Also in 1966: Naperville Got a New Band Shell

So much happened in Naperville fifty years ago! (And we mean more than just the founding of Summer Place Theatre!) One of those happenings fits in rather well with our upcoming "Music Man" production as it was the dedication of a brand new band shell for the Municipal Band.

The band itself had quite a history already as it was established in 1859. It was first known as the Naperville Brass Band and after it regrouped at the end of the Civil War, it was renamed the Naperville Light Guard Band. In 1928, the band was officially chartered under the current name, The Naperville Municipal Band. 

In the beginning, the band played downtown on a street corner under a street light so they could still read their music in the evening. Later, they performed in a series of wooden band stands. You can see a replica of the band stand they used in 1885 at the Naper Settlement. The original band stand was torn down in the 1920’s to build a wooden band shell.

By 1963, the wooden band shell also needed to be torn down. In fact, the band members themselves started the demolition by pulling hammers out from under their chairs during their final concert while performing “Anvil Chorus.”

The band was looking forward to the summer of 1966 which would be their first season in the new cement band shell when sadly, band leader Elmer Koerner suffered a fatal heart attack. Koerner had led the band since its 1928 charter and died in November of 1965. One of his students took over as leader of the band:  a very young band teacher named Ron Keller.

The new band shell was dedicated in June of 1966 as the Elmer Koerner Band Shell. The band used that facility for many years, but the year 2000 was its turn to be condemned. The current facility includes space to store instruments and closes off for rehearsal during inclement weather with a mural-covered door that depicts highlights of the band's history. 

Fifty years later, Keller still leads the band and tenor sax player Robert Morris, who joined the band in 1966, is still playing in it. The band gives a concert every Thursday evening during the summer so try to catch a performance to get in the mood for our production of "The Music Man!"