Back in the roisteruos-boisterous days of the Tucker County of fifty years ago, there was no such entertainment as we have today, to banish care, break monotony and give the boom town people something to do and to see.  There were no automobiles, no moving pictures, no radios and no television.  But they did have such pastimes and entertainment as croquet-courts, kaleidoscopes, graphophones, opera houses, buggies, box-suppers, and Bands.  Yes, the Bands; everyone had one and some, like Hendricks and Parsons, had two.  Hendricks had both a male and a female Band.  Some were big Bands, even incorporated under the laws of the State, and some were small, with only a few instruments, but they were the big forms of entertainment and diversion back in the days of horse-and-buggy days.  They had their own spick-and-span uniforms which, in most cases, were paid for by the admission concerts or the operation of a concession on the Fourth-of-July.  Most of the small villages up Dry Fork, had a Band.  Evenwood had an exceptionally good Band.  (Some of the Dry Fork towns are not in Tucker County but were closely associated with it as their means of egress and ingress were through Tucker, via the Dry Fork Railway.)  Country people came from miles around and sat all evening just to hear those Bands play.

     One of the best Bands in West Virginia was the Mountain City Band of Davis.  That popular organization of musicians was organized Feb. 21, 1905, and was incorporated under the laws of West Virginia, April 20, 1905.  It gained a deservedly wide reputation and was frequently encouraged to play at public gatherings in the surrounding counties.  They gave periodical concerts to crowded audiences and were highly appreciated by all who heard them.  This Band was a 26-piece Band and was led by Frederick N. Morin and Herbert O. Blaker at different times.  Members of the Davis Band were: Harry Adams, Victor Athy, Herbert O. Blaker, Harry Buckley, James Buckley, Raymond Dawson, Lewis C. Fisher, Fred P. Groves, F.E. Heiskell, Neil C. Heiskell, N.S. Iden, Klahr Lashley, Illario Lucano, R.C. McKelvey, Frederick N. Morin, Lucian Howe Mott, Lynn Noland, Harold Phelps, Frank Rauschenberger, John Rauschenberger, Ted Simmons, Benson Unger, Harry H. Weaver, and N. Mck. Wilson.

     The oldest Band in Tucker County was the Hambleton Cornet Band.  It was organized in 1893, and was incorporated under the laws of West Virginia.  This, too, was a fine uniformed Band.  They frequently paraded with the Bands from Thomas, Davis, Hendricks, and Parsons, at celebrations, political rallies, and special events.  Perry L. Lollett was the leader.  Members of the Hambleton Band were: D.C. Auvil, Perry L. Collett, Forrest H. Collett, E.B. Fooks, William O. Goff, Harry C. Griffith, F.R. Heffelfinger, Fred Kastner, Eugene Kepner, Oliver Kimble, Delton Jenkins Parsons, Ira Lovel Parsons, R.T. Ryan and L.W. Skidmore.

     The male Band of Hendricks was organized about 1810, and was known as the Hendricks Concert Band.  It entertained during the first Tucker County Fair, which was held in Hendricks in 1914.  It was a 20-piece Band alternately led by Herbert O. Baker, William H. Ryan, and Charles W. Fisher.  Most of its members are now deceased, however five still reside in Tucker County.  They are: "Tax" Mitchell and "Fats" Ryan of Parsons, Allen Lindsey and "Bill" Ryan in Hendricks, and Delphi Steeple in Thomas.  Members of the Hendricks Band were: John Berger, Herbert O. Baker, John Burdette, Arthur W, Cooper, Charles W. Fisher, Harry C. Griffith, Dow Huffman, Allen S. Lindsey, C.A. Miller, Timothy James Murphy, Tazewell Mitchell, Morton O'Neal, Ice Poling, Dillon Ryan, Elliott Ryan, William H. Ryan, Ralph Sherrick, Delphi Steeple, Robert Teter, and Bert L. Ward.

     These Bands, of course, fluctuated in membership in both names and numbers, from time to time.  The listings, here given, constitute their membership during the heyday of their existence.  Others may have participated with these Bands at an earlier or a later date. Sometimes members played in more than one Band, like Harry C. Griffith who played in the Hendricks and Hambleton Bands, Herbert O. Baker who played in the Davis and Hendricks Bands, and others.

     Unfortunately there is no information available on the Thomas and Parsons Bands.  If any reader has a photograph or any information on either of these Bands, it will be appreciated if he or she will contact this writer.  After all, a number of these writings are principally made up from what is told to this writer by persons who know of the incidents and what is shown to him with pictures of them.

     The most picturesque Band in Tucker County is the female Band of Hendricks.  It was organized Sept. 3, 1899, as the Mountain Beauties Band.  Frederick N. Morin and Herbert O. Baker, of Davis, tutored and coached them.  When this Band was first organized it was composed of twelve Hendricks girls, seven on whom were sisters.  They and the instruments they played are listed as follows: Addie Craver, baritone; Fannie Craver, second alto; Gertrude Craver, bass tuba; Grace Craver, cornet; Lottie Craver, bass drum; Nina Craver, second alto; Edna Bigler, first tenor; Frankie Bigler, cornet; Tacy Bowman, first alto; Mary Harper, cornet; an Floda Roy, cornet.

     In June 1900, the Bigler family moved to Johnstown, Pa.; in 1902 Floda Roy married Mark Falke and moved to Davis; in 1904 Mary Harper married John W. Minear and moved to Parsons; and a year or two later Tacy Bowman married Ulysses M. Carrwell and went to housekeeping in Hendricks.

     This broke up the Mountain Beauties Band, but it was soon reorganized by Herbert O. Baker.  Olive, another of the Craver sisters, joined, making an eight sister Band.  It was thereafter known as the Craver Sisters Band.  There was still another Craver sister named Evelyn, but she was too young to participate in the activities of the Band at that time.  They were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Craver who operated the Craver Hotel on Charles Street in Hendricks.  They were musically inclined and each played so well that they soon became a sensation wherever they performed.  They traveled considerably in the adjacent communities and counties and went as far away as Newport News, Va., to give concerts.

     They were the only all-girl Band in West Virginia and the only all-sister Band in the United States.  That is quite an honor for the sleepy little village of Hendricks to look back upon.  Lottie and Pearl are now deceased; Addie and Grace now reside in Baltimore, Md.; Gertrude resides in Bartow, Pocahontas County, W. Va.; Fannie, Nina, Olive, and Evelyn all live in Charleston, W. Va.

     In the accompanying picture, they are, left to right standing: Grace, cornet; Nina, first alto; Fannie, second alto; Olive, tenor drum; Pearl, second tenor; Addie, baritone; Gertrude, bass tuba; and seated in front is Lottie, bass drum.  Evelyn, being prepared for first tenor, is not in the picture.

Article published in The Parsons Advocate, Parsons, Tucker Co., WV, Vol. 63, No. 31, Thursday, June 18, 1957, p. 1.