For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."
An undated clipping discussed the part of the Defiance Girls' Band in supporting the local soldiers in World War I.
Tuttle wrote: "DEFIANCE has had numerous bands, the 16th Regiment whose members dressed like Zouaves, Gessner's Concert, the Elks, the Toledo Edison, the East Defiance, and perhaps others, but the Defiance Girls' Band was one of the best when it came to marching and to making music. It was organized with W F. Kimberly as director. 'Kim' was a natural born band leader.
The band will be remembered by Defiance country boys who were called to the First World War because it escorted all departing groups to the railroad station. Napoleon groups went to Chillicothe by way of the Wabash and Cincinnati Northern via Cecil, and the band always met the trains transporting the Napoleon groups and gave them a short concert...
In the group picture, using their names at the time, are:
From left, first row, Clara Hemlein, Hazel ....baugh, Ella Yeager, Elsie Kimberly, Ruby Doster, Isabelle Taylor.
Second row, Laura Wahl, Esther Ruess, Eleanor Robrock, Helen Pocock, Dessie Yackels;
Third row, Naomi Lovejoy, Helene Bock, Hazel Yackels, Helen Hunter, Bessie Leever, Marie Umstead, June Speiser;
Back row, Nellie Winterholder, Mildred Arning, Wanda Root, W. F. Kimberly - director, Edith Weisenburger, Margaret Hemlein and Letho Stoner."
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."
