Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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of blood or brass relationship” with the Rochester citizen band take over the custody of “Old
Helicon.” The horn is workable and with a bit of furbishing with silver polish it would still look
swell draped around the torso of a present-day horn tooter.
For those who would take a peep into “Old Helicon’s” past, we present facts taken from
the files of the old bands and the records of Mr. Zimmerman and others:
Mack Ashton, the original purchaser of the huge tuba, relinquished his ownership of the
horn to a George Van Skike in the year of 1877. Van Skike sent the horn to a Cincinnati factory
for a complete overhauling in that year at a cost of $72.10. “Old Helicon” belched forth the bass
for the Rochester Union band, later the Rochester Cornet band which was led by Johnnie Pearson,
who later became bandmaster at Kansas City, Mo.
Following Van Skike’s death “Old Helicon” became the property of his sister and in the
year 1897, the business manager of the Rochester Citizens band puchased “Old Helicon” from
Miss Van Skike for $50.00. William Rannells became master of the big horn and in 1901 “Old
Helicon” was again sent to the factory for overhauling and repairing. The cost of this renewed
lease on life totaled exactly $327.00 an amount that almost tripled the original selling price.
While in the ownership of the Rochester Citizens band “Old Helicon” was played by
Charley Myers and Cal Hoover. The last named musician is believed to have been the last of the
Rochester band organization musicians who played the grand old tuba.
Mr. Zimmerman, present custodian of the relic of yesteryear, is extremely anxious that
someone associated directly with one of the old bands take “Old Helicon” in charge and preserve
the grand old tuba for the coming generations.
[The News-Sentinel, Friday, April 21, 1944]
“OLD HELICON” IS GIVEN HOME BY PROF. EMRICK
“Old Helicon,” the granddaddy of all Rochester tuba horns, for whom The News-Sentinel
rcently sought a permanent home, now has that home---and what a home, too!
Yesterday, Prof. Paul S. Emrick, of Lafayette,Ind., former local citizen and for many
years director of the Purdue university Symphonic, Military and Navy bands, came to Rochester
and took “Old Helicon” into custody. Soon the old tuba will be given a place of honor among an
ever-growing collection of old musical instruments owned by Prof. Emrick.
Obtained Other Relics
While here yesterday and through pre-arranged negotiations, Prof. Emrick also secured a
brass baritone horn, once owned by the late William Rannells and presented by Clarence Hill; and
a baton which was twirled by Rochester’s first drum major, the late Charles Brouilette and in latter
years by Charley Meyer, Meade Kingery and Edgar Wallace. The baton was donated to the
Emrick collection by Roscoe Pontius.
It was through the office of Val Zimmerman, former member of the old Rochester
Citizens Band, that such an appropriate home was found for these relics. For the past 15 years
“Old Helicon” was in storage at the Zimmerman furniture store and with the “spring
housecleaning” on, Mr. Zimmerman decided to make an effort to find suitable and permanent
shelter for the huge horn. An appeal, along with a skit about the historic background of the grand
old tuba was made through the columns of The News-Sentinel.
That this article had its desired effect we publish the following letter which Mr.
Zimmerman received from the Purdue university bandmaster:
“My Dear Val:
“I have read your feature story in The News-Sentinel about “Old Helicon” with deep
personal interest, for about this old instrument is centered much of the musical history of
Rochester.
“My interest in the Bands of Rochester can be seen from the following facts:
“First: My uncle, Ovid P. Osgood, organized the first band in Rochester in 1856 and was
its teacher and director. When the Civil War broke out, these musicians together with other men
from surrounding towns, including LaPorte, formed the 87th Regimental Band. This band was on
Sherman’s march to the Sea and played in Washington, D.C. I have the E flat cornet part, in