East Defiance Community Band, circa 1913

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column: "A Backward Glance."  The East Defiance Community Band was discussed in an article printed on September 26, 1963.  Maybe you have an ancestor who played in this community band.

"East Defiance folks have always evidenced more than their share of civic pride.  It was a small group of dedicated East Defiance men who started Kingsbury Park.  By donations, money raising events and hard work, they managed to bring the park to a point that it became too big for them and they gave it to the city.

More than 50 years ago, East Defiance decided it should have a band.  At first it was a small organization but they, too, were a group of dedicated men and in due time, it was one of the finest bands in northwestern Ohio.  It gave summer concerts and played in many of the nearby towns.  A custom of the band was to ride all over town at midnight on New Year's Eve and serenade various neighborhoods.  The uniforms were dark red with white trousers.

W. F. (Fud) Kimberly was their leader and band music was a 'natural' with him.

Shown in the picture are, for left, back row: Glen Brubaker, Edwin French, Harry Hahn, Kimberly, Pete Doneyer, Harry Heidepreim, Harry Conn, Peter Zenz, Chris Krabach.
Middle row: Leo Kahlo, unidentified, Ernest Zeigler, Fred Heidepreim, unidentified, Orville Brubaker, Charles Cromley, and 
Front row: Bill Pracht, Ted Blue, Otto Pracht, unidentified, Ervin (Boots) Kesselmyer."