Band History and Alumni News Page
This page was created to form an archive of the history of the band programs in Plymouth, Indiana. There have been several schools which have served this community and have passed on a rich tradition of music.
The first-known musical band in Marshall County was called "The Plymouth Sax Horn Band" and came into existence in 1853. The members at that time were William H. Salisbury (leader), Daniel and Platt McDonald, David Vinnedge, Rufus Brown, A.C. Capron, Thomas K. Houghton, and Rufus Mert Brown (it is believed there were more members whose names have been lost). As the group of boys grew, "Old Joe Pierson," as he was familiarly called, was employed as the teacher and bandmaster. In this time period, there was no printed band music and all of the music arrangements for the boys band were written out by "Old Joe" with a quill pen on blank music paper.
In 1868, the "Plymouth Silver Cornet Band" was formed from members of the previous boys band. The membership averaged ten players for nearly a decade. Under the leadership of Ben M. Seybold, this group was considered one of the best band organizations of its time in northern Indiana.
The Washington School operated from the 1874-75 school year until the 1924-25 school year. The original Washington School no longer exists and the location is currently occupied by Garden Court apartments on Washington and Plum streets. It served the community from 1874 until the new Lincoln High School opened for the 1924-25 school year. In 1893, the southern part of the building was erected including an auditorium which had a seating capacity of 600. The first ten years of Washington School saw the graduation of 58 students.
West Township also had their own schools dating back to 1899. The West High School was established in 1907. In 1962, West Township joined the Plymouth Community School System but high school students continued to attend West High School until the spring of 1965.
Lincoln High School opened for the 1924-25 school year and operated until the 1960-61 school year when the new Plymouth High School was opened. At this time, the Lincoln High School building became Lincoln Junior High School.
The current Plymouth High School was dedicated in November of 1960 and was opened during the 1960-61 school year. The building has had numerous additions and renovations, the first of which took place shortly after the building opened to accommodate the incorporation of the former West High School students.
The information and photos below trace the history of these schools and their band programs. If you have any information you would like to add to this site, please use the "Contact Us" link at the top of the page.
The first-known musical band in Marshall County was called "The Plymouth Sax Horn Band" and came into existence in 1853. The members at that time were William H. Salisbury (leader), Daniel and Platt McDonald, David Vinnedge, Rufus Brown, A.C. Capron, Thomas K. Houghton, and Rufus Mert Brown (it is believed there were more members whose names have been lost). As the group of boys grew, "Old Joe Pierson," as he was familiarly called, was employed as the teacher and bandmaster. In this time period, there was no printed band music and all of the music arrangements for the boys band were written out by "Old Joe" with a quill pen on blank music paper.
In 1868, the "Plymouth Silver Cornet Band" was formed from members of the previous boys band. The membership averaged ten players for nearly a decade. Under the leadership of Ben M. Seybold, this group was considered one of the best band organizations of its time in northern Indiana.
The Washington School operated from the 1874-75 school year until the 1924-25 school year. The original Washington School no longer exists and the location is currently occupied by Garden Court apartments on Washington and Plum streets. It served the community from 1874 until the new Lincoln High School opened for the 1924-25 school year. In 1893, the southern part of the building was erected including an auditorium which had a seating capacity of 600. The first ten years of Washington School saw the graduation of 58 students.
West Township also had their own schools dating back to 1899. The West High School was established in 1907. In 1962, West Township joined the Plymouth Community School System but high school students continued to attend West High School until the spring of 1965.
Lincoln High School opened for the 1924-25 school year and operated until the 1960-61 school year when the new Plymouth High School was opened. At this time, the Lincoln High School building became Lincoln Junior High School.
The current Plymouth High School was dedicated in November of 1960 and was opened during the 1960-61 school year. The building has had numerous additions and renovations, the first of which took place shortly after the building opened to accommodate the incorporation of the former West High School students.
The information and photos below trace the history of these schools and their band programs. If you have any information you would like to add to this site, please use the "Contact Us" link at the top of the page.
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Washington School Band History 1874 to 1924
Information coming soon.
