BRODHEAD — Step back in time on Sunday, August 13, when the 1st Brigade Band performs during Brodhead’s Covered Bridge Days in tribute to Donald M. Condon, Jr., who passed away in March. This unique, Civil War-era band will perform during the Ecumenical Church Service at 10 a.m. and again at a concert from 2-3:30 p.m., both in Veteran’s Park.  These events are being facilitated by Brodhead Historical Society.

This year’s performance is made possible by the generosity of the family of Donald M. Condon Jr, an accomplished Brodhead native (BHS Class of 1967 and 2013 BHS Wall of Fame inductee), who has family ties to the 1st Brigade Band. Don’s brother Jon Condon is the conductor, his sister-in-law Susan and nieces and nephews are performers, and nephew Doug Condon doubles as the band’s manager. Elsa Condon, daughter of Spring Grove residents Barb and Fred Arnold, plays Eb bass, her husband, Doug plays Eb cornet, and Susan plays flute.

The original band in 1864 included 18 men from the Brodhead Brass Band, who enlisted in the Union Army as the band of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps. They left their rural homes to participate under the command of General William T. Sherman in the campaigns of Northern Georgia and the Carolinas. The “Tradition of Excellence” that these men established, more than 130 years ago lives on today with the members of the 1st Brigade Band.

History comes alive as members play period brass band music on antique instruments while attired in uniforms and gowns circa the Civil War. The entire collection of 240 instruments, all made before 1865, and their collection of sheet music of the civil war era, numbering 690 titles help in the nostalgic portrayal of the atmosphere of days gone by.

While the abundant written and pictorial materials remain of this era, the mellow sounds of the brass bands of the 1860’s were lost until the 1st Brigade Band, starting in 1964, began to locate and restore the dented and broken instruments and to retrieve and reconstruct the yellowed and torn music. Through their work you can now hear what Presidents Lincoln and Davis, Generals Lee and Grant, and their contemporaries heard. 

Covered Bridge Day events will conclude with the Brodhead Community Band performance at 6 p.m. in Veteran’s Park.  Bring a chair, come enjoy these 1st Brigade Band events and our community band.