Music in Maine

The Sanford HS Marching Band can be seen marching South on Main St. past the Kostis and Norman stores. Those buildings were razed during Urban Renewal in the 1970s. They were at what is now (2023) a parking lot at 458 Main Street, Springvale, close to Bridge Street.

Rumford's St. Athanasius Parochial School Marching Band participated in a parade on Main Street in Sanford in 1955. St. Athanasius Parochial School included grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

In the background were Main Street businesses including Kent's Dry Cleaning, the State Theater, First National and Goodwin's Pharmacy. It is possible that this parade was one of the Western Maine Music Festivals hosted by Sanford.

The South Portland High School Band in the Memorial Day parade in South Portland in 1948.

The Deering High School marching band in a parade on Congress Street in Portland in the Flag Day Parade in 1946.

The Sanford High School band marches North on Main St. after passing by Washington Street. "A Star is Born" was playing at the State Theater. None of the buildings except for those on the extreme right were still standing in 2010. Some of the stores include First National, the Boston Store, Western Auto, Goodwin Pharmacy, Capitol Restaurant, Myral's and the the Mobil Gas Station.

The Sanford HS Band majorette leads the band on Main Street in the 1950s.

The Lubec High School Band was selected to represent the State of Maine in the April 1965 Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C.

Fund-raising events were held throughout the year in support of the band's trip with townspeople, alumni, and many others raising over $12,000 to send the 58-member band to the Nation's Capital.

After placing fourth in its class, the band was welcomed home by the local police car, fire trucks and some 45 carloads of townspeople who had been waiting since dawn at the Lubec Grange Hall to follow the buses in to the gymnasium.

Sanford High marches past the State Theater during the Western Maine Music Festival Parade in 1955.

This unknown band marches North on Main Street in Sanford past the Dugout sporting goods store. Between the Capital theater and Grant's in what is now St. Ignatius Street. The marquee after Grant's is that of the State Theater.

G. Burchard Flagg led the Strong School Band for several years allowing the Jr. High students and the High School to exercise their musical talents together as part of the band in Strong.

First Row, Left-Right: Mildred Huff, Muriel Pinkham, Gregory Flagg, Roger Lambert, Michael Moffett, Larry Brackley, Elaine Brackley, Edward Taylor, Terrance Doble, Sharon Lewis, Austin Marden.
Second Row: Cecil Leavitt, Virginia Sprague, Carole Reed, Mildred Curtis, Brenda Stevens, Donald Richards, Paul Neil, Clinton Brackley, Joseph Essency, Barry Huff.
Third Row: Gary Lisherness, Darryl Huff, Sharon Clinch, Elinor Bunnell, Pamela Carlow, Joanne Bass, Robert Elliott, Olivia Hutchins, Jo Anne Pond, Leslie Phillips, Leader Burchard Flagg.
Fourth Row: Allyn Heald, Carlton Boyd, Elaine Reed, Robert Huff, Jon Lambert, George Lewis, Nanette Starbird, Loretta Lisherness.

Houlton Armistice Day parade in Market Square led by the Houlton High school Marching Band.

Note Richards clothing store on the right.

The Deering High School Band poses at the end of the 1932-1933 school year, the first year that girls joined the previously all boys' band.

Mr. Rigby and Mr. Stack directed the band.

Paul Morrill was the drum-major.

Wording Hall was built at Ricker Classical Institute in 1886-1989 and was destroyed by fire in 1944.

Catherine L. Wording provided funding in memory of her father, Judge Wording of Castine. Wording Hall was considered to be one of the most beautiful and well designed buildings in all of Aroostook county.

Catherine's picture is seen within this photo to the left.