Watertown - The Heritage Military Music Foundation (HMMF), parent organization of the 1st Brigade Band, has received a major grant from the John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation. The grant of over $157,000 is the largest grant ever received by HMMF.
The Peterson grant will provide for improvements to Heritage Hall, the headquarters of the 1st Brigade Band at the corner of Fourth and Wisconsin streets, and for new uniforms for the Band which is the oldest and largest Civil War recreation band in existence.
"Needless to say we are delighted and deeply grateful to the John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation for this generous gift," said Darl Shimko, president of HMMF. "This means we have a strong beginning to a much-needed maintenance, improvement and restoration program for our home here in Watertown and are also able to enhance the look of the band when it performs."
The Peterson grant funds improvements to Heritage Hall that will provide the 1st Brigade Band with a rehearsal building adequately equipped for year around band rehearsals, as well as the storage and protection of the valuable instrument and music collections owned by HMMF. Planned improvements include a new energy-efficient heating system, air conditioning, fire protection, and building security system. "These climate control features will provide an environment for the collections and the uniforms that will prevent damage from the effects of prolonged high temperatures and humidity," Bandmaster Dan Woolpert commented.
Woolpert explained, "Heritage Hall houses one of the largest and most diversified collections of Civil War period instruments in the country. It is a rare collection with instruments that are not duplicated elsewhere." The HMMF instrument collection is "a playing collection" (all instruments are maintained for performance, with the exception of the few instruments being restored at any one time). Of more than 160 brass, woodwinds and drums all are antiques with the exception of 5 reproduction snare drums.
Equally rare are the collection of Civil War era musical arrangements owned by HMMF. The collection includes one-of-a-kind arrangements prepared from the band books of the original 1st Brigade Band from Brodhead, Wisconsin dating back to 1864. Other arrangements are from the 3rd New Hampshire Band, the 25th Massachusetts Band, and the 26th North Carolina Band, collections that date back to 1861. "These are rare treasures that need to be adequately protected," Woolpert added.
New uniforms will be the most visible change for the Band made possible by the Peterson grant. In 1865 when writing about the original 1st Brigade Band, newspapers of the day commented on "neatness of dress" as a distinctive feature of the Band. Bandmaster Woolpert observed, "Like the band of the 1860's, today's 1st Brigade Band strives to produce a quality sound and look its very best! The new uniforms will allow the entire 1st Brigade Band to appear in concerts and parades in the 'tradition of excellence' of its original namesake."
The grant is only the beginning of a long-range renovation and restoration program for Heritage Hall according to Shimko. HMMF's critical needs include exterior rehabilitation and maintenance of Heritage Hall that are not covered by the Peterson grant. Preliminary estimates indicate that another $40,000 to $50,000 will be needed to begin restoration of the outside of the former church building that now serves as the Band's headquarters. "We will continue to seek support from local and regional businesses, foundations, and individual donors," Shimko said, "with the goal of making Heritage Hall a place that will meet the needs of the Band for years to come and that Watertown residents can point to with pride."
April 25, 2003