Music in Early La Crosse

      By MRS. JOHN F. DOHERTY


  Advancement of music In La
Crosse during the past four score
years has been made rapidly. It
has developed through small mu-
sical programs in the middle of the
nineteenth   century   to  church
choirs, bands, orchestras, musical
instructing schools, private singing
societies, and school choruses and
glee clubs.
  The first record of any occasioin
in the early history of La Crosse
where music was concerned 'as ona
Christmas day, 1851, at thls home
of Nathan Myrick, founder of La
Crosse less than a decade before,
where a ball was given for settlers
of the region.
  A Mr. Brisbois of Prairie du
Chien played the violin on that day
while the settlers danced the vari-
ous steps then favorites. Howard
Cramer, H. E. Hubbard and Mr. and
Mrs. John M. Levy were among
those present.
        Organize Churches
  The follow year the Congrega-
tionlists and  Baptists organized
their churches. Meager accounts
mention singing. Music was fur-
nished at the Baptist church by a
melodeon and a choir, the latter di-
rected by Paige Whelpley. Among
those in the choir were Corydon and
Ellen Whelpley and Frank Hub-
bard.
  In 1849, according to briefs of
Mrs. J. M. Levy, concerning the
Episcopal services, a Miss Bunnell
"came from the east to visit her
brother." Miss Bunnell was classed
as a "very good singer."
  Catholic services were held for
the first time in August, 1855. No
early accounts of music at the ser-
vices have been found, but one of
the early directors organized what
became a splendid choir after St.
Joseph's was built.
  In the La Crosse Democrat of
January 3, 1854, there is an ac-
count of an Odd Fellows festival at
Tallmade House, Third and State
streets, with 150 guests  present.


Music was given at the festival by
W. H. Kimball and his choir. "Go
Ahead Brothers" was sung by the
Austin family.
   Earlier than this, in 1853, there
was an    advertisement of a La
Crosse "select school" taught by
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Carr in which
geography, history, languages, as-
tronomy, gecioetry, arithmetic, em-
broidery, anid wai modeling  were
taught, but no ,pention of music
wa ,mnad6.
       Ihterested in Music
  In 1856 the city took an interest
in music, according to the Demo-
crat. A Mrs. Standish    taught a
number of interested persons, while
at intervals during the  year the
Great Western   Opera and   other
troupes appeared at Barron's hall
on Second street. Lyceum and de-
bating societies flourished at this
time, all taking an interest in sing-
ing in addition to their regular ac-
tivities.
  Two years before, 1854, C. F.
Hoffman arrived from Germany. He
taught, composed music, and gave
several concerts of his own work.
He will be remembered as a gentle,
kindly man in love with his work.
  A little later a Mr. De Mers ap-
peared, as did a man named Col-
well, Carl Ruoff, a Mr. Gabler, a
Mr. Albrecht and others. In June,
1855, a band was organized, while
in 1857 mention is made of a Mr.
Metzgar, a talented German from
Detroit, who gave lessons in music
and taught several languages.
  Ernest Blashek, an old resident,
for a number of years was music
and dramatic correspondent for the
New York Musical Times, the Trade
Review and the Musical Courier.
He came to the city in 1859 from
Germany, and operated a woolen
mills on Eighth street. He was a
violinist and teacher, instructing
members of the Losey family for
nine years.
  Some years ago Mrs. Howard
Cramer contributed an interesting