Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/181

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

hall* on the third floor o f what is now the Elks* building, were the leading ones. Neither had a stage. The opera house w as conducted by the lessees of the owners until 1876, when it passed to the ownership o f I. W. McKelvy* whose lessees operated it until 1895, Then A. E van s and J. R. Fow ler bought it* and the latter managed it until M r. E van s’s death* when his half interest passed to his daughter* the w ife o f Dr. J. S. ^ h n. A few years later Mr. Fow ler died* and Dr. John purchased his inter­ est. T he auditorium was much improved* the stage w as enlarged and a gallery built* and the name changed to Ihe Columbia Theatre. It was run by lessees until September* 1914* when Dr. John assumed the management. T he N n c L y ric is an attractive moving pic­ ture house in the L. T. Sharplcss building. T lic first floor was rebuilt fo r this purpose* and w e n cd in 1 9 11 by L. T. Sharpies.^ and W. W. Pagcly* who have made it a popular place of amusement. T he A rcade w as the next bidder for public favor. It is in what w as the furniture store o f W. J. Correll & Co., and w as opened in 19 13 with I L R. Correll as manager, it enjoys a liberal patronage. The V utaria, built by L. J. Chamberlin, of Shamokin, and opened early in 19(4. is one of the handsomest picture houses in this section* costing about $25,000. and with a seating ca­ pacity o f 1,200. It IS up to date in every r e s u lt . J . V. I^ m ed is the manager. Tlirce other moving picture rooms have been opened* at various times* but succumbed after a short run. T he Midxi/ay owned hy Thom as B . Moore and H . J . Achcnbach* opened in 190^, is an amusement hall that has met the public wants in various ways. It has hccn use

CITIZRNS OP n u xiM sn u R G

Among those who were prominent and active citizens in the earlier davs, and who have gone to the "great beyond.” the descendants o f many o f whom are now' among the representa­ tive citizens o f the town, were D r. Davfd Scott, Dr. Tohn Ram say. Daniel Snvder, S r.. William Robison, Philip Chrisman. William M cK clvy. Rev, D. T. W aller, S r.. William Hurlev* Caleb Barton. EH Batton. Elisha Barton. William

Neal* John R. Moyer* L. B. Rupert* E lias Men­ denhall, William Sloan* Joseph W. Hcndershott* A. J. Sloan* Robert F. Clark* Philip > Unangst* John M. Chamberlin* David Low en­ bcrg* D r. Jacob Schuyler* John K. G rou* L S. Kuhn* J. J. Brow er, Issachar Evans* A. J. Evans, Col. Samuel lOiorr* M. C Sloan* John A. Funston, Jam es K. Eyer* Joseph Sharplcss* Andrew Kupcrt* E. P. Lutz* C. F. Knapp* John Wolf* Senator Charles R. Buckalew* Judge WiUiam Elwell* Dr. J. B. McKelvy* Isaiah W. McKelvy* Rev. J. P. Tustin* H. J. Clark* E. R. Drinker, Charles G. Barkley, C. B. Brockw ay. M. S. Appleman* Josiah Furm an, G. W. Corrcll, P. S. Ilam u R * Robert Cathcart, Peter BUImyer, William Snyder* Gen. W. H. Ent, George Hassert* Henry Roscnstock* B. F. H artn u n, as well as many others. BRASS BANDS

F o r many years Bloomsburg has had at least one brass liand. B efore the C ivil w ar there were tw'o. and from these one was oiganized and went to the w ar with the Iron Guards. In 1865 at a citizens' meeting a subscription w as taken up, and W. H. Gilmore w as authorized to go to H arrisburg and purchase instruments for a band organized at that time, with Jo h n H ow cr as leader. In iS / f the Bloomsburg Band w'as started with T. L. Gunton as president, and A. W. Monroe as leader. In 1884 the band obtained a charter. It lias had a number o f leaders, among them I'h vis Brooks, who served fa ith ­ fully for many years. T he most notable one w as F. 11. Losey, wdio afterw ards attained prominence as a bandmaster and composer. The band has had its ups and downs, bu t through it all T. I^. Gunton. its first and on ly president and manager, has never w avcrco, and now has the satisfaction o f having a fine band o f about thirty members, mostly you n g men, well equip(>e4l, a credit to the town and to themselves, as the result o f his persistence. The present leader is Clarence G. Herr, In 188R William II. Gilmore organized a band and equipped it with uniforms and instru­ ments. It was known as Gilmore's Band, and Tlioma.s Mctherel w as the leader. A fte r doing gooil service for five years the organization w'as disamtinued in 189a. and the town had but one band for the next fourteen years. The Citizens’ Band w as organizeil in A p ril. 1007, with eleven members, who had left the R!oom.shurg Band. Charles P . Elw ell w as the bandmaster, and a few months later E . M . $ a v iilge became manager. Through P ro fe sso r