The Emigsville Band

The Emigsville Band
The official logo of the Emigsville Band
The official logo of the Emigsville Band
Background information
Also known asAcme Cornet Band of Emigsville
OriginEmigsville, Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresConcert band
Years activeFounded: November 8, 1872 Incorporated: June 24, 1878
Websitetheemigsvilleband.com

The Emigsville Band is a concert band based in Emigsville, York County, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1872 as the Acme Cornet Band of Emigsville.[1][2][3][4][5] It is one of the oldest community bands in York County that is still active today.[3][5][6][7]

History

The roots of the Emigsville Band can be traced to the late 19th century.[8] The band was founded on November 8, 1872.[2][3][9][10] Henry L. Dinderman served as the inaugural director.[5][6] At the time, the band rehearsed in an old schoolhouse in the village of Emigsville.[5] They would perform at various community events, parades,[11][12] and local gatherings.[2][13][14][15] The band was officially incorporated on June 24, 1878 as the "Emigsville Cornet Band."[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

The band initially consisted of 16 men[3][7] who were employed with the Acme Wagon Works company. During the Industrial Revolution, it was common for employers to have their employees play in a part of an eponymous community band.[3][7][9]

After a brief hiatus, the band reorganized on September 6, 1906 with 18 charter members.[1][2][3][4][5][10][23][24][25][26] During this period, the band met in the boiler room of the Acme Wagon Works,[16][27] formerly known as the Acme Wagon Company.[5][9]

The Emigsville Band photographed circa 1920, shortly after the establishment of their Band Hall.

In 1918, the band purchased lumber from a company that had gone out of business in York. Hauling the wood by horse-drawn wagon,[27] the band members built the Band Hall in its current location. The total cost of this effort was $1,800.[10]

The band has historically used its Band Hall to host a variety of community events. In the 1910's, the band hosted a series of fairs each year.[28] In the 1930's, the band performed at Sunday school picnics.[29] They also hosted an annual business show[5] and Halloween show[30] in the hall. From the 1930's to the 1960's, the band held annual carnivals and ox roasts[11][31][32] for the residents of Emigsville in the summer months.[33] In the fall, the band hosted turkey suppers in conjunction with the Ladies Auxiliary group.[3][34][35] In addition, the band would perform concerts in the venue.[9][36]

From the early 2000's to the present day, the band frequently performs at retirement communities.[37][38] They also continue to perform at church picnics, community events, parades,[39] and fairs.[40][41][42]

Current band

The Emigsville Band photographed on May 13, 2024 outside of their Band Hall.

Today, the band has a membership of about 80[42] volunteer[43] instrumentalists,[44] ranging from teenagers to individuals in their 80's and 90's.[25][45] The band maintains a flexible membership policy by welcoming musicians of all ages and musical proficiencies.[17][21][46][41]

The band rehearses every Monday evening at its Band Hall from February through May. The regular concert season typically runs from May to the end of October.[41] After the annual banquet on the first Monday of November, rehearsals and performances resume for the holiday concert series, which concludes around Christmas.[9][44]

Band Hall

The Emigsville Band owns their Band Hall located in the town of Emigsville.[7][9][16][17][19][20][23][24][47][48] This building has served as the rehearsal space for the band since it was moved to its current location in 1918.[10][44] It officially opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1918,[10][49] at which time the band had 22 members.[44]

The band rents the Band Hall out to a tenant to offset costs. Currently, R.O.C.K. Ministries rents the building while maintaining a contractual obligation to allow the band to practice on Monday evenings.[22][48]

The Emigsville Band photographed at their performance on September 1, 1974 at the William Penn Memorial Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Musical repertoire

The Emigsville Band's musical repertoire includes American patriotic music, sacred/religious music,[24] contemporary selections like marches, show tunes, medleys, and popular songs.[11][16][27][37][50][51]

Traditions

From the band's incorporation in 1878 until the COVID-19 pandemic, the band had an annual tradition of performing Christmas carols on Christmas Day for the residents of the village of Emigsville.[2][27][45][52] After the pandemic, the tradition transitioned into providing free community Christmas concerts in the Band Hall. This was done in an effort to accommodate a greater audience as well as a greater turnout of band members.[9] In 2025, due to the growing popularity of the annual Christmas concert in Emigsville, the band moved the concert to the Alert Fire Hall.[53]


Current leadership

Jim Rowlands, the current director of the Emigsville Band.

At its annual banquet and business meeting on the first Monday of November, the band elects its officer board.[19] The 2026[9] officer board is as follows:

Position Name
President Douglas Kirk
Vice President Matthew Malehorn
Director Jim Rowlands
Assistant Director Michael Kirk
Business Manager Barry Boyer
Treasurer Curtis Crane
Secretary Christopher Morningstar
Trustees Julie Heindel, Steve Bowman, Keith Christian

There are also three administrative roles in the band, per the by-laws:

Position Name
Public Relations Chair Michael Kirk
Librarian Aimee Conley
Merit/"Points" Secretary Paula Nelson

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Result
Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame 2024 Best Variety/Dance Band Nominated[54]

Discography

The band has released several albums:

YearTitle
1974Live at the William Penn Memorial Museum
2006The Best of 2006
2007The Best of 2007
2008The Best of 2008
2009The Best of 2009
2022The Best of 2022
2023The Best of 2023
202450th Anniversary Concert: The State Museum of Pennsylvania
2025Christmas in the Village
2026 America250: A Tribute to Our Country

