring classical music concerts to town, but that was short-lived.

            In the early 1960’s, members of different clubs and organizations got together and staged a play or two. By 1964, The Millinocket Players were formed and through the years presented many stage shows, an early one was The Mikado. Their musicals were popular and included shows like The Music Man, Camelot and Showboat. These were presented by men, women and children from the local tri-town area.

            Millinocket, though somewhat isolated in the early years, found ways to provide music and entertainment to the people of the Magic City!

1928 SHS band