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Musical Service: The Life and Times of small town was no longer the center of the Franklin Silver Cornet Band American life by the time of Baum's arrival By Peter Greene and departure defines the scope, the (Xlibris Corporation, 2006) beginning though not the end, of Greene's B/W photos, pp. 422, $34.99 softcover history. While the mayors, employers, and civic Some say that a thorough enough description and band leaders of Franklin and Venango of any single thread in a society can lead to an County march across these pages in detail, understanding of that society's entire Greene never fails to insert a paragraph tapestry. This certainly applies to Peter situating his narrative in the greater scheme Greene's engaging history of the Franklin of things, with admirable and often Silver Cornet Band of Franklin, . humorous precision: In the process of detailing the 150-year-old 1905 had its share of firsts, from the institution's waxing and waning fortunes, first Rotary Club to the initial produc- membership, leadership, sources, and travels, tion of novocain. In McKeesport, Greene includes a fair sketch of local, Pennsylvania, the first true movie the- ater opened. On a somewhat loftier regional, and national history as well as an level, Einstein proposed his Theory of examination of popular music's history and Relativity. But in Franklin, the biggest performance. event on the horizon was the 1905 Old Franklin, Pennsylvania, sits on the Home Week, the first such civic event in Venango County about an attempted here. hour northeast of . For its first The Silver Cornet Band itself falls into hundred years, the site of present-day the category of the town band, which came Franklin hosted forts for the French, British, into being in response to a demand for "music that and Americans. It became a small agricultural required the audience to be community, then one of the "three sisters of neither musically sophisticated nor quietly oil" with Oil City and Titusville when the attentive." During much of the band's black gold rush hit in the 1860s. Greene history, that meant playing a preponderance sprinkles his chronicle with the fortunes of of marches with an occasional admixture of these oil tycoons (later industrialists and show tunes, overtures, novelty numbers, and business people) who sometimes were vocal feature songs. Other characteristics of supportive of small-town institutions, and the town band included a primarily amateur sometimes not. Herb Baum, who was sent to standing, though support was frequently Venango County in the 1990s to dismantle sought for uniforms, travel, and sheet the last of the local oil companies-Quaker music. The town itself customarily supplied State-was vocal in his disdain for Franklin's rehearsal and storage space of varying backwardness. Greene judges Baum harshly: quality as well as a stipend for the summer "It was not enough to give us an economic concert season that took place, weather kick in the breadbasket; Baum belittled our permitting (and it often didn't), in a series whole region, our lives, our culture" That the of town center bandstands.

52 WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY I SPRING2007 Concerts were not the bands only finally open membership to anyone, no and repertory at frequent points in its function, however. They were called on matter the gender, race, nor age, at about the 150-year history. The book is a precious for most important community events, same time as the rest of society-the 1960s. commodity for the town of Franklin and for including factory openings, picnics, and Greene picks out the key components current and former band members, but at parades on every conceivable occasion in a contributing to the band's survival, including 400+ pages, it is slightly longer than the time when "there was no such thing as mass a core of dedicated players who kept it going general reader might prefer. entertainment." War time could be taxing through hard times, a leader who could vary Greene's history of the Silver Cornet and not every member was thrilled to march repertory and maintain a good musical Band is a monument to his own participation down Main Street each time a soldier headed standard, and a strong relationship with the in the life of Venango County, both as band off to war. head of the high school music program, who member for 30 years and as journalist and The Cornet Band survived the Swing in many instances funneled in a stream of teacher. Painstakingly researched, exhaustive and Big Band eras, and Pop music in all its young players. The band's inclusiveness is one in detail, and loving in its attention to small forms-from jazz to the crooners to the of its defining characteristics. Though its town realities, Greene's volume transcends British Invasion, rock, soul, and hip-hop. In standards of inclusion evolved in tandem the genre of volunteer-written institutional the process it became a self-acknowledged with general social norms, members-once history and will hold a place of honor in the anachronism with pride in just that fact- accepted were in for life, whatever the very milieu he so reveres as well as being a "What we do is quaint. It's backward."- musical consequences: "At no point in our resource for researchers in the areas of music combined with a sense of wonder at what the history have we ever told an aging or ailing or history and the American small town. band continues to mean to each member and just plain not-so-gifted player that it was time to Franklin. for him or her to step down." On this front, Christopher M. Jones teaches French and Membership evolved from an all-adult, Greene is faithful to his sources, providing a conducts research on popular song at Carnegie male format to include high school boys and literal snapshot of the band, its membership, Mellon University.

