Music in Maine

This World War I era toy drum has a scene from the American Revolution on one side and a hand-written note on the other stating, “Robert Ashley Bonner used this drum on Victory Day, November 11th 1918 in Portland, Maine.”

Born in 1912, Robert Bonner was six years old on Victory Day, also known as Armistice Day He went on to work as a Portland Police Department patrolman, and served in the US Army during World War II and Korean War.

As a child, Ernest Perry posed wearing an elaborate outfit, next to a wooden chair, a drum, and drumsticks.

This toy violin may have belonged to Melville Philpot from Limerick, Maine, or one of his siblings.

The toy mimics a full sized violin, with a metal body complete with f-holes, strings, and tuner pegs. Over time, the toy lost the bridge, and the tailpiece is disconnected.

Children at a young age were encouraged to learn how to play an instrument. Small talent shows at elementary school were a common place for the young children who played instruments to show their skills to their class.

The Bye Family Ensemble was a family band based in Portland. Family bands encouraged young children to learn how to play a musical instrument and to perform the songs in front of crowds.

The Bye Family Ensemble included parents Terschak and Odelie, daughters Christine and Eleanore, and sons Richard on trumpet and Karl (not pictured). They performed classical music across New England and once at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Terschak (1884-1973) was an immigrant from Norway, while Odelie (1887-1981) was born in Bangor.

Violin students at Good Will Farm in Fairfield during the 1915-1916 school year.

The photograph was taken in front of what is now the L.C.Bates Museum and was then the Quincy Manual Training School for Boys.

Good Will provided a home and schooling for orphans and other underprivileged children ages 8 to 18.

Barbara Corbett at the xylorimba at the West School on Lowell Street in Portland in about 1925.

She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Corbett.

The orchestra at the West School on Lowell Street in Portland. Lilla S. Cole is the teacher and director of the group.

The children of Arthur and Celina Simard Jalbert are, from left, Fern, Germaine, Conrad, Judy, Gertrude and Gabriel.

Like many Franco families, the Jalberts were musical. Celina Jalbert saw the band as a way to further her children's education. Family bands in Franco-American families were common, and ranged from providing entertainment at home to performing publicly.

Louis Jalbert, the future "Mr Democrat" of Maine, though not pictured here, also played drums in the group with his siblings.

With music playing and the rest of the class watching, primary pupils at North School on Congress Street in Portland learn to dance.