New Drum Corps History Book

[MikeN]

Jud Spena has published "Echoes in the Valley," a 50-year history of the Watkins Glen Squires and their predecessors in Schuyler County in Upstate New York. 228 pages, 265 pictures and scores from over 130 contests dating back to 1933!

Steve Rondinaro calls this book "a treasure." Steve Vickers of Drum Corps World characterized it as "a wonderful exploration of the activity..well worth the price for a snapshot of one segment of the activity from someone who lived it."

For more information contact the author directly (please include the word "Echoes" in the subject line). "Echoes" may be ordered directly from Jud or online at www.buybooksontheweb.com.

[bawker]

From the "sneak a peek" feature on the website...in case you want to try before you buy. :)

Echoes in the Valley

by Jud Spena

The first weekend in July saw the SQUIRES in competition for the first time. Corps history was made on July 3rd at an afternoon contest in Hamilton on the Colgate University campus. In front of a very small crowd the corps performed well and managed what we thought was a very respectable second place to Canada’s Marching Saints. We were surprised (read flabbergasted) and pleased to be announced in second place roughly one point from first. While the buses were leaving Hamilton rumors of a mistake on the score sheets and our placing first began to circulate. Traveling down route 12 to Endicott for the evening contest corps spirits had risen to a near frenzy. When arriving in Endicott the revelation that we had indeed won the earlier contest sent spirits sky high. We marched the show of our young lives and waited as patiently as we could, not quite knowing what to expect. At the retreat ceremony as the announcer read the results, most members will probably remember (whether real or imagined) the sound of sixty-eight hearts pounding in anticipation as the places were revealed. An instant of stunned disbelief was followed by a flood of unabashed joy as the second place announcement left the SQUIRES alone in first place. For a drum corps that had never won much of anything it was a defining moment. It was not a close win (over five points). Best color guard was more icing on the cake. We couldn’t get hold of ourselves. No one seemed to mind. We stopped for fast food, spent half the night repeating, “I can’t believe it” and got home around 4:00am.

The following two weeks were spent in preparation for the SQUIRES’ first major trip to the “World Open” in Lynn, Massachusetts. Practices were devoted to shortening the field show. Class ‘B’ rules for presumably younger and less experienced groups, had a shorter time requirement. It was also customary to shorten the routine further for preliminary competition. Major fundraisers included a “tag day” where corps members collected donations for tags with the words “Boost ‘em to Boston.” Folks all over the Glen were wearing them. An Ice Cream Social in Lafayette Park capped off the tag day.

On Thursday, July 15th the SQUIRES headed for Lynn and our first contest of this scope. Twenty-six corps were competing in Class ‘B’ for five finalist spots. We left the Glen with high hopes but due to our inexperience and young age again didn’t really know what was in store. Upon arrival we attempted to practice but the distractions of travel, the strange (to us) location and the hundreds of locals swarming the practice field on bicycles made it just about impossible.

This being the first overnight trip for the majority, few corps members got much sleep. On Friday morning, as the corps arrived at the venerable Manning Bowl, morale was high but so was apprehension. The site of the stadium itself was overwhelming to many. We apparently did a good job. The quote of the morning was from Hardy, who up to this point had been very difficult to please. “Great show but don’t expect too much.” That was somehow reassuring. We did well and could go home pleased with our efforts.

We changed clothes and went back into the stadium to watch the rest of the show. Our score was a respectable 63.05, near the top but there was a long way to go. As the afternoon wore on the possibility of making the finals began to materialize and it came down to the final announced score. When that came (a 60.60 for the Watertown, MA Cadets) the nearly dumbfounded SQUIRES found themselves in fifth place, the last qualifying position. World Open finalists! In what was turning out to be a storybook summer the corps was once again awash in emotions. We made a quick trip back to our housing, tried to rest and returned to Manning Bowl after supper. The thrills were multi-dimensional. We performed another good show to a very large and appreciative crowd. My Wife the Dancer received a standing ovation and we actually moved up two places to finish in third. The young SQUIRES were having the time of their lives and the best was yet to come.

The return trip was as might be expected. Most of us slept. About ninety minutes outside of Watkins Glen, at a stop in Windsor near Binghamton, corps president Willie Franzese brought up the idea of performing when we arrived in the Glen. Anyone who heard the suggestion thought he was out of his mind but what could we say? About ten miles from the Glen in Alpine a small group of well wishers at the junction displayed a homemade sign welcoming us home and before we new it there were quite a few cars following the buses in caravan style. Someone on the bus, listening to a radio, thought he heard some mention of the corps but couldn’t quite make it out for sure. By the time we got to Montour Falls the caravan had grown and fire trucks had joined the caravan. Sirens were blaring. By now we knew something was afoot but really didn’t have much of an idea what. It was a typical Sunday with Franklin Street basically deserted as we entered the village, horns honking and sirens blaring. But instead of stopping at the usual drop off at the Municipal Building the buses headed down Fourth Street to Lafayette Park.

At the park we were again stunned to see wall-to-wall people with signs and placards congratulating us and welcoming us home. The Mayor, the PAGES and most of the rest of the villagers were on hand. Red carpets were rolled out and rose petals were showered on the members as we got off the buses. Hugs, kisses and tears were in abundance. A victory concert was performed in a scene of Americana that would have been the envy of Norman Rockwell.

[Michael Boo]

I discussed this book in the Fanfare column a couple weeks before the end of the year. I've got a copy and it is VERY well written, informative beyond belief, and will take anyone (whether they were around the activity then or not) back to a time when community drum corps dotted the landscape and some, with the right set of circumstances, were able to rise above the crowd and achieve greatness.

As I mentioned in Fanfare, "Most importantly, perhaps, the book deals with how a small community proudly supported its youth in the corps activity, a roadmap for how other communities could do the same."

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED whether you are from upstate New York or not. This book isn't just full of facts and history, it's FUN to read.

Mike

[boston1977]

From the "sneak a peek" feature on the website...in case you want to try before you buy. :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We changed clothes and went back into the stadium to watch the rest of the show. Our score was a respectable 63.05, near the top but there was a long way to go. As the afternoon wore on the possibility of making the finals began to materialize and it came down to the final announced score. When that came (a 60.60 for the Watertown, MA Cadets) the nearly dumbfounded SQUIRES found themselves in fifth place, the last qualifying position. World Open finalists!

A Great Story, when I get a chance,

will tell a little story about the "Watertown Cadets".

Maybe St. Marys 64 can help me with some of the details

Edited January 19, 2005 by boston1977

[KeithHall]

Was that excerpt talking about 1970? I remember that was my first field show and Squires beat out White Knights from Baltimore, but I forgot who else was there...maybe Gauchos, Mello Dears, Mark Twain Cadets, etc. Someone remember?