References

  1. 1 2 "Emigsville Band Marks 'Golden Horn' Year". Sunday News. 1956-06-10. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lumsargis, Maxine (February 2012). "A Glimpse of Manchester Township History" (PDF). Manchester Township – York County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Emigsville Band entertains Sunday". The News-Chronicle. 1974-08-30. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  4. 1 2 "Band at Emigsville: Organization Formed and Officers Elected Last Evening". The York Dispatch. September 6, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Emigsville Band to Sponsor Seven-Night Affair in Local Hall". The Gazette and Daily. August 24, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Plan Business Show". The York Dispatch. 1939-08-25. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. 1 2 3 4 CBS 21 News (2026-08-26). A different kind of team: Community bands unite musicians old and young. Retrieved 2026-08-28 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Lindenmuth, Kaylee (July 28, 2024). "Community band festival highlights musical heritage". WHTM-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Small towns and what worked: New generation of Emigsville Band tells 150-year story". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Emigsville band officers". The York Dispatch. 1980-11-20. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  11. 1 2 3 "Emigsville Looks for Busy Week-End". The Gazette and Daily. 1935-05-22. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  12. ↑ "Parade at New Cumberland". York Daily Record. 1875-08-31. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  13. ↑ "Farquhar Park Concert". The York Dispatch. 1921-09-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  14. ↑ "Article clipped from York Gazette". York Gazette. 1873-07-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  15. ↑ "A Band Festival". The York Dispatch. 1876-08-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Emigsville Band To Celebrate 80th Year". The York Dispatch. 1986-10-07. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  17. 1 2 3 "Band marks 116th year". The York Dispatch. 1994-02-10. p. 54. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  18. ↑ "Court". The York Dispatch. 1878-06-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  19. 1 2 3 "Article clipped from York Daily Record". York Daily Record. 2006-03-07. p. 35. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  20. 1 2 "Emigsville: Seeks members". The York Dispatch. 2006-01-10. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  21. 1 2 "Emigsville: Band welcomes newcomers". The York Dispatch. 2010-01-29. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  22. 1 2 "Band wants musicians". The York Dispatch. 2009-01-29. p. 39. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  23. 1 2 "Emigsville band calls for musicians". York Daily Record. 1980-02-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  24. 1 2 3 "Newest 'Combo' In County". Sunday News. 1953-08-09. p. 32. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  25. 1 2 "Emigsville Band On the Scene 75 Years". The York Dispatch. 1981-08-22. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  26. ↑ "Band For Emigsville". The Gazette. September 8, 1906. p. 8. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Emigsville Band On the Scene 75 Years (cont.)". The York Dispatch. 1981-08-22. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  28. ↑ "'Round York County". The York Dispatch. 1919-11-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  29. ↑ "Sunday Schools Hold Picnics". The Gazette and Daily. 1937-08-02. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  30. ↑ "Complete Plans for Halloween Social at Emigsville Hall". The Gazette and Daily. 1937-10-27. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  31. ↑ "Emigsville Band Plans Ox Roast". The Gazette and Daily. 1957-05-01. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  32. ↑ "Ox Roast". The Gazette and Daily. 1949-06-15. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  33. ↑ "Festival Tonight at Pleasureville". The Gazette and Daily. June 16, 1951. p. 13. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Band, Auxiliary Elect Officers". The Gazette and Daily. 1964-11-18. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  35. ↑ "Public Turkey Supper Oct. 9 at Emigsville". The York Dispatch. October 7, 1965. p. 36. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Emigsville Band To Give Concert". The Gazette and Daily. 1948-04-24. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  37. 1 2 "Outdoor Concert Featuring the Emigsville Band". York Daily Record. 2021-05-19. pp. A10. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  38. ↑ "Article clipped from The Sentinel". The Sentinel (Pennsylvania). 2012-08-10. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  39. ↑ "St. Pat's parade Saturday". The York Dispatch. 2006-03-06. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  40. ↑ "Tap the fun at annual Micro Brew Fest". The York Dispatch. 2000-07-20. p. 49. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  41. 1 2 3 "Over a century of community music: The Emigsville Band". fox43.com. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  42. 1 2 "Emigsville Band celebrates decades of making music for central Pennsylvania community". fox43.com. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  43. ↑ "In York, music of community bands fading away". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1990-07-29. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  44. 1 2 3 4 "Emigsville Band – About". www.theemigsvilleband.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  45. 1 2 "Band plays through time". York Daily Record. December 27, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Emigsville Band Rehearsals Begin". The Evening Sun. 2010-01-28. p. 40. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  47. ↑ "Emigsville Band needs musicians". The York Dispatch. 1985-02-06. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  48. 1 2 "Emigsville Band: Needs musicians". The York Dispatch. 2008-01-29. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  49. ↑ "To Observe Holiday". The York Dispatch. 1918-11-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  50. ↑ "Emigsville Band to visit Codorus park". The Evening Sun. 2007-06-13. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  51. ↑ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  52. ↑ "York Co. Reverberates With Christmas Music As Traditions Continue". Sunday News. 1965-12-26. p. 52. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  53. ↑ report, Staff. "Emigsville Band to give annual Christmas concert on Sunday". York Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  54. ↑ Fame, Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of. "Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame". Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
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