By Kim McDarison
With summertime temperatures reaching 90 degrees Tuesday, the Fort Atkinson 2023 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social provided shade, a show, and, of course, as is a community Fourth of July tradition, free ice cream.
The Harmony Cornet Band played pre-1900 arrangements from under a tent as event-goers found table space spread across the lawn of the Hoard Historical Museum.
Band Master Ed Pierce, Fort Atkinson, noted that the 12-member group, which originally formed more than 20 years ago to perform at Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor historical museum in Eagle, has played at the annual ice cream social event before.
“We played in the summer of 2019,” he said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the format of the ice cream social event in Fort Atkinson such that people did not gather, and therefore, he said, the band did not play. The familiar outdoor gathering format returned in 2022, as did the band, making this year the third in which the performers have entertained ice cream social participants.
Adding to the flavor of the old fashioned event, Pierce said the instruments played by the band members are antiques.
Information shared by the band during the event noted that the 1800s “was fertile ground for the development of brass wind instruments. Ensembles used Civil War horns alongside newly designed instruments.”
The information noted that instruments to form “town bands” were obtained through mail order catalogues.
The information stated that small town bands or “cornet band(s)” were “uniquely American,” and named for the brass instrument commonly played.
During Tuesday’s Fourth of July event, the band played patriotic melodies, dance tunes, love songs, and “popular music” of the day, including church hymns and opera melodies. Lyrics to two songs — “Beautiful River” and “Amazing Grace” — were provided so event-goers could sing along.
Participants arriving to the museum Tuesday afternoon were guided through an assembly line in the Jones Family Gallery where they were greeted by volunteers who dished out the free ice cream and offered assorted toppings.
Additional activities included old fashioned games and face painting.
Photos from the event follow.
Harmony Cornet Band Master Ed Pierce, Fort Atkinson, plays an antique instrument. Pierce led the 12-member band as they entertained visitors Tuesday to the Fort Atkinson Fourth of July 2023 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social. The band played a varied selection of pre-1900s songs.
Attendees Tuesday to the Fort Atkinson annual ice cream social find seating in the shade on the grounds of the Hoard Historical Museum.
Hoard Museum staff member Brandon Thornton, at right, leads a parachute game.
Sam Manuel, 7, at left, and his sister, Zuri, 5, show off their newly painted faces. Face painting was one of several activities offered during Tuesday’s ice cream social event. The children’s mother, Claudia Cano, holds their 2-year-old sister, Eunice. The family lives in Jefferson.
Two photos above: members of the Harmony Cornet Band play antique instruments. The 12-member group originally formed more than 20 years ago to perform at Old World Wisconsin, Eagle. Tuesday’s event marked the third time the group has performed at the Hoard Historical Museum’s ice cream social event.
The Schutz family, with members from Cambridge and Edgerton, including Phoebe, 6, from left, Scarlett, 9, Samantha, Mark and Josh, enjoy ice cream under a tent provided for museum guests.
Brooke Schmidt, 7, from left, Mya Wenhardt, 15, Klloe Wendhardt, 12, and Marlie Schmidt, 10, enjoy shade and ice cream. The Schmidt sisters, Texas, arrived over the holiday weekend to visit with their cousins, the Wenhardt sisters, who live in Fort Atkinson.
Millie Martin, 4, Fort Atkinson, gingerly maneuverers a full bowl of ice cream through the crowd.
Recently celebrating her 88th birthday, Bea Meka, Fort Atkinson, enjoys ice cream with her family.
Heidi Hargan enjoys the festivities with her English cocker spaniel “Rosy,” 2. The pair is from the Rome/Sullivan area.
Showing enthusiastic appreciation for the band, Lisa Tuttle Woods, from left, and William Woods, both of Fort Atkinson, applaud.
Mike Helmick, Fort Atkinson, finds shade near Foster Street. Tuesday’s temperatures reached 90 degrees.
Members of the Duesterhoeft family, Emma, 9, from left, Sofie, 11, and Eda, listen to the music. Eda said her granddaughters were visiting from Michigan. Along with ice cream, Sofie said an added treat was listening to their grandfather, “Dusty” play the baritone horn in the band.
Debbie Scullin, Fort Atkinson, listens to the music.
Kim McDarison photos.
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