Crookston Band Revived!

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.

The Crookston city band in 1899, directed by G. Oliver Riggs (center).

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.

U of MN-Crookston mathematics instructor TJ Chapman is reviving the community group in conjunction with the university band. Chapman is the principal tubist with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and the acting principal tubist with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra.

TJ Chapman, director of the Crookston Community Band

The band’s repertoire will include marches, patriotic and holiday selections and original concert band literature. The first rehearsal is tonight in the music rehearsal room on the UMC campus. The band will rehearse weekly on Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and anyone who’s interested is invited to participate – including those who no longer have an instrument (the school will help with finding or loaning instruments). For more information, contact Chapman at 218-281-8384 or tchapman@umn.edu.

According to the university press release, a Crookston Community Band concert is tentatively planned for later in the semester, possibly in early December.

This news has me thinking that it might be time to plan another research trip to Crookston. I could attend the concert and also stock up on those delicious Chippers (chocolate-covered potato chips) from Widman’s, a downtown Crookston candy store that has been in operation since 1911 and was an early supporter of the community band.

Some of the delicious candy made and sold at Widman’s in Crookston.

Supporting traditions is important, and when chocolate is involved, it can also be tasty.