Wayne Township Historical Society

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

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*** WANTED ***

By

Wayne Township Historical Society

for

New members (all ages)

Old Pictures (farms, schools, events)

Maps (all kinds & ages)

Books (records, events, church & famlies)

Pictures (buildings, places & famlies)

Your

** REWARD **

A once of a life-time opportunity. "Satisfaction"

for PRESERVING our HERITAGE

To collect your reward, come to the regular meetings, 7PM on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Wayne Township Municipal Building, Rt. 183 S. Municipal Road, Reedsville, or call: 570-593-8007, 570-739-2500, 570-739-2629 x10.

The Wayne Township Historical Society, Officers and Directors, Thank you for your diligent and community effort.

The Indepenent Cornet Band of Black Horse was formed in 1879 with William W. Brown as the band leader.  When
the band orginally started they were called Brown's Cornet Band of Black Horse, in honor of Mr. Brown

By August of 1880 the band was under the management of Professor L. A. Drumheller of Schuylkill Haven, who
maintained that position for five years.  The band had 19 members and would perform at festivals, parades, picnics,
weddings and holiday events.

William H. Kremer was elected leader and mucical director in 1885.  He was a Summit Station school teacher at the 
Elwood school. Under Mr. Kremers leadership the band performed better which led to more engagements including parades in
Mahanoy City, Wilkes Barre, Womelsdorf and Reading.  Memorial Day usually had three engagements.  Summer
picnics were so plentiful they often had to refuse engagements.  The band would hold fundraisers to help with
expenses, a yearly picnic, an ice cream festival and a fair during the winter.

Henry W. Bressler became the band instructor and leader in 1899. Mr. Bressler was a teacher in Wayne Township and
also a member of Pottsville's Third Brigade Band. In 1903 the band membership consisted of 28 musicians.  On May
25th, 1908 the band was incorporated as "Black Horse Band of Friedensburg".  Early in 1912 the Cressona Band and
the Black Horse band combined and the name was changed to "Bresslers Band".  At this time the total strength of
this company of musicians was about 50 members from Pottsville, Friedensburg, Summit Station, Brommerstown and
Schuylkill Haven. The band had been headquartered in Schuylkill Haven since the summer of 1911 and after their
uniforms and equiptment were updated they were called the "Bressler Band of Schuylkill Haven.

This story was composed from newspaper articals from: Miners Journal Pottsville, 
The Call Schuylkill Haven, The Press Herald Pine Grove, Pottsville Republican

Accounts of local happenings and other interesting matter from the
Press Herald, Pine Grove, PA.