The Stamford Historical Society

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PHOTO ARCHIVIST’S SELECTION OF THE MONTH: JUNE 2006

Fraternal Orders & Other Clubs American Legion / YMCA Band Other Stamford Groups WPA Federal Band Stamford Symphony Bicentennial Concert From the Vertical File

Bands & Orchestras

Andi Principe, our volunteer photo archivist, selected images from our “Bands and Orchestras” section. They represent a nice cross-section of music life in Stamford through the 1930s at least.

Stamford has always had a thriving music life, and our Vertical Files, M has a bulging folder called “Music, etc.”

The vertical file, well worth perusing, contains scores, programs and playbills (amateur and professional), music teacher advertisements, information about the Schubert Club and the Stamford Symphony, and more. There was a Stamford Oratorio Society in the 19th century. Visiting artists include Sousa and his Band, the Cleveland Orchestra, Kreisler, and Rachmaninoff.

As to our photographs, they mostly represent ethnic and fraternal organizations. There was also a WPA Federal Band, which performed at the 1941 Tercentenary celebrations. More about the WPA itself can be found here.

Most of the photos we have are from the 1930s or earlier. School bands are totally missing. Donations, or loans for scanning, of any music related photos are greatly appreciated! Further, the Society appreciates any input from our readers on the background of music groups and the identification of people in the photos shown here. You may call (203) 329-1183 or e-mail us at history@stamfordhistory.org.

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The most active Italian group seems to have been the Paganini Santa Cecilia Club with its Philharmonic Orchestra and Band under its director Aniello Prezioso, of which we have photos from the 1930s. They mostly performed at Columbus Hall on Guernsey Street, the precursor of the Italian Center.

Aniello Prezioso

Anthony Sargente & Aniello Prezioso

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There were also The Order of the Sons of Italy Band & the Italo American Progressive Club Orchestra

c.1916	c.1909

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…and an unknown children's band, “Professor Ventura, Teacher.”

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More:

Fraternal Orders & Other Clubs
American Legion / YMCA Band
Other Stamford Groups
WPA Federal Band
From the Vertical File

© Stamford Historical Society

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Selections 2000

Month	Title
June 2000	Strand Theatre on Upper Atlantic Street, ca. 1933
July 2000	Union House Hotel, ca. 1870
August 2000	“The Anderson Opera Company,” ca. 1890
September 2000	Dr. Francis J. Rogers, Physicians & Druggist
October 2000	Election 1936: Alfred Noroton Phillips Jr., Wilbur Lucius ”Uncle Toby” Cross
November 2000	Bicycle patrol in Stamford, then and now
December 2000	The railroad

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Selections 2001

Month	Title
January 2001	First National Bank
February 2001	Stamford's First Oldsmobile and the Mechaley Brothers
March 2001	The Blizzard of 1888
April 2001	Stamford Street Railroad Co.
May 2001	Dr. Jacob Nemoitin (1880-1963), Stamford's healer & humanitarian, painter & poet
Summer 2001	The Old Town Hall and the 1904 Fire
October 2001	Stamford Post Offices
November 2001	Postcards from another age
December 2001	Images from Guide to Nature Magazine, June 1910

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Selections 2002

Month	Title
January 2002	The E.B. Hoit Company. Grand Central Market in 1913
February 2002	The C.O. Miller Company. Department Store
April 2002	The Hoyt Family Meeting 1866
May 2002	Memorial Day Parade 1919
August 2002	The Children's Home on Hamilton Avenue
September 2002	Public Works Department 1914. Building Roads with the Rock Crusher
October 2002	The Hurricane of '38 and the Floods of '54 an '55
November 2002	Linden Lodge
December 2002	The Maziarek Woodworking Shop

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Selections 2003

Month	Title
January 2003	The Wardwell Homes on Elm Street
February 2003	The Old Town Hall II
March 2003	The Portable Typewriter and its Uses, 1913
June 2003	Wardwell Family Photos

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Selections 2004

Month	Title
March 2004	Horse Carriages
May 2004	A Woodland Home Made of Packing Boxes
July 2004	Postcards: Fun at the Beach (Shippan Point)
September 2004	One-Room Schoolhouses in Stamford
November 2004	Hoyt Getman & Judd and The St. John Wood-Working Company

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Selections 2005

Month	Title
January 2005	Ice Harvesting - The Diamond Ice Company
February 2005	Presidents, Past Presidents, Would-be Presidents in Stamford
March 2005	Burleigh Park: The Phillips Estate, c. 1900
May 2005	Dr. Givens' Sanitarium, Stamford Hall
June 2005	Portrait Postcards, Early 20th Century
July 2005	July 4th Celebrations in Stamford
October 2005	Football in Stamford, 1890 to 1942 / Michael Boyle
November 2005	A Veterans Day Special: Soldiers Monument, St. John's Park
December 2005	The Circus Comes to Town, and more…

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Selections 2006

Month	Title
January 2006	Women's Fashions
February 2006	Grocery & Variety Stores
April 2006	Rezo Waters, Basket Weaver
June 2006	Bands & Orchestras
September 2006	Yachting in Stamford
October 2006	Lockwood and Palmer Department Store
November 2006	The DiPreta Family: Seven Sons in WWII

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Selections 2007

Month	Title
May 2007	The League of Women Voters and Harold I June, June 26, 1930
June 2007	Brownstones on Bell Street
July 2007	The Nature Studies and Recreations of a Business Man

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Selections 2008

Month	Title
January 2008	Ladybird Johnson Opens Kiwanis Park, May 16, 1968
February 2008	From Our Postcard Collection: Bridges
April 2008	Baseball in Stamford
May 2008	The C.O. Miller Department Store at 15 Bank Street
June 2008	From Plates, Puddings and Pies to Plants (Gardening in North Stamford 1916)

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