Historical Society Plans Musical Traditions Display

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg Historical Society member Mary Phillips gives Bill Zuger credit for the musical traditions display that will debut at the Wilson-Phillips House Museum during Waitsburg Celebration Days in May.

Zuger suggested the idea for a musical display and kicked it off by donating one of three violins made by his grandfather, Edgar Buroker (1876-1950). Buroker is said to have lived on Coppei Avenue, was a building contractor in Waitsburg, and built some of the area's wooden grain elevators, Phillips said.

The Historical Society plans to create a display showcasing the musical traditions of Huntsville, Waitsburg, and Prescott, with a special focus on the period from the 1800's to the 1950's. They hope that community members will lend a hand in gathering and donating relevant instruments, stories, and photos.

"The story is that there is a longstanding musical tradition everywhere you go and Waitsburg is no exception. It's kind of what holds families together and brings them back together and we can celebrate that," said board member Jeff Broom.

Broom was a part of that tradition himself, playing in a Rock 'n Roll band called The Versatiles with Duane Gusse, Bill Donnelly, Leonard Reser and Chuck Nelson while attending Waitsburg High School. Donnelly and Broom later joined another band at WSU in Pullman called The Misfits.

"We played the old three-chord stuff, before the Beatles. We had PR pictures with us all standing around wearing the same shirts. What a bunch of hotdogs!" he laughed.

TVAMP Director Kate Hockersmith, who leads local kids in forming Bluegrass bands, said people are often surprised to learn that Bluegrass has a long tradition in the area.

"Bluegrass has been here forever. A lot of the people who settled here were from Kentucky," Hockersmith said.

"There was a music and dance hall on Jasper Mountain where they had a fiddler and a banjo player. In fact there's a place up there called Fiddler's Gulch. I'd love to know more about that," she added.

Phillips said she would especially love to have photos of bands and musicians that entertained at the granges in the area. The Society plans to highlight local musicians and groups, covering a variety of genres. Possibilities include the Waitsburg Quartet, high school bands, church choirs, local bands, vocalists, and musicians.

"We had some superstar band players like Tommy Collins when he was in school," Broom said. "He played the trombone and would knock you out. He went to Notre Dame on a scholarship and played in the band there for four years. We've had people come through school here who were excellent musicians," he added.

To add life to the exhibit, the Historical Society would like to hold monthly performances during the summer, highlighting some of the different music genres.

They would greatly appreciate donations of anything that pertains to music, including instruments, photographs, performance clothing, and band uniforms. Items would be on loan from Celebration Days in May through the Pioneer Fall Festival in September.

A new security system has been installed in both the Wilson-Phillips and Bruce House Museums and the Wilson-Phillips House can be climate controlled for the safety of the instruments. Anyone with information, ideas, or items to donate can contact Kate Hockersmith at (509) 337-8789.