In 1900, the
band launched its brief foray into military bandsmanship.
The 16th
Regiment determined that they needed to fill their regimental band spot, and
Col. W. J. Hulings favored enlisting his hometown band, the Franklin Band.
In June, a
local paper noted that the band missed a concert because they were busy filling
out their enlistment papers. Said the Franklin Leader, "“With the
Franklin Cornet Band attached to the Sixteenth Regiment that military
organization will outshine any other in the state. As a musical organization
the Franklin Cornet Band has few equals and no superiors in this section.”
Shortly after
the Fourth, the paper announced a park concert by "The 16th Regiment Band,
formerly the Franklin Band." Other press coverage of this period suggests
that the band actually kept both names.
In 1901, the
band traveled to DC for the Inauguration of the new President, serenading local
dignitaries like Joe Sibley and Charles Miller, and the governor of
Pennsylvania as well.
But despite
this sort of adventure, the boys quickly tired of military life, finding that
there was too much extra work and drill. The band asked to be discharged, but
they were denied.
Their solution
was simple. The Franklin Band met and voted to no longer loan the band's
instruments to be used by the 16th Regiment Band. And our brief military career
was over in less than two years.