SENATOR JOHN HFINZ His-i'oizy ('ENTEiz BOARD OF T jw S TE L _S

Dan D. Sandman, Andrew E. Masich, The I Chairman, President & CEO, Costa Board of Trustees Senator John Heinz Center Beve John F. Bitzer, J History Vice Chairman, Esther L. Barazzone, Ph.D. "1a Board of Trustees Nadine E. Bognar SaStan Ron Davenport,Sr,, Chuc Vice Chairman, Suzanne W. Broadhurst Board of Trustees Commissioner J. Bracken Matt

Sigo Falk, Burns, Sr. Franc Treasurer, Esther L. Bush Torre Board of Trustees

Robert Barensfeld, Joseph L Calihan Jean Secretary, Estelle F.Comay, Esq. Robe Board of Trustees Mrs. James F Compton Willia

* Legal name histori l Societyof WesternPennsylvrona

WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY I SPRING2007 53 BOOK REVIEWS

THE SPECTATOR AND THE The Spectator and the interest to the areas he feels "are at once TOPOGRAPHICAL CITY Topographical City essential to any understanding of Pittsburgh, singular in their scope and qualities, and By Martin Aurand representative of the spaces and visual (Pittsburgh: Press, 2006) experiences of the topographical city." 150 illustrations, 248 pp. $29.95 hardcover Though these choices are subjective, Aurand spends just over 200 pages successfully With its richly illustrated pages, Martin convincing readers, via innumerable re- Aurand's The Spectator and the Topographical sources and works of visual art, that these are City floats the reader down Pittsburgh's the three spaces vital to the spectator's rivers, backwards through time, to a place understanding of the city. with three doors labeled "In View of a Golden Throughout the book, he parallels Triangle," "Scenes From the Turtle Creek Pittsburgh with older cities' topographies; Valley," and "Oakland and the Complex Martin Aurand theirs' being primarily concerned with Vista." By breaking the city into these three spiritual matters and Pittsburgh's dedicated "terrestrial rooms," Aurand directs specific to industrialism and capitalism: "In Pittsburgh, the steel industry and the tower substitute for the church and the dome." Thus, the tone is set for the examination of a secular, single-minded Pittsburgh that is the precedent of our topography. "In View of the Golden Triangle" documents the struggle to deconstruct Grant's Hill and the subsequent race to build amongst capitalists Henry Clay Frick, Henry Oliver, and Henry Phipps, among others. This competition culminates with the U. S. Steel Building, but the history of what we view in the city as spectators isn't the only focus. Aurand shifts his interest to how downtown is viewed from inside the FEAR, city: from to Market Square to Mount Washington. Of the latter, he con- X cludes: "[Through] the act of viewing, the .....nTHINr._N IIJ spectator, who identifies with the view and ...... 1.111111111M stands suspended within it, sees and assumes BUTA CLOSED MIND his or her place within the topographical so city." It is his focus on how people define oll I ]III V V You have the confidence to offei neliv deas, themselves through Pittsburgh's topography Toeinbrace chinoe. Tocreate s(onethkog oul of nothinq. that sets this book apart from other historical Sniop, people cAl th it iisky You ( all it i(! Ajodhooq. works on the city. www.setonhill.edu

