A High School Orchestra

Music in the schools does not always mean a marching band. At one time, school orchestras were fairly common, and in many communities, schools were expected to give children an opportunity to learn a string instrument too. These large format photographs are a good example of  how training on a musical instrument was once a standard part of scholastic life. 

Nicely posed in their rehearsal room or maybe the school assembly room, this orchestra of 21 students  has a nice compliment of 10 string players as well as some woodwind and brass. Their ages range from around 13 to 17 and they must be fairly accomplished as there are some trophies arranged in the back.

The second photo shows only 7 musicians: cornet, violin, double bass, trombone, sousaphone, horn, and oboe. The two players on the right are the reason I had to acquire this set. The young girl with her double horn and two-tone shoes seems very assured. Beside her, the oboist holds a refined woodwind instrument rarely found in a photo of any period. This instrument has a small double reed that takes more skill to prepare than the single reeds of a clarinet or saxophone. Oboists are often surrounded by more piles of wood shavings than are found in a wood shop whittling class. 

The back has a useful annotation:

Mr. Sears
Hampton -

Players in 1929 N.E. Fest. Orch.
Players in 1929 N.E. Fest. Orch.

Player on this end Eng. Horn
Player on this end Eng. Horn


So this gives a good date of 1929 for the photo and an explanation of who these musicians are (though inexplicably repeated  though inexplicably repeated.)

As I went to high school and college in Virginia, my first thought was that this school orchestra was from Hampton on the James River. But Hampton (or Hammten in southern speak) is in southeast Virginia and the geography would never be used to describe a North East Festival. So is there another Hampton?

As a matter of fact there are 18 in the US and 4 more in Canada. There is a Hampton  in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oregon, and more. Each a potential hometown for these young boys and girls.

But there is a clue.

The flag on the right is clearly an important civic symbol, but it drapes so that the logo is read from the back. Photoshop fixes that with a reverse of the flag detail so we can see a circular seal with a date and portions of some words:

UM REIPUB ....IENSIS 1784.

Unfortunately that doesn't match any state flag of the 18 potential Hamptons. 1784 is also an odd date, as it is not part of any American State symbol.

The large wall plague seems to depict 17th century men making an amphibious landing. That suggests an earlier colonial heritage, which rules out Minnesota, Nebraska, and other Midwest states. What about the faint image in the center circle? It's a ship of some kind. Is there a similar maritime symbol for one of the other states?

State Flag of New Hampshire

The flag for New Hampshire seems a very close fit, but the year 1776 is different and the words around the state seal do not match the flag in the photo. (It seems this flag is considered one of the 10 worst flag designs in the USA)

It turns out that the New Hampshire State seal was changed in 1931. Finding a decent image of the earlier seal proved to be a challenge but the detail makes everything clear.

The old circular motto is:

Sigillum Republica Neo Hantoniensis 1784

The year 1784 celebrates the adoption of the first New Hampshire constitution. The Latin words translate as: Seal of the State of New Hampshire, which is not as inspiring as the State's other motto: "Live Free or Die"   (Which was only adopted in 1945. The full quote is from General John Stark who declined an anniversary reunion invitation in 1809 because of ill health with the phrase: "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.") 

The ship depicts New Hampshire's shipbuilding industry in Portsmouth, NH. But over the decades several variances had changed the original seal by adding figures of people and barrels of rum! This was too much for some sober citizens of the Granite State so a new seal was designed in 1931. 

The seven musicians of the Hampton, New Hampshire High School Orchestra rearranged themselves for one more photograph. You get a better view of the oboe, the horn player's shoes, and the socks too.

In 1930 the population of Hampton, NH was only 1500 citizens. Mr. Sears was Arthur C. Sears, listed in the census as married, age 33, occupation - Principal, Public School.  I'm sure he was very proud of his music students and their prize winning orchestra..

This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday.

Click the link for more fairies and young people.