Adelphi Community Band

08/05/2026

The Adelphi Community Band and the 2026 Ross County Fair (Chillicothe, Ohio).

Because you will be in the area, anyway, stop by the Grandstand at the Ross County Fair on Sunday August 9 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

The band will be playing for the harness races that day, which means that we will be playing BETWEEN the races and all the announcements.

We would love for you to stop by so that we can meet you.

You can stop by to talk with the musicians playing your favorite instrument (Trumpet), ask for their autographs (Trumpet), check out their music (Trumpet), and see what it is like to be in one of the oldest community bands in the nation (Trumpet), and who has played at EVERY Ross County Fair (Trumpet).

The band has already played at the Pickaway County Fair in 2026 for the their day recognizing veterans, senior citizens, and America 250. We will also playing at the Fairfield County Fair in October, and then later that same month for 3 parades and a concert at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.

Stop on by. We will also share with you our secrets of where our favorite food booths are!

07/27/2026

So you want to relive your school years when you were one of the cool kids in the band?

The Adelphi Community Band would love for you to do that with us.

*We love musicians of all ages and levels of ability on typical band instruments... meaning no bag pipes (ever), alphorns, banjos, etc.

*There are no dues to pay,

*No uniform to buy,

*We are very family friendly,

*You do not have to audition,

* We realize that everyone has other important parts of their lives so perfect attendance isn’t expected and we are happy to have you play with us whenever your schedule is free.

*Our "season" generally goes from May to October

* We can get you in free to the Circleville Pumpkin Show...parking not included

* And...we also have a cool band wagon that is the envy of all the other bands that still march!

We have a practice coming up on August 3 from 7:30-8:30 PM in Circleville.

Contact us for more information, and so that we can have music ready for you.

Love to see you there!

Jeff Mathew
[email protected]
https://adelphiband.weebly.com/

07/24/2026

The Adelphi Community Band and 170 Glider Pilots

One of the more amazing stories about the band happened during World War II.

In the fall of1942, the city of Circleville, Ohio decided to hold a picnic for some soldiers training at nearby Lockbourne Air Base.

Food was solicited from the surrounding communities, and in late August 1942, more than 50 cars and 1 school bus were sent to Lockbourne and brought back 170 glider pilots in training.

The event happened at Gold Cliff park (south of Circleville on Rt 23) and activities for the soldiers included swimming, softball, dancing, and skating.....and food.....

There were 2 articles written about the event by The Circleville Herald.

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/8-29-1942_circleville_herald_picnic_at_gold_cliff_park_for_air_base_trainees.pdf

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/8-31-1942_circleville_herald_picnic_for_glider_soldiers.pdf

The headlines from the newspaper included that the tables groaned under the weight of cakes and fried chicken, that the food included more than 100 of the biggest, tastiest, and finest looking cakes, and that after the 170 glider pilots went through the line it was almost impossible to tell if any chicken had been removed.

The community was invited and they went through the food line after the pilots. And the pilots kept coming back for more.

Leftover food was sent back with the pilots at the end of the day.

And, of course, the Adelphi Community Band was there as a proud participant in the days activities.

And what an amazing event for the city of Circleville to both plan and undertake for 170 Glider Pilots during World War II to give them all a literal "taste" of home and to show them the support of the community.

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/

The Adelphi (Ohio) Community Band! 146 years of making music! The picture above is credited as being from 1890, just 10 years after the band started in 1880. ​You can see the ornate uniforms, the...

07/20/2026

The Adelphi Community Band: 1980, the 100th anniversary of the band and Ohio Statehood Day
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If ever there could be a title for 1980 as far as the Adelphi Community Band is concerned, it could be titled. "The Year the Band Was Celebrated".

In recognition of 1980 being the band's stated 100th anniversary, it was invited to perform on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington DC in June of that year.

The band accepted the invitation and traveled by 2 busses filled with musicians, friends, and family....and lots of band instruments and band uniforms.

The band performed in Washington DC in the morning, and then crossed the river to perform the same concert in Alexandria, Virginia that afternoon. And those events will be the topics for many other postings.

But closer to home, the band was also the subject of all kinds of local media stories, both in preparation for the trip and afterwards.

As an example, the band was invited to perform for the "Ohio Statehood Day" observance in Chillicothe, Ohio on March 1, 1980.

