The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Azalia supported marching band
PUBLISHED: July 17, 2008
You may laugh about Azalia being a small town. Until the Ann Arbor Railroad went through, it didn't even have a name. It was just referred to as "East Milan."
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You may even laugh about Azalia consisting of only one or two stores during its heyday, and being surrounded by farmland. But when it came to music, Azalia was a hopping place.
From the looks of this picture, it appears that just about every male resident old enough to hold a horn to his lips was drafted into the Azalia marching band.
Unfortunately, the names of the musicians pictured have been lost to the mists of history, but at least the band director has a name. He was Frank Lamkin, born June 6, 1899, at 16833 Milwaukee Road in Dundee. He lived until 1952, still maintaining the same home address. I know his full name because his daughter, Ella Henning of Dundee, told me. And I believe her.
At one time, people realized the value of playing musical instruments and putting on community plays. Playing a violin, or a harmonica, or just placing waxed paper on a comb, starts the creativity vibes humming and increases a person's intelligence.
No recordings have survived the years, but it's obvious this band could put out the volume. Eight guys played the trumpet, plus the band director, so that makes nine. Three trombones handled the lower notes with that soulful sound only possible with the slide.
Wait, where are the ladies in this picture? For some reason, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people thought that musical groups should be kept separate. That's why Milan had the Orchestra Girls, actually adult women who formed a group in high school and kept the fun going in their later years. They were not the Orchestra Girls and Boys. No, the boys had to form their own band.
I recently found out that my mother played trombone in a girls' band when she was in high school, as late as the 1930s. Trying to imagine what would be so improper about girls and boys playing trombone side by side, all I can say is they would have lots of fun.
In the Azalia band, supporting the trombones — count them up -- were six baritones and five tubas. Two clarinets stand in the back, toward the right. And keeping them all in line, three snare drums and a bass drum.
This must have been a marching band because some of the guys have a lyre on the instrument, a decorative clip to hold the music. By placing the music on small pieces of paper, it can be held in the clip so long as the wind does not blow too hard.
Apparently, the gents had to supply their own uniforms, consisting of smart white trousers and dark coats. This picture is black and white, but I can visualize them with dark blue coats. Note the band hats giving them that official look for marching occasions.
There is no cannon visible in this picture, but I suspect they could have borrowed one if needed. A concert just wouldn't be complete without the "1812 Overture" by Tchaikovsky in E-flat major. Ka-boom.
Martha Churchill is a member of the Milan Area Historical Society. She can be reached at 439-4055 or nilanhistory@yahoo.com.
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