1902: Founding of the Band

Start-up of the Galt Kiltie Band

In the month of July 1902, Mr. R.W. Roelofson was requested to get a band together for the MacGregor-Gourley excursion to Elora. Between fifteen and twenty ex-bandsmen responded to the call and had two rehearsals in the Amity Club which was kindly loaned for the occasion. They turned out on a bright July morning attired in white coats and marched to the Grand Trunk railway station and went to Elora with the picnic. All the bandsmen were pleased with their efforts and wanted to keep the band together. It was hard to organize a band as the supporters in Galt were disgusted with the results of the Galt City Band. (In 1899 the Galt City Band folded up and sold all equipment to a small town in British Columbia -- enough to cover expenses that they had incurred). On Aug.15 1902 the players met in the Ikey Club rooms determined to organize a band. Mr. Roelofson was elected to the chair and Mr. A.B. Scott secretary. At that meeting a motion was passed resolving to make the present gathering a permanent organization; that it should be known as the Galt Kiltie Band. Mr. Roelofson was appointed bandmaster and a committee was chosen and instructed to procure a band room. The members of the Ikey Club kindley offered the free use of their rooms,
and two rehearsals each week were held thereafter.

The above information was made up by Frank Gadd and was given to me for safe keeping. Frank was sec.-treas. for many years also bandmaster and was a very dedicated member of the KILTIES. This is some of the info. that I am going to put in the Kiltie book that I wish to write -- just got to make time
for this venture.

In the next "DID YOU KNOW" issue I will give you info of what happened from 1903 to 1906 (that's when we obtained our 1895 Black Watch Highland Dress).

Sources:

Galt Kiltie Band Newsletter: Issue #11, Christmas 1995, written by Bob Fox

Retyped and posted to the web by band member, Graham Nasby, in 1999.

Reformated for new website on April 3, 2005.