The Manistique Band poses in front of the Manistique Bank Building, with a reflection of the First National Bank across the street showing in the window. Trombonist John Nich is identified by the X above his cap. Photo courtesy William Nich, Wakarusa Indiana Tribune.
The early decades of the 20th Century marked the heyday of Manistique bands. Support for musical entertainment thrived in Manistique, and the town earned a reputation for good band music. Recruiters wooed especially talented musicians from other cities to come to Manistique and found jobs for them in one of the city’s many industrial plants.
Manistique’s two opera houses hosted travelling theatre troupes that relied on local talent to provide music to augment their performances. Manistique musicians performed frequently at the opera houses and later at the Gero Theatre. Bands that featured prominently in that era were the Manistique Band, the Woodmen of the World Band (known as W.O.W.) and the Janssen Piano Band. Orchestras that included both strings and wind instruments also flourished with groups such as Todd’s Orchestra and the Country Club Orchestra performing regularly at dances and home talent shows. Patriotic holidays and county fairs always included the lively music of a brass band.