|
|
|
|
"The Fennemore Band" In the early 1930's a close family friend and neighbor George Fennemore started a brass band consisting of boys from the Foote-Copeland district. George had played in a band in England before immigrating to Canada with his Uncle Jim Fennemore in 1906, so he was amply qualified to be a band leader. Jim and George along with Daddy Jones and Bob Patterson were the original founding members. The band was originally called the Dafoe-Copeland Boys' Band, but was later know as the Sousa Fennemore Band or simply Fennemore's Band. My brother Clarence and I had previously taken six years of lessons on a Nordheimer upright piano my parents had purchased in 1911 from JJH McLean's Music store in Winnipeg. We were however delighted on the thought of joining a local brass band. With much practice I learned to play the alta tuba horn and Clarence the clarinet. We played locally at many picnics and gatherings held at various farms, churches and community hall locations in the Quill Lakes district. It was common for other bands to meet together with us at special occasions, like the many picnics we had on the Harrison farm. The band varied in size over the years, but there were 13 members including bandmaster George Fennemore pictured in a studio photo taken in Wynyard in 1935. The players were: Bill Willett, Rev. Pointen, Len and Helgi Sveinsen, William Reeve, Walter Bolton, Mundi Eyolfson, Ken and Laird Burns, Allen Hamilton, my brother Clarence Hatton and myself. Other band members were Lyle Fish, Elmo Sveinson, Orville Glenn, Art Harvey, Bogi Johnson, Bud Pollon, Gene McLaren and K. Johnson. Jean Sparrow recited monologues with the band on many occasions.
During the same time
period, I was active in the Dafoe Choir, which was also directed by George
Fennemore. Music was provided by pianist Doris Crane. Choir members were:
Kathleen Lee, Blanche Doidge, Jean Sparrow, Beth and Dorthy Traquair, Norman
Pollon, Ida Reeve, Al Holfeld, Bert Vyvyan and myself. In addition George found
time to play piano each Sunday at the Foote-Copeland United Church.
|
|
|
