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Eagles Band > History
The Eagles
Band was founded in 1936 and is the oldest continuing
performance ensemble in the Berkshires. The band was
originally sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie
#358, but traces its roots to the 390th Field Artillery Band
(1918). The 390th disbanded in the late 1920’s (there was no
longer a need for a Field Artillery in the Berkshires...)and
many of its members formed the Pittsfield American Legion
Band, which begat a “renegade” group that started rehearsing
at the Eagles hall in 1936.
The FOE sponsorship ended when the Pittsfield Aerie folded
in 1982. For 10 years, the band rehearsed without an
official sponsor, moving from rehearsal space to rehearsal
space and seeking co-sponsors for Music Performance Trust
Fund money, as the band was a Musicians’ Union organization.
Funding the band, attracting new members, and finding
rehearsal and storage space became increasingly difficult
with each passing year.
The early activities of the band included performing at
Williams College (which the Legion group did in 1935 and
which the Eagles took over in 1936, though not under the
Eagles name until 1939), many state FOE band and parade
competitions (in which our band took several “first
prizes”), and concerts in all kinds of parks and events
throughout the Berkshires.
The Eagles
Band at the General Electric Co. Quarter Century Club
Picnic.
1939, Pittsfield, MA
Only during the summer seasons,
though. Up until 1993, we were a “summers only” band. Also,
many of our band’s musicians played send-offs and welcomes
for our WWII soldiers at Union Station. When the end of the
war seemed imminent, our musicians would bring their axes to
work with them, waiting for the official announcement. When
Victory (E & J) came, our guys played and partied in the
streets with the rest of the city.
VE Day 1945; Band members were told to bring their
instruments to
work and wait for word that the war was over.
When it came, they hit the streets in an impromptu parade.
Dick Carmel was with the band almost from the beginning,
took a break to fight WWII, and came back (where he’s been
ever since!)
Eagles Band Member
Dick Carmel, Memorial Day
1942
In 1993, the Eagles Band reorganized and made a decision to
become a non-profit community band, in which performers
donated their time for the love of playing, and which opened
up new possibilities for funding the band. Mayor Reilly
proclaimed the Eagles Band “the official band of the City of
Pittsfield,” the band fundraised for new uniforms, new music
and equipment such as music stands and percussion. The
summer “Concerts in the Park” series was resurrected and has
been taking place at Springside Park since 1994. Conductors
Lyndon Moors, Dana Swanson and Neil Freebern provided
musical direction which increased the band’s popularity with
audiences and increased the membership from 12 musicians to
over 50.
Mayor Ed Reilly declaring the Eagles Band the Official Band
for the City of Pittsfield – 1993. Pictured is Diane Nichols
and Fred Cohen, conductor.
60th Anniversary concert (1996) at Springside Park with
Conductor Lyndon Moors.
May 2000 (Mothers Day)
we played at Ozawa Hall under the Direction of Neil Freeburn. |
