It’s the 139th anniversary of my great-grandmother Islea’s birth! In honor of the occasion, I thought I’d post some photos of her as a child and a young woman.

Islea Graham was born Dec. 23, 1874 in Aledo, Illinois. Her father, William N. Graham, had five children from a previous marriage; after his first wife, Sarah, died, he married Flora Bassett. He and Flora had two daughters together, Islea and Ethel.

Islea pursued music from an early age, and by the time she reached high school she already was an accomplished pianist.

Islea graduated as the valedictorian of her class at Aledo High School in 1892 and then studied piano in Chicago under Emil Liebling, a pupil of the great Franz Liszt.
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I am excited to report that I channeled my inner Encyclopedia Brown recently and put together a few more pieces of the G. Oliver Riggs career puzzle. It gets a little complicated, so please bear with me as I explain A Tale of Two Thorsons:

Thorson No. 1: T.W. Thorson

This is Theodore “Ted” Thorson, who became known as Crookston’s “Music Man” in its post-G. Oliver Riggs days.
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You couldn’t fit 143 candles on an ordinary cake. It would require a birthday cake of record-setting size. But of course if my great-grandfather G. Oliver Riggs were still alive today, at age 143, that would set quite a record, too.

He was born in 1870 in Louisa County, Iowa, and this year his birthday comes two days before Thanksgiving.

I had a writing breakthrough this morning while taking a shower. That’s where I usually get my best ideas – either in the shower or while I’m out walking my dog (which is why I’ve been known to take the dog out more frequently than his bladder requires, just in case inspiration strikes). The breakthrough is about the structure of the book I’m writing, currently titled: Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Bravado: the Tale of a Minnesota Music Man.

The great Minnesota Give together, Give to the Max Day, starts Thursday, Nov. 14, at 12 a.m. and lasts until 11:59 p.m. It’s a fun way to promote and support worthy nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Are you ready?

I serve on three different arts-related boards that are taking part in the day: the Northfield Youth Choirs, the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters, and the Vintage Band Festival, and I know they would greatly appreciate your tax-deductible gifts.

Last Sunday, Steve and I had the pleasure of attending the 111th annual St. Olaf College Choral Festival, just up the hill from our house. We were there primarily because Louisa was participating as a member of the Northfield High School Concert Choir. But I would have enjoyed it even if she hadn’t been among the impressive assembly of high school, community and college singers.

I’ve started a couple of blog posts in the past month, either on the computer or in my head, that have not yet made it to publication. I have lots of excuses, of course, and a good number of them are valid. I won’t get into all of them, but instead will provide an update on what I’ve been up to lately.

My grandfather Ronald died before my first birthday, so I never got to know him. But for a brief time yesterday, while sitting quietly at a wooden table in a special archives reading room at the University of Minnesota's Elmer Andersen Library, I could almost hear his voice.

It’s funny how a person’s personality can shine through a piece of writing, 69 years later. Funny cool.

I’ve been having too much fun lately buying items on eBay that relate to my book project. Within the past week, I’ve become the owner of two photos and one concert program. G. Oliver Riggs and his bands aren’t featured in any of the items, but all three items are from the time period in which the St. Cloud Municipal Boys’ band was well-known.

It’s easier to show and tell, instead of just tell, so here goes:

Item No.
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The Crookston community band is coming back! My great-grandfather would no doubt be pleased to hear that this tradition will continue, 115 years after he moved to Crookston to direct a city band.

I learned the news this morning when I read a blog post by Crookston preservation champion Kate Hegge. The band’s revivial is explained in this University of Minnesota-Crookston news release.
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