I have occasionally joked with friends about the idea of making the G. Oliver Riggs story into a musical. Turns out, it’s not such a wild idea. The History Theatre in St. Paul has announced its 2013-14 season, and one of the shows is about the Minneapolis Working Boys Band, a contemporary of (and occasional competitor to) my great-grandfather’s St. Cloud Municipal Boys’ Band.

The theater’s press release describes the world premiere show as “a celebration of community, music, love, and patriotism.” Working Boys Band, with book and lyrics by Dominic Orlando and music by Hiram Titus, will be performed May 3-June 1, 2014.

The Minneapolis working boys band was organized in 1918 by Professor C. C. Heintzman as a way to give boys a positive activity that would keep them out of trouble.

A common problem with old photos is that they lack names, dates and locations – crucial information when you’re conducting research decades later. But that’s not the problem facing me at the moment (yes, the pun is intentional). I have located a photo that clearly labels the first and last names of all the people in it. The problem is, I’m not convinced the young man identified as my great-uncle, Percy Riggs, is really him.

The photo is of the St.

My daughter, Louisa, is in Red Wing today – with her French horn – as one of 1,000 Minnesota high school students attending the 2013 Missota Conference fine arts festival. Her band will give a performance, attend a clinic, and participate in a grand finale concert tonight at the Red Wing High School with the other bands and choirs.
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