Attached is the program for the day, which not only includes the concert list, but also brief history about the band and a short resume of the Conductor at that time, Raymond Connett.

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/3-1-1980_ohio_statehood_day_concert_program.pdf

Many people, not just musicians in the band, will recognize at least most of the songs listed on the program, as they are still some of the band's favorites.

Sadly, there was a MAJOR snowstorm leading up to March 1, and the band was unable to participate in the Statehood Day observance

07/14/2026

The Adelphi Community Band: A Part of the Community

One of the most fascinating things about a community band that has been around since at least 1880 is to look back at its history and see exactly how much they have been part of its community and local events.

This band, like many others, did not just go someplace to play music for 30-60 minutes or so on a stage for a fair, or festival, or fish fry, and then pack up and go home.

These musicians have played music for their family, their friends, and their neighbors. These musicians were invited to be included in VERY important and personal parts of people’s lives.

The band has been invited (and sometimes NOT specifically invited, as in “bellings”….look it up…) to people’s homes for post wedding ceremonies, very special birthday parties, and family reunions.

After combing through the thousands of documents in the band’s digital library, we developed at least a pretty good partial list of the kinds of events that the band has been asked to play for since its beginning.

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/where_the_adelphi_community_band_has_been_july_2026.pdf

And since we brought it up, here is a link to a YouTube video (converted from VHS) of one of the "Ameriflora" concerts from 1992.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmwpQSfpF_w

The Adelphi Community Band from Adelphi , OhioEstablished in 1880....

07/10/2026

The Adelphi Community Band in 1890:

While the Adelphi Community Band has consistently claimed a start date of 1880, the picture below is usually credited to be of the band from 1890. 10 years later. This picture, and many others, were featured in the 'Spring 1986 Pickaway Quarterly" magazine.

That edition of this magazine was entirely about the band, contains a good summary of the band's history, and can be found intact in our digital library:

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/spring_1986_pickaway_quaterly.pdf

There are several interesting things to note about the cover picture to that magazine edition, a darkened (improved) version of which is placed below:

1. The uniforms are interestingly ornate for a definitely rural community band in 1890.

2. If you look BEHIND the musicians, you will see their pretty nice band wagon....and to the RIGHT is the horse that pulled it. Also pretty nice. Interestingly, this specific band wagon did not last long with the band, and was shortly dismantled and the parts used on a local farm. There were other band wagons in the band's history after this picture.

3. Numerous newspaper and magazine articles about the band, even decades after this picture, consistently tells of the musicians being farmers, which would be expected. The Adelphi area hasn't really changed much since that time and even in 2026 can certainly be considered primarily agricultural in nature. In fact, one of the musicians who later joined that band in 1924, and whose father was listed to be one of the original musicians from 1880, talked about being excited to be able to go to band practice with his father, since it got him out of working on the farm for awhile!

In fact, his father is in this picture.

As taken from that magazine article, a picture of the written list of musicians shown in this picture, is also attached below. For pretty much anyone local to the Adelphi-Hallsville area, the specific names of those musicians, if not just the family names, would certainly be familiar.

One of the most fascinating parts of the band's history, and some of which Director Jeremy often shares during the band concerts, is to look back in history and see that THIS small, rural, community band, was playing music from a small town in Southern Ohio BEFORE:

1. John Philip Sousa wrote "Stars and Stripes Forever".
2. the invention of the Ferris Wheel
3. Buffalo Bill opened his first 'Wild West Show".

And the same year that the "The Circleville,Tarlton, and Adelphi Telegraph Company" was founded....and which was subsequently dissolved by 1914.

Jeremy has many more examples that he shares at concerts of the band's place in the chronology of world history.

07/05/2026

The Adelphi Community Band and the Ashville 4th of July Celebration:

The Adelphi Community Band was honored to again be asked to play in the Grand Parade for the Ashville, Ohio 4th of July Celebration.

We had already performed for the dedication of the new Veterans Monument and the Opening Night Contestants Parade on Tuesday June 30, and so it just seemed fitting for the band to play for both the opening day and the closing day of the festival.

Our records show that the band first started playing for the 4th of July in Ashville no later than 1949. This is not to say that the band has been in every Ashville 4th of July celebration for every year since then, but that our first year there was no later than 1949.