West Township High School Band History 1907 to 1965Information coming soon
Lincoln High School Band History 1924-25 to 1959-60Lincoln High School was dedicated in 1925 and the building was open and in use until 1961 when a new high school was constructed. The Lincoln High School building became Lincoln Junior High School when the new Plymouth High School was opened.
1924-25 Mr. Charles McConnell, director 1925-26 Mr. Hubert Tanner, director 1926-27 to 1927-28 Mr. Floyd M. Annis, director 1928-29 Mr. Van Cleave, director 1929-30 Mr. Humbert (first name unknown), director 1930-31 Mr. Ewing (first name unknown), director 1931-32 to 1934-35 Mr. Carl Von Brock, director 1935-36 to 1946-47 Mr. Lloyd B. Eherenman, director (continued at Lincoln in the Math department) 1947-48 to 1949-50 Mr. Robert Kuite 1950-51 to 1952-53 Mr. William Schemberger (William Schemberger Scholarship namesake) 1953-54 Mr. Kenneth Hallman 1954-55 to 1956-57 Mr. Lee Evans 1957-58 Mr. Wilbur Eslinger 1958-59 to 1959-60 Mr. Marion Hopkins 
The first Lincoln High School Band (pictured above) was under the direction of Mr. Charles McConnell. Prior to Lincoln opening in 1925, the community of Plymouth had been without a school band program for many years. With the support and combined aid from the school administration and the city council, the band program was re-established when Lincoln High School opened.
The photo above is the 1926 Lincoln High School Band under the direction of Mr. Hubert Tanner. In their second year of existence, the band performed at both football and basketball games and pep assemblies. The band accompanied the basketball team to Goshen and the regional tournament in South Bend.
Pictured above is the 1934-35 Lincoln High School Band under the direction of Mr. Carl Von Brock.
During the 1935-36 school year, Mr. Lloyd B. Eherenman became the director of bands at Lincoln High School. Mr. Eherenman was the first band director to continue a long career teaching music in the Plymouth community. Beginning in the 1947-48 school year, Mr. Eherenman moved from teaching band to the Mathematics department. The photo. above was taken during the 1938-39 school year and includes the bands drum major, Frederick Morrow
Pictured above are the 1935-36 (left) and the 1936-37 (right) Lincoln High School Bands under the direction of Mr. Lloyd B. Eherenman.
Pictured above are the 1937-38 (left) Lincoln HS Marching Band and the 1939-40 Lincoln High School Band (right) under the direction of Mr. Lloyd B. Eherenman.
Pictured above are the 1940-41 (left) and 1941-42 (right) Lincoln High School bands under the direction of Mr. Lloyd B. Eherenman.
Pictured above is the 1949-50 Lincoln High School Band under the direction of Mr. Robert Kuite.
Pictured above is the last high school band from Lincoln High School. This is the 1959-60 Lincoln High School marching band under the direction of Mr. Marion Hopkins. The band program would move into the new Plymouth High School for the 1960-61 school year.
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Plymouth High School Band History 1960-61 to presentPlymouth High School was opened during the 1960-61 school year and this building (with several additions) continues on today as the current high school facility. The band program has continued to serve as a focal point of the high school and the community.
1960-61 to 1967-68 Mr. Philip Eherenman, director (son of Lincoln Band director, Llyod Eherenman) 1968-69 to 1989-90. Mr. Richard Benefiel, director 1990-91 to 2006-07. Mrs. Cynthia Wagoner, director 2007-08 to present. Mr. Bryan Ames, director
The first band from the new Plymouth High School was under the direction of Mr. Phillip Eherenman. The band performed at football and basketball games and local city parades including the V.F.W. Loyalty Day Parade, the Memorial Day Parade, and the Miss Plymouth Pageant Parade. The marching band participated in the annual "Purdue Band Day."
The band performed both a fall and spring concert and attended the State Band Contest where they earned and "excellent" rating. Band members William Tanner and Patty Whitesell were the first Plymouth High School students to be accepted into the All State Band. 
In the above photo from the 1965-66 "Mayflower" yearbook, the Rockettes performed with the marching band at many events and parades.
During the 1990-91 school year, the high school band program welcomed Mrs. Cynthia Wagoner as the band director. The photo above shows Mrs. Wagoner directing the band in one of her first performances with the Big Red Band at the annual Blueberry Festival Parade.
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