Every week we publish a historic photo highlighting a story from Naperville’s past from the history archives of Naper Settlement.
The Naperville Municipal Band has provided a soundtrack for the city for nearly 165 years, with roots dating back to July 4, 1859, when the then-Naperville Brass Band performed its first concert on Independence Day at Barber’s Corner.
Since that humble beginning, the band — which has gone by different names over the decades — has evolved and still plays a vital role in the community today. Fresh off its performances at the city’s Memorial Day Parade and ceremony, it’s set to launch its summer concert seriest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Central Park.
Looking back, though, there’s a deep, rich history that includes band members helping entertain Union soldiers during the Civil War. In June 1861, it was reported that five members of the Naperville Brass Band joined the regimental band to play for the troops encamped in Joliet.
The first recorded report of the Naperville Light Guard Band dates back to June 4, 1866. Ten years later, that band performed during a celebration of the nation’s centennial in Naperville. It also reportedly performed at political rallies in Court House Square — now called Central Park — and “all around town.”
Joseph Bapst, band member and sometimes band leader, was the grandfather of the late Ron Keller, who served as band director for 57 years. Ron was the fifth generation Keller in the band when he joined in the early 1950s.
An internal dispute over when and where to play led the Naperville Light Guard Band to split in 1877. Fifteen members broke off to form the “official Regimental Band at the first regular regimental encampment in Illinois” in 1878.
The Naperville Light Guard Band carried on, however, celebrating its 15th anniversary with a performance on July 4, 1882.
In the photograph running with today’s story, the band is shown in 1886 wearing new uniforms and showing off a new bass drum bearing the band’s name. A story in the Naperville Clarion said “the band boys are very thankful to the citizens of Naperville who donated toward paying for their new uniforms.”
The band hit a bad patch in the 1890s, struggling to stay afloat and eventually dissolving the charter organization due to a lack of sponsorship.
That led to the Lounge Factory Band, founded in 1906. Peter Kroehler, owner of Kroehler Manufacturing Co., helped finance the band and provided the uniforms.
Ten years later, the name was changed to The Naperville Band. It had 22 members in 1917, although Kroehler no longer provided financial support.
According to the Naperville Home Coming booklet of 1917, “Mr. J. Fred Fehr, the present director, received his musical education in the School of Museum of North-Western College and the American Violin School.
“Under his able leadership the Band is producing most excellent results. There are 22 members, and the name is now The Naperville Band. Sixteen Saturday evening concerts in the business section last summer were enjoyed and financed by many friends and admirers.”
A new sponsor was found in 1924 when the Naperville Association of Commerce stepped up to support a series of outdoor concerts on patriotic holidays or other special occasions.
In 1928, a state charter was granted to the Naperville Municipal Band Association. A series of reorganizational meetings established the foundation for the modern Naperville Municipal Band.
Elmer Koerner, the Naperville Public Schools band director, became conductor in 1929, a position he held until he died of a heart attack in November 1965. The Elmer Koerner Band Shell in Central Park was dedicated to his memory in June 1966. Ron Keller succeeded him, holding the job until 2023.
To learn more about the Naperville Municipal Band, Mary Lou Cowlishaw’s 1981 history is available from the Illinois Digital Archives at www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/npl/id/12582.
Keller’s history with the band is available at www.napervilleband.org/our-director-emeritus.
Andrea Field is the curator of history at Naper Settlement. For more information, go to www.NaperSettlement.org. Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
