Perry to hold rededication ceremony to celebrate bandstand’s 100th year
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Submitted photo
The Village of Perry is celebrating the centennial of the community’s bandstand this Friday during Pioneer Days. The structure was designed by Perry resident John Johnson and constructed and dedicated in 1924.
The Village of Perry will hold a rededication ceremony for its bandstand during this year’s Pioneer Days. The bandstand is being rededicated to celebrate its 100th year.
The current bandstand is actually the community’s second such structure. Perry’s first bandstand was square in shape and was in a park in the Southeast part of town.
The bandstand that currently sits in the middle of Perry’s Main Street was built and dedicated in 1924. It was designed by Perry resident John Johnson.
Perry Association for Community Enrichment (PACE) committee member Lori Berquist said that the handstand is being rededicated at Pioneer Days to celebrate its longevity and its importance to the community.
“It’s been there in the middle of town for 100 years,” Berquist said. “It’s important to the Village.”
However, Berquist added, that more than once the Village considered tearing down or relocating the bandstand, because it interfered with traffic sightlines and because it had fallen into disrepair.
“It’s come up a couple of times to tear it down or move it,” Berquist said. “Obviously they have not.”
Berquist went on to explain that twice in the bandstand’s history, the Village considered tearing it down. But both times, Berquist explained, Perry residents and students spoke out to keep it, protesting with signs and high school band performances.
Because of disrepair, the bandstand has undergone significant repairs and renovation at least twice, in the 1940’s and 1960’s.
Over the past 100 years Perry’s bandstand has been used for many community and school band performances and other community activities.
“It was used by Perry’s Cornet Band and later what was called the Perry Military Band,” Berquist said. “And it was used by the Perry High School band.”
The designer of the bandstand, John Johnson, also utilized the bandstand for performances by the Johnson Family Band, which was composed of members of his family, including Johnson’s children.
“John Johnson’s kids all played instruments, and they used the bandstand for concerts,” Berquist said. “They also traveled and played in towns throughout the immediate area.”
To mark the bandstand’s centennial, it will be rededicated to the Village of Perry during Friday evening’s Pioneer Day activities. As a part of the ceremony, a brass band of local area musicians will perform to celebrate. The band will play Friday evening at 7:45 p.m.
In addition, a plaque will be presented to the Village Board, to be affixed to the bandstand to commemorate the occasion.
David Camphouse/Pike Press
The Village of Perry is celebrating the centennial of the community’s bandstand this Friday during Pioneer Days. The centennial celebration will feature a brass band concert and the presentation of a plaque to rededicate the structure. Ahead of Pioneer Days, Perry Association for Community Enrichment (PACE) volunteers dedicated many hours of work to sprucing up the bandstand. PACE volunteer Wendy Reich is shown painting the bandstand on Saturday afternoon.
