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    Larry Kelley
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    The Amherst Business Improvement District is once again proposing a permanent bandstand on our historic Town Common. Back in 1991 the Rotary Club wished to donate a $20,000 bandstand in the original location envisioned by landscape designer Frederic Law Olmstead but the town said No. This brief history was written by town planner Jonathan Tucker.

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    Bandstands on the Amherst Common

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    The Amherst Business Improvement District is once again proposing a permanent bandstand on our historic Town Common. Back in 1991 the Rotary Club wished to donate a $20,000 bandstand in the original location envisioned by landscape designer Frederic Law Olmstead but the town said No. This brief history was written by town planner Jonathan Tucker.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    6K views19 pages

    Bandstands On The Amherst Common

    Uploaded by

    Larry Kelley
    The Amherst Business Improvement District is once again proposing a permanent bandstand on our historic Town Common. Back in 1991 the Rotary Club wished to donate a $20,000 bandstand in the original location envisioned by landscape designer Frederic Law Olmstead but the town said No. This brief history was written by town planner Jonathan Tucker.

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    BANDSTANDS ON THE AMHERST TOWN COMMON ~ An Historical Summary ~ Amherst Planning Department May 1991 updated Jan, 1993, April 2003 5 Lay T \\ BANDSTANDS ON THE AMHERST TOWN COMMON Summary Based on a review of the historical evidence, at least two ‘permanent’ bandstands and two other ‘stands’ used for similar purposes can be confirmed to have existed on the: Amherst ‘Town Common since the 1870's, along with many other structures of varying purposes. ‘The approximate locations of these stands are shown ‘on the map of te ‘Town Common on the next page, along with the locations of proposed bandstands. ‘There are reports of still otfier bandstards which tave not yet been confirmed in the historical fterature. Overall, there is pattern of bandstands and similar structures appearing and disappeating on the Amherst Common, in response to changes in community needs and corresponding increases or decreases in public interest in the Comtaon, ‘The first bandstand proposed for the Common was an octegonal "music stand” proposed as part of the Frederick Law Olmsted design for improvernent of the Town Common. It was never built, but another bandstand was moved to its proposed location, ‘The first bandstand known to have been on the Common was built in 1875 at the request of the local brass band. Originally sited along South Pleasant Street, this bandstand was the one moved to the location recommended by Olmsted, It lasted until the fall of 1877, when it was turned over and damaged beyond repair, probably by college students, A platform! was built on the Commori in 1899, to serve as a reviewing stand for the celebration of a new flagpole presented to the Town by veterans of the Civil War. Itis not known whether it served any other purpose, of outlasted the celebration, ‘The second banidstand was built in 1903 to help celebrate Old Home Week. It lasted until the fall of 1905, when it was removed for unspecified reasons. A railroad or trolley flatcar was used as a bandstand during the summer of 1916, A public survey was cotiducted in May 1985 by Conway Design Associates, consultants developing a plan to rehabilitate the Town Common, ‘The survey indicated that over half of all those responding (45 out of 87) were interested in a "bandshelV/conceris" on the Common, ‘The subsequent Plan left a space in the double {tee line proposed to surround the Common, in the location originally recommended by Olmsted in 1874. In 1991, the Amherst Rotary Club offered to pay for construction of a steel and masonry bandstand of traditional appearance in roughly the location recommended by Olmsted, as a gift to the Town. Ata Special ‘Town Meeting on May 20, 1991, after a disputations session during which opposition to the proposed gift varied from wanting to keep the Common “open” to concems about vandalism and misuse to accusaticins of spending money on monuments instead of people, an advisory article to “advise the Select Board to approve the construction of a bandstand on the Town Common” was defeated, 72 in favor and 76 against, Accompanying this summary are citations from the Franklin & Hampshire Gazette and ‘The Amherst ‘Record, and surviving photographs of some of the bandstands, July 28 "the band gave tis some good music on the common last Thursday evening, and they were tewarded by an invitation from Mr. Fairchild to quench their thiest at his soda fountain, Isn't it about tinie that band stand was erected?” Sept. 8 "The band-stand has been located by the committee a litle south of the large trees in front of Mr. Hunt's stove store. Ithas been decided to build a stand similar to the one at Lake Pleasant, and work has already commenced, It is expected that it will be finished this week." [The bandstand site selected by the "committee" was along the west side of the Common near the present- day intersection of Spring and South Pleasant Streets, It is not the bandstand site proposed in the Olmsted plan. See Figures 4 & 5 for photographs of the ‘similae’ bandstand at Lake Pleasant and another in Turners Falls.) Sept. 22 "The band-stand has at last been placed on the Common, ancl though the architecture is not so pleasing as \we had hoped for, it is good enough for the money invested. If about twice as much money had been raised, Wwe should have had a building that would have been an ornament for the Cornmon, but thet is more that we can say of this one. ‘There is also dissatisfaction with the location, and the band declate they will not occupy it unless itis moved farther east, as it ought to be." (There is no subsequent mention’ of whether or not the bandstand was moved “farther east" as the band requested, IL was later moved in 1877 to the Olmsted site.) 1876 April 26 the cool weather, “The band occupied the stand of the common last Friday night, and, notwithstandi played a nuriber of pieces very aceptably. September 6 "Reunion of the 27th Regiment . . . After thanking the people of Amherst for entertairling them so bountifully, and all who had assisted in serving them, the "boys" took possession of the Common near the Dand stanid." BANDSTANDS ON THE AMHERST TOWN COMMON Selected excerpts from The Amherst Record 1874 In 1874, Frederick Law Olmsted was commissioned to create a design plan for