On New Years Eve, 1912, a group of Barringtonians decided to create their own parade through town. One had a drum, another had a clarinet. They were somehow not arrested. They had such a good time that they decided that Barrington should have a band.
Within weeks, they had 21 members. But no instruments. Or idea how to play instruments, let alone read music. So, for $250, they ordered a bunch of instruments from Chicago. Whent the instruments arrived via train, the new band immiately started a parade down Clements Bridge Road, "tooting, blowing, drumming and banging."
Next up - how to learn how to play the instruments. Three teachers were hired and the firehall was rented for practices. By 4th of July, the band was ready to play.
By 1913, the band had uniforms to go with their instruments. They also started an annual tradition of taking a boat down the Delaware River on an excursion. They played music the whole way down, and most of the town of Barrington went along with them for the ride. This tradition would continue for many years.
The band played in local parades all over Camden County, building up a reputation for itself. In 1917, they played the Mummers Parade for the first time, which they'd do each New Years Day until 1934. Later that same year, they were on the radio for the first time, playing on AM WIP (interupting Eagles debates, I'm sure). From 1922 until 1944, the band went down to Wildwood each summer.
While I'm not sure if it continued straight through or was reinstated, the Barrington Band was still playing at least as recently as 2015.
Cache is a small, lock top container with room for some small swag or travel bugs. Parking located across either street, please use the crosswalks. Please replace as found so that its not mistaken for the trash that sometimes blows off the roads onto this bit of green.
Source:
History of Barrington, New Jersey