The John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Shell Project was made possible by citizens of Port Washington who wanted to Honor a special member of the community. The band shell is located near the bay at a spot familiar to Commander Sousa. Although the idea for the Band Shell was conceived in early 1940 it was not dedicated until 1977.
Although John Philip Sousa is well known for his marches, he had a varied background that included writing operettas, songs, fantasies, articles and books. While the Bandshell is probably the most visible of Port Washington’s memorials to Mr. Sousa, there are a number of other spots where he is remembered.
The John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Shell Project was initiated because he was held in such high esteem by the Port Washington Community. Although the idea of a memorial band shell was conceived in the early 1940's, and the concept that something tangible should honor "The March King" re-emerged in 1954, the centennial of Lt. Comdr. Sousa's birth, - it was not until 1963 that the true spark which was needed was ignited.
At that time, one of Port Washington's most community spirited citizens, Mrs. William V. (Gay) Pearsall set as her goal a band shell to be dedicated to John Philip Sousa, the eminence of march music composition. With the blessing of the Sousa family, she spent much of her time over the next four years gathering the funds necessary. Help came from many sources, in assistance both monetary and otherwise. The Paul D. Schreiber High School Band, at the suggestion of Mr. George A. Christopher, its Director and Supervisor of Music of the Port Washington School District, contributed a substantial sum of money held for such a purpose, which had been accumulated since the beginning of World War II. By letter after letter, Mrs. Pearsall built up the band shell account - from a former president of the United States and from a future president; from a foreign princess, and from show business personalities; from small children, and from those who had heard the Sousa Band so many years ago; from business corporations and from fraternal organizations and clubs. By late 1966, sufficient funds were available to commence construction of the design by Architect Henry T. Aspinwall and his associate Joseph G. Hnatov; even the design was a gift. The construction by Pollock & Wysong Corp. was under the personal direction of Charles Wysong. This project was under the auspices of American Legion Post #509 of Port Washington and its Auxiliary.
The dedication program contained page after page of the names of contributors to the project. The names were also sealed in the 100-year time capsule at the Shell. Government dignitaries attended, as did some of the members of the world-famed Sousa
Band of earlier decades. Former Port Washingtonians came back from Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. By order of the Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, Captain Dale Harpham, U.S.M.C. Assistant Director (later Lieutenant Colonel and Director) of the U.S. Marine Band ("The President's Own") came from Washington, D.C. to represent the band which had gained fame from Bandmaster Sousa as he had gained fame with it in the 1880's. At the age of 13, Commander Sousa enlisted as an apprentice in the U.S. Marine Band. He left the Marines when he was 18 years of age and played violin in theater and symphonic orchestras, also gaining valuable experience as a conductor. He reenlisted in
the Marine Bland in 1880--this time as leader--and began composing; his first hit march was "The Gladiator" (1886), and his "Washington Post March" (1669) became a ballroom rage associated with a new dance, the two-step.
He left the Marines in 1892 to form his own band, which quickly became the most successful in the nation; tours through Europe in 1900, 1901 ,1903, and 1905 and a global circuit in 1910-11 brought him worldwide celebrity. With the U.S. entry into World War I, Sousa again enlisted, this time to lead the Navy Band, and he continued an active musical life until his retirement in 1931. The Sousa family purchased a home in Sands Point known as "Wildbank" and moved there in 1915.
The popularity of his 136 marches--headed by "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (1696)-gained him the title the March King, but he also composed 15 operettas, 70 songs, 27 fantasies, and more than 300 arrangements, and wrote 132 articles and 7 books, including his autobiography, Marching Along (1926), and 3 novels. "The March king" died on March 6, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania where he had gone to conduct a concert.PEOPLE THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE
Perhaps the greatest tribute that any man or woman can attain is not one bestowed by any government, but one bestowed by his, or her, fellow citizens.
LOCATION
Several sites for the Band Shell had been considered, but one desired above all was in Sunset Park, next to the Town Dock and immediately by the Bay. With a gesture of great generosity initiated by the late Commissioner John Pollock, the Commissioners of the Port Washington Sewer District made the desired site available. The Sunset Park site was particularly appropriate since this was an area familiar to Commander Sousa, who would frequently ride his horse "Aladdin" to the Post Office, then located diagonally across from the Park. It's easy to
get to the to the Band Shell.
THE DEDICATION CEROMONIES
Dedication Day, on June 11,1967, was a sunny Sunday and the atmosphere of festival was in the air. Appropriately, the pre-dedication concert was given by the Schreiber Band conducted by Mr. Christopher. A band shell for use by the Port Washington School bands had been Mr. Christopher's desire for many years, and he had worked closely with Mrs. Pearsall on the Sousa Band Shell idea from its beginning. The ribbon cutting was performed by Mrs. Helen Sousa Abert (John Philip Sousa's daughter), and Mrs. Pearsall.
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA’S BACKGROUND
Commander Sousa was born in Washington, D.C., on November 6, 1854. Mr. Sousa’s father was a musician in the U.S. Marine Band so passion for music developed at an early age.
OTHER MEMORIALS TO JOHN PHILIP SOUSA IN PORT WASHINGTON
Other memorials to Commander Sousa in Port Washington are: The White Oak tree which was planted at the Main Street School On Memorial Day in 1932; the John Philip Sousa Junior High School, dedicated on November 23, 1958, and Sousa Drive in Sands Point, dedicated on June 6,1971.
CONCLUSION
And so, in an age when many bandstands all over the country stand silent, the John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Shell continues to present music in the park, supported locally by friends, the business community, the service clubs, the Board of Education, and The Community Chest of Port Washington. Financial support for special concerts is also provided by the Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County.
John Philip Sousa dedicated his life to music - it is no less appropriate that we dedicate the music at our band shell to him.
Bibliography: Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia, and JOHN PHILIP SOUSA - The March King, Floyd D Mackey.
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