54 WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY I SPRING2007 "Scenes from the Turtle Creek Valley" Carnegie Technical Institute, now Carnegie influences, from Italian villas and gardens to of the University of focuses largely on the relationship between Mellon University, and the role the site's Thomas Jefferson's design railroads and the steel mills within the valley, topography played in the construction and Virginia to Piero della Francesca's use of but again Aurand injects his perspective of viewing of the campus. Aurand's close linear perspective in his painting View of an century. These how the rails impacted the spectator's attention to this institution is imperative to Ideal City from the late 15th with his view: "The motion of the train shrank space, the function of his book as a whole: how disparate references, combined and thus displayed in immediate succes- the challenges of the landscape form the emphasis on the spectator's position in sion objects and pieces of scenery that in structure of the campus and the design of viewing these elements, makes The Spectator their original spatiality belonged in sepa- the buildings individually. For example, and the Topographical City a distinctive rate realms." He explains how, as the Machinery Hall, whose rear is dropped off and informative study on the history of Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing the edge of , exposes Pittsburgh. Company dominated the Turtle Creek Valley multiple stories not visible from the building's front. Aurand emphasizes the in the early 20th century, it claimed both the Mark Mangini is a senior at the University of valley and its topography. Westinghouse's spectator's position in seeing the campus Pittsburgh studying English literature, art history, new style of factory, basically variations on throughout "Oakland and the Complex and film studies. the theme of the production shed, offered Vista," thoroughly examining design's spectators on the valley floor "a continuous brick faqade, displaying window after window after window,' while those observing from the surrounding hills saw only roofs covering the floor of the valley from side to side. This construction frenzy was capped off in 1931 by the George Westinghouse Bridge, again OUR REGION HAS honoring an industrialist as "a triumphal arch may honor an emperor, and a bridge or dam A COLORFUL PAST, may honor a president" The City Beautiful movement swept INDEED. urban developers' ideology in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, with its ideals that From dark and fiery steel mills to green and golden hillsides, captured vividly by both "sought to bring order to the chaos of the our region's history and beauty have been national and regional artists. Experience it for yourself in American industrial city and [became] Born of Fire: the Valley of Work and Southwestern Pennsylvania Landscapes, dominated by an aesthetic that two permanent exhibitions which paint a powerful portrait promoted a monumental art integrating of a dynamic region. architecture, landscape, and the city." Oakland was to encapsulate these ideals-far away enough from the downtown area to ril become, as developer Franklin E Nicola felt, THE WESTMORELAND "a new Pittsburgh," one that would be seen The Place for American Art throughout the country as a model city. With www.wmuseumaa.org this idea in tow, Aurand devotes 50 detailed 221 NORTH MAIN STREET • GREENSBURG PA 15601 • (724) 837-1500 pages to the development and history of

WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY I SPRING2001 55 BOOK REVIEWS

