Williams Martial Band ~Index
Band Members
From Left to Right:
Back Row: Alfred Hughes (with the bass drum), William I. Sorensen, Robert L. Sweeten, Magnus Larsen, John Westover, Ole H. Sonne, Frank Leavitt.
Front Row: Irvin Gardner, Orson Williams, J. Thomas Gittins, Frank Williams — leader of the Martial Band, Philip Sorensen, Mowery Baker, Harry Williams (with drum).
Williams Martial Band…
Sometime between the years of 1882 to 1885 Frank Williams organized the Marshal Band of young boys. He also introduced the maypole dance, which is still celebrated.
In 1882 Frank Williams organized the Marshall Band. The band consisted of young men and boys. It had regular drills and became a very efficient musical group. Frank Williams is credited with helping to introduce May Day to Mendon. Many of the Mendon saints were of English ancestry and had celebrated May Day in England; it became a holdover from the old country. Celebrated each spring in Mendon, the Maypole dance and the crowning of the queen is a tradition.
The Frank Williams Martial Band, a drum and fife corps, was apparently the first of its kind to be formed in the Mendon area. It was started in about the year 1882 and lasted some three or four years more. The band was not in existence quite long enough for everyone to learn to read and play from their sheet music. However, it was a start in grand fashion, and from this group came much of the musical talent that would entertain the community of Mendon for many years to come.
Frank Williams is shown here above in his Bowler hat, which would have been right in style during this time. A tailor by trade, he would have most likely kept a sharp dressed appearance. This photograph was taken against the south side of the old Mendon rock church. The building had to serve as the school, church and theatrical enclave, being the only municipal building in town at this time.
This photograph came to me through the Peter Sorensen family. Peter's son, Philip Sorensen was a member of this group along with his cousin, William I. Sorensen, seen here standing on a box so that he may be seen over the big bass drum. William I. Sorensen would later go on to join the regrouped Hyrum Martial Band, known as the Silver Greys when the valley was doing the big 1924 Centennial Celebration.
As an outgrowth of the Frank Williams Band, Robert L. Sweeten later organized a band reputed to be the best in Cache County.