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/uploads/4/6/0/1/46013629/7-7-1949_circleville_herald_ashville_july_4th.pdf

It was a great day for a parade. Both the town and the units in the parade were decorated in red, white, and blue, there were enthusiastic people lining the street, and the 4th of July spirit was seen and felt all day long.

The pic (below) of the band in front of the church is credited to be from 1950. The pic of the band marching is credited to be from 1946. Both pics were taken in Hallsville, Ohio.

The pics of the band in obvious summer attire while getting prepped on the band wagon (a wonderful invention!) were taken just yesterday.

07/02/2026

Musicians always wanted!…. All ages!….. All levels of ability!

Like every community band, The Adelphi Community Band is always looking for musicians who love to play the same kind of music that we do. If you play a typical concert band instrument (HINT: No bagpipes!) then we would be happy to hear from you.

The world does not need another community band playing another medley of songs from the latest Broadway play, and so we love the classic marches, novelty songs, and serenades of some of the world’s great composers like John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore (Cincinnati), Karl King (Paintersville, Ohio), Will Huff (Chillicothe) and many more.

We claim a start date of 1880, and we are one of the oldest community bands in the nation. We have played for Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Ohio Governors, members of the military, social and civic groups, Memorial Day Observances, and a multitude of fairs and festivals. The band has been such a big part of Central and Southern Ohio that we first started playing for many of our still current events over 100 years ago!

We are unique among a lot of even Ohio community bands for many reasons:

1. We don’t charge you money to play with us. We give you your own copy of the music for free for you to practice from and mark up as needed.

2. You do not have to buy any uniform items. We go with basic white top and black pants/skirt/shorts, etc. In inclement weather you just wear whatever you need in order to be comfortable.

3. We do not take attendance or require a specific amount of attendance at practices or performances. Everyone has busy lives, and almost every musician in the band plays in multiple other bands, too!. We are just happy to see you whenever your schedule permits.

4. We do not audition for participation in the band or for parts. In fact, many of the musicians play multiple instruments so as to help out where needed. We are happy to see you, and we want you to play the instrument and part that best fits your interests and musical ability. If you are not yet ready or comfortable to play a 1st part, then there will be 2nd or 3rd level parts that should fit your needs till you are ready or interested in more.

5. Our performance season currently runs from the end of May (Memorial Day observances) to the end of October (Circleville Pumpkin Show!), with some practices scheduled periodically though the year.

6, We are definitely family friendly, and as you can see from the pics below, our musicians range from school age to those whose school age days are clearly behind them. The older musicians are happy to help with the younger ones in navigating the music, and there is no hazing, or inappropriate language. Many of us started when we were in school, and MANY of us also had sons and daughters start when they were in school, as well.

7. Our musicians come from all over. We have some that come from Illinois and Tennessee, and several that live in various parts of southern, northern, and eastern Ohio. They come because of our music, the places we play, and the general atmosphere of the band.

8. While we started in the small town of Adelphi, we have since moved our practices to Circleville, Ohio in order to be closer to the musicians who currently participate and to be more convenient in order to recruit others who would want to play with us.

9. Not a lot of travel is needed, as our performances currently are scheduled for northeast Ross County, Circleville, Lancaster, and Ashville.

We have a practice coming up on Monday August 3, 2026 in Circleville!

We would love to see you there and at least talk to you about the band. You can come and just check us out, or come and sit in to play with us.

Since everyone has their own music, we don’t generally bring extras. But let us know at least a couple days ahead of time and we will have music there for you.

If you have time, the activities and history of the band are well documented on its web site, with thousands of documents and pictures dating back to the late1800’s!

https://adelphiband.weebly.com/

Just contact us either through this Facebook site, or with Jeff Mathew ([email protected]) if you would like to practice with us that night so that we can have music ready for you, or if you have any questions at all.

We would love to hear from you!

07/01/2026

The Adelphi Community Band had the honor tonight of dedicating the Veterans Monument in the Ashville (Ohio) city park. It was a beautiful day for the ceremony (did I mention it was HOT!) and much respect for our Contact Person, Daryl, for being the impetus behind the project, and for the community for helping to make it happen.

Afterwards, we were treated to some delicious fish dinners, and hung around to participate in the 7:00 PM parade.

It was a great day to be out and helping to celebrate the Veterans with this beautiful monument....did I mention it was hot?

We are also coming back for the Grand Parade on Saturday.

Below are some pics of the new Veterans monument and of the band playing for the dedication. And eating.