BOOK REVIEW CAPSULES

Drifting Back in Time: Historical This detailed biography of candid Pittsburgh of a druggist from McKeesport; he did well Sketches of Washington and Fayette Pirates slugger and hometown hero Frank academically and attended both Princeton Counties, Pennsylvania, including the Thomas is a must-read for every baseball and Harvard. He met and married Patsy Valley enthusiast. A teammate of Kiner, Clemente, Mellon, which put him into contact with the Banks, Aaron, and Frank Robinson, Thomas Pittsburgh elite. During the war, he was part ByJK. Folmar, I was a feared power hitter who helped turn of the OSS, which later became the CIA. (California, Pa.: Yohogania around the dismal Pirates teams of the early Later, he was the manager of the A. W. Mellon Press, 2005) 1950s. He was well-known for challenging Educational and Charitable Trust where BW photographs, index, pp. players to try their hardest throw and he he was involved with Allegheny Conference 240, $19.95 softcover would catch it bare-handed-which he did on Community Development and the successfully. Much more than a season-by- establishment of the School of Public Health season retelling of his 17 years in the Major at the University of Pittsburgh. An intriguing Leagues with eight teams, fans can glimpse story of a man who influenced many of the the seldom-exposed inner workings of the great improvements in Pittsburgh but has J.K. Folmar, longtime editor of The Voice of era's stingy ownership, the challenges of remained in the shadows. -AL the Mon, the newsletter of the Monongahela battling through the minor leagues, and River Buffs Association, has compiled 42 an All-Star's persistence through numerous Haunted Pennsylvania: Ghosts articles in this self-published book. Some are trades. The inspirational core value of and Strange Phenomena of the edited 1880s-era articles, while others are speaking truthfully and the importance of Keystone State reprints of Folmar's own local history writing family, religion, education, and charity are from regional newspapers. Topics range from By Mark Nesbitt and Patty consistent themes throughout the book and Isaac Meason's Fayette County empire, A. Wilson in Thomas' character. -CB steamboats, and Dr. Clemmer's early art of (Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 2006) medicine to a look at historic celebrations of A Patrician of Ideas: a Biography of Illustrations, bibliography, pp. Halloween, Christmas, July Fourth, and New A.W. Schmidt 135, $9.95 softcover Years in the Mon Valley. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the writing through- By Clarke M. Thomas out. Both old and new articles are filled with (Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh surprising facts about the region. -SF History & Landmarks, 2006) Illustrations, bibliography, This is a nice collection of odd occurrences in "Kiss It Goodbye!": pp. 181, $24.95 softcover Pennsylvania, with the last half of the book The Frank Thomas Story dedicated to the central and western part of the state. There are familiar stories, some that By Frank Thomas, with are new, including a tale about the haunting Ronnie Joyner and Bill of the Sen. John , where Bozman This is a very interesting biography of a man this magazine originates. Both authors have (Dunkirk, Md.: Pepperpot who was involved in many of the great published previous books on hauntings in Productions, Inc., 2005) changes in the Pittsburgh area, especially Gettysburg and central Pennsylvania. -AL Photos, 515 pp., $29.00 during the Renaissance, but who remains hardcover largely unknown. A.W. Schmidt was the son

56 WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY I SPRING2007 Italian Nationality Room Cookbook In Loving Memory... and Still More out by his father and named for Capt. James Lawrenceville Stories Lawrence who coined the phrase "Don't give By Arcangela Lattari up the ship." But there is much more to and Balest, Sam Patti, By Ray Ouin, James Lawrenceville history, and James and Jude the Italian Nationality Wudarczyk, and Jude Wudarczyk, along with others, have been Room Committee Wudarczyk writing down the stories for a number of (Pittsburgh: University of (Pittsburgh: Lawrenceville years. Subjects as diverse as Fritzie Zivic and Pittsburgh Press, 2006) Historical Society, 2005) Mayor Kline's carpet have roots in this 88 pp., $20 (through the Illustrations, bibliographies, the third and in index, pp. 201, Pittsburgh neighborhood. This is the History Center $17.00 softcover book of stories on the area: A Doughboy's Museum Shop) softcover Tale, written with the help of Allan Becer and Daren Stanchak, was published in 2004, and a Many people know about the Allegheny revised version of Monster on the Allegheny Each year, $8,000 in scholarship monies are Arsenal explosion or that Stephen Foster was was published in 2005 by the same publishers offered by the committees of the Italian born in Lawrenceville and the town was laid and priced as mentioned above. -AL Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2006, as part of their fundraising efforts, the Executive Committee of the Italian Room published this cookbook, A4 tradtiona4joyous a unique collection of recipes from Pittsburgh's Italian-American community. andoving community These are the recipes of the none, or grandmothers, many not found in typical -aitfinvites you to stop by cookbooks. The book also contains facts about the Italian Room and stories about the ndget to know us better. recipes, which recall the presence of these dishes at family dinners and celebrations in the U.S. and Italy. -NC THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5701 FIFTH AVE. AT S. NEGLEY PITTSBURGH, PA 15232 (412) 661-4710

THE REV. VANCE W. TORBERT, 3RD REV. MICHELLE L. WAHILA H. PRESTON SHOWMAN DIRECTOR OF MUSIC SUNDAY WORSHIP 11:00 A.M.

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