Emergence in Action

The year was 1838 and two new settlers were interested in homesteading in Hickory Grove (Rochelle). Sheldon Bartholomew and Willard Flagg approached John Randall and offered to buy his land claim along the Kyte creek near an established Indian trail (South Main Street). The Randall cabin sat just north of Kyte creek and east of todays South Main Street. For a short time Bartholomew and Flagg lived in the Randall cabin together. In 1839 they split the claim, Bartholomew took all of the land north of the creek and Flagg took the land to the south.
In the cool of the evening Willard Flagg would take his bugle down to the creek. He would stand beneath the canopy of trees and play into the night. The sound echoed down the creek and reverberated beneath the trees. If the neighbors, the few there were, so desired they could listen for free and escape the worries of the day.
This was the first mention of music found for the community, but far from the last. As the population grew so did the number of musicians. First a bugle, then a fiddle, flutes, drums, and others arrived with each new batch of settlers.
Music became more of a shared experience. No longer one man beneath the trees, the days of square dances and cotillions had arrived. As the wagons headed to the center of town they would invite musicians and the whole community would gather.
Rochelle enjoyed a few musical composers. In 1866, John Butterfield composed the music and lyrics for, “When You and I Were Young Maggie”. This song has been recorded by such artists as, Slim Whitman, Perry Como, Gene Autry, and Fats Waller to name only a few. “Don’t You Hear Dem Bells” by D. M. McCosh, “Your Mine in My Heart” lyrics by Ms. Anna Nelson, “I’m Afraid to Go Home in the Dark”, “Pony Boy”, and “Where Do You Work John” sheet music, by Bert Vanelstine, all Rochelle area residents.
By 1872, there is mention of the Rochelle Brass Band playing for campaigns and parades. The Fourth of July and Farmers Picnic were two annual events where the band could actually receive compensation for their efforts. The band was re-organized in 1878 as the Rochelle Band under the direction of Robert Rae, musical director, and George Unger, band leader. Earl Chapman May became the band director in 1885. The local band became known as the Rochelle Kid Band, because of their young age, and later (1890’s)called the Silver Cornet Band.
Area notables, such as Ed Cleveland (tuba), Clint Hartong (barytone), George England (trombone), John Bain and Wilbur McHenry (altos), Elmer Countryman, Arthur Lazier, Lloyd Ingraham, and Earl May (cornets), Fernando Palmer and Will Gage (clarinets), Willis Calkins and Clam Oyster(drums)all sought to bring the joys of music to Rochelle.
Like the band, time marched on. The Silver Cornet Band became the Rochelle Military Band and in 1910 the band was again renamed The Rochelle Concert Band. Flagg Center Band was formed in 1898. Unfortunately there were more and more bands and only a limited number of paying venues. For bands there were only a few paying events, the Farmers Picnic, Fourth of July, and political rallies. With all of the competition, bands would come and go at a fairly rapid rate, Allegro, so to speak. It was in 1927 that the City of Rochelle created a Municipal Band Tax. For the first time music in Rochelle had a source of funding, albeit small, it was guaranteed
With the wide spread growth of bands came the need for musical equipment. Brewen Music Store opened in 1910 on 4th Avenue. Diehl Music Shop on Lincoln Highway welcomed customers from 1922 through 1924. Lewis & Palmer Music opened in 1925. Elliot Music Center, Barnes Music, and Knay Music Store all opened, and eventually closed, between 1950 and 2010. If it could be played it was available in Rochelle, pianos to piccolos, organs to oboes.
Initially the bands played on the streets of the business district. For major holidays a bandstand was erected at Cherry Avenue and Lincoln Highway. When the Fair Grounds were constructed on the south side of town a band pavilion was erected and local events such as the farmers picnic had a new home. Memorial Park was donated to the city in 1922 by the Rochelle Women’s Club. It was 1953 before the bandshell was erected. Willard Gieske was the band director and led the first performance at the Memorial Park Bandshell. In the 1980’s a new bandshell was constructed at Atwood Park on the northwest corner of Rochelle.
Through the years, music has seen many changes, from Willard Flagg’s bugle to the electric guitar. The Lafayette Industrial Band joined ranks with the Rochelle Municipal Band in 1927. In the 1950’s women were allowed in the municipal band. Year after year the band has expanded and contracted as interests and concerns change. But one thing is assured, on a hot summers evening, on almost any given Wednesday, you and your family can go to Atwood Park and listen to live music played by your neighbors, and escape the worries of the day, just like 1838.

Shoudy Mansion was owned by Fred Shoudy, who made soap.

Shoudy Mansion was where Keith Country Day school is now.

Darwin Keith married Belle Emerson and she is the founder of Keith Country Day school.

Before that residents was constructed there, there was a brewery there. The president of the Wholesale Grocery company renovated the building, which was known as the "House of Forty Rooms." It had cellars and sub-cellars.

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Great words for today!