Band History

In 1883, a former Civil War soldier who later became a dentist in town started a band in Mercersburg. Dr David Grosh called the band the Eagle Cornet Band, and it performed at church picnics, parades, and political rallies in the town square until the death of its last director in 1943.

After World War II, in 1946, the citizens of Mercersburg formed a new band called the American Legion Band. Soldiers home from the war were glad for the chance to play in a band again, but band members didn’t have to belong to the American Legion.

Anyone who played an instrument was welcome to join. In time, the name of the band was changed to the Mercersburg American Legion Community Band.

The band became a particularly important part of life in Mercersburg in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. It wasn’t unusual in those days for the band to perform 35 to 40 times a year. It played for picnics, festivals, and parades not only in Mercersburg but in surrounding communities, where it won many prizes for excellence in marching and musicianship.

As the 1960’s turned into the 1970’s, many people began to lose interest in playing in the band. In 1972, the band disbanded and for 14 years its music gathered dust in the old Band Hall off South Main Street. In 1986, town resident Fred Wagner decided it was time for another community band. Mr. Wagner directed the band for 20 years and changed the band’s name to better reflect its membership, naming it the Mercersburg Area Community Band.