the Amherst Common. The final plan included an octagonal bandstand approximately 20 feet wide and 15 feet tall, located on the east side of the central section of the Common, along Boltwood Avenue, [See Figures 1-3.] April 15 "Mr. Olmstead {sic}, the landscape gardener, has been engaged to lay out our new park, and will attend to the matter ina Few days. June 24 "Ic takes a long time to mature a plan for the improvement of our Common. If it takes as long to make the improvements that it has to get ready for them, the present generation will hardly see the end." 1875 ‘March 10 “The executive committee of the Omamental Tree Association met ast’ Saturday evening, and after discussing various matters in connection with the improvement of the Common, decided to go on with the work according to the plan of Mr. Ohinstead [sic]. Work will be commenced as soon as the ground is in suitable condition." June 2 "The Amherst Cornet Band did themselves ctedit Decoration Day, atid no doubt surprised many people by the excellence of their music. ‘They express theit willingness to play on pleasant evenings ifa band stand is erected on the Comon, and we hope some one will set the ball in motion at once to this end." July 7 "The Common never looked fresher, cooler de mote inviting than it does this summer. ‘This much has Yesulted from the partial development of the plans adopted by the Omamental Tree Association, Much niore ean be done to improve it, and we hope and trust thei will be, but enough has already been done to ‘gain the appreciation of all, we think. If there is any ane who longs to see itas it was, with the old ruts and cattle paths which ortiamented it, we are exceedingly sorry for hit." 1903 July 15 “For Old Home Week. .. The Amherst band will furnish music on Monday and Tuesday and on Tuesday evening the fine 2d Regiment of Springfield will give a concert froma stand erected on the Common." July 29 “Near the center fof the north end of the common] was the bandstand, handsomely decorated with bunting ‘and plentfully sprinkled with electeic lights. .. . During the early evening hours the Amherst brass band, reinforced. for the occasion arid muimbering 21 pieces, gave a most enjoyable concert on the common for the delight of a lage audience including visitors from other towns. Dwight Williams, a former Amherst resident and now of Framingham, gave a fine comet solo with much taste and expression. ‘The Chinese lanterns whieh had been hung during the day added much to the beauty of the illumination." (See Figure 7 fora photograph of this bandstand.) August 5 “The interest shown in these concerts [during Old Home Week] enforces the suggestion that has previously been made that Amherst should have # permanent band-stand. Whether this should be crected on the common or on the hew Sweetser park is a matter for futuré consideration. Open-air concerts on summer evenings are a potent attraction, and the Town should encourage them in every way." 1905 July 26 “The bandstand on the coinmon has been painted green, mitch improving its appearance.” [See Figure 8-from a photographic postcard maited in 1906, this is probably the 1903 Old Home Week stand shoved to the northwest coiner of the Common.] September 13 “The Amherst brass band will give its last open air concert of the season on the bandstand on the common Friday evening, after which the stand will be removed.” [This "removal" was apparently a permanent, rather than seasonal, removal. The following year Amherst is once again asking for a new bandstand.] 1877 April The band braved the chill wind and dampness of an early spring day to serenede the ‘Town from the summit of the bandstand." May9 “The band discoursed from the bandstand last Friday evening, a sort of a farewell concert before its removal to where Frederick Law Olins(ed says it ought to be.” Septerhber 19 "Somebody tipped the band stand over last night (Tuesday, Sept, 18)” September 26 "The students adjusted the band-stand into position again Wednesday night {September 19] which was found lying on its side in the morning. It presents a distorted appearance now dnd never was handsome, Tt is said the restoring of this edifice to position was a part of the price of liberty to those arrested Tuesday for disturbances at the, fixe." November 14. "Tf is suggested that as the-bandstand is never used; and is not likely to be, it would be’a good plan to give it to the Agricultural Society, which would be glad to get it, and would move it to their groimds snd put it to some practical use. We think this is the best way to dispose of it 1899 On July 4th, 1899, Civil War veteraus presented Amherst a new flagpole. A viewing platform was erected for the oceasion, Itis not known how long it survived, or if it ever had any other use. July 5 “Amherst Celebrates... The exercises on the common began a litle before noon. On the raised seats on the platform were seated some forty pupils of the public schools. On the platform wore members of press and the following invited guests: Levi Stockbridge, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, LM. Hills, George Cutler, Jr, Rev. GE, Fisher, Rev. E,W. Gaylotd, George Catler, W.B, Smith, H.L Ufford, D.W. Dickinson and present and past commanders of Grand Army posts." "The Patriotic Service ... A fitting prelude to the celebration of the dth was the patiiotic religious service held on the common Sunday afternoon . . . . a crowd rtumbering several himdred persons had gathered around the stand erected on the common..." [See Figure 6 for a photograph of the 1899 reviewing stand.] “Bowany AG TEI y ie ‘1g NIadS 1906 August 29 “The Amherst and Sunderland brass bands gave a union concert at the centre Friday evening .... The only thing that intecféred with the full enjoyment of the occasion was that as the bard members stood on the ground they were completely surrounded by the crowd and the outsiders dida’t get the full benefit of the music, If band concerts are to continue in Amherst, itis plain that a bandstand must he erected.” 1916 July 5 “The Amberst band will give a concert at the northwest comer of the common this evening. Superintendent ‘Ingals of the Holyoke street railway company has had a flat ear fitted up for a. band stand and this will stand on the ¥ while the concert is in progress." {is not known whether another bandstand was erected after 1905, ‘There apparently was none at this point. ‘The "Y" referred to isa former cross-road in the vicinity of the patking lot at tie north end of the common.) July 12 The Amherst band gave the fitst open-air concert of the season last Wednesday. An open ear was fitted with special lights and stood on tho Y while thé conceit was going on." 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