b'Historic ScugogBY J. PETER HVIDSTENand the BANDplayed on!Port Perrys bandstand provided avenue for concerts in the park Gazebo at corner of Queen St. and Water Streetbefore it was moved into the centre of the park.M USIC played a big part in the social life of Reach Township and Port Perrys early settlers, and as early as 1859 a Brass Band had been organized in the fledgling village of Prince Albert. It was almost another ten years before there is evidence of the existence of a Brass Band inThe Port Perry Band, circa 1925, Port Perry.It is written that no gala occasion fromlikely have been a small raised platform on which a public parade to a garden party wasthe band memebers could be elevated.complete without the band in attendance.Serious talk about building a town bandstand The bands played concerts in town halls,started during the summer of 1925, when council churches, political events, steamboat excur- began investigating sites, plans and cost for the sions, temperance gatherings and districtstructure. One year later they announced a band-fairs, often travelling to neighbouring com- stand would be built just east of the town weight munities to add their musical talents to theirscales. The structure to be octagonal in shape, and celebrations. 17 feet in diameter.The first mention of a bandstandTrue to their word, a bandstand was constructed being used in Port Perry was in July 1912,on the southeast corner of Queen and Water Streets, when a visitor to the town commented,and was officially opened on August 20, 1926. The The Town Hall stands at the corner of adesign was similar to the Oshawa Park bandstand pretty park, in which is a bandstand andand it was built by William MacGregor and Charles many fine trees. Powers, who were a members of the local band.The bandstand mentioned would mostThe bandstand stood proudly at the corner of 64FOCUS - MAY 2023 Please turn to page ??'