October 5, 1952
By CLEOFAS CALLEROS
(Editor’s Note: This is the seventh article on early El Paso history by Cleofas Calleros, El Paso historian)
“We didn’t allow women to come to our meetings or parties. The fact is we didn’t want them. We were strictly a men’s club – organized for fellowship and to entertain the people in town. And, sir, we had good times.”
Those are recollections of the famous old McGinty Club of El Paso as recalled by one of its secretaries and first members, James J. Watts. Watts, born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1870, came to El Paso in 1884 and, with his uncle, Sylvester, and brother William and Edward, operated the Watts Water Works.
He, like every other oldtimer, remembers with a great deal of pleasure that musical organization which flourished here between 1896 and 1900. It was a good club, he says, the official “Greeter Committee” for the city. Dignitaries, convention delegates, and just casual visitors received a flaring, musical welcome from it, that they didn’t soon forget. No one has forgotten the band concerts in Plaza Park every Sunday afternoon or the enjoyment they afforded.
There were about 200 members composing eight complete musical organizations in McGinty Club – The A Concert Band, Brass Band, Choir, Orchestra, Drum and Fife Corps, Typical Orchestra, Banjo, Troubadours, and Maennercohr. Each had its own director and manager.
The members were local businessmen, playing for their own pleasure, for self-improvement, and for the town’s benefit. Good music, the better things in life, meant much to them ... those early hardy pioneers, who could play the cithara or mandolin or violin as adeptly as they could build a city.
Their group was unique, paying no dues, receiving no salary, threatening no strikes, endorsing no political parties, recognizing no religious or social barriers within itself, and blissfully, wonderfully oblivious to the different nationalities and races of this number.
ONE INTEREST
There was Carl Pitzer, a German; Du Remer, a Frenchman, and a man name Soufle; also some Mexicans, some Irish, some Italians, some Chinese, Paso del Norte residents comprised a part of the Brass Band. These men were friends, very much disinterested in one another’s business and personal affairs, but wholeheartedly joined by one common bond – music.
If there was any pressing business of a financial nature the hat was passed. Each man donated whatever he could, or thought was worth it; nothing if he couldn’t. No one cared. How the money was utilized was immaterial to all concerned, since they knew, whatever the use, it was a good cause. Each member paid his own fee for trips out-of-town; the City Council financed public programs. There was complete harmony.
McGinty Club commanded El Paso’s respect and received it. The musicians were, for the most part, family men, and all were gentlemen of the old school. Whatever the performance or occasion, whatever the season, each man appeared in full, appropriate dress – a three-piece suit. His shirts were stiffly starched, with high linen or colloid collars and French cuffs and link. No one would have dared perform before the public without his tie, his favorite bow tie usually.
“We had fine parties,” Watts relates. “They were nearly always big picnics at Orn’s grove, or Hart’s Mill, or Woodlawn Park (Washington Park now). We all would bring our instruments and play by the hour. There were never less than 10 kegs of beer, but everyone know he was to watch himself. I never saw a man drunk at a McGinty Picnic.”
“Another fine thing about McGinty was that we held one another in high esteem. Now you find people who condescend to tolerate each other only because they belong to the same group. With us it was respect rather than tolerance.”
It was an appreciative audience for which the McGinty men played. El Pasoans were a sedate lot – not really a horde of offensive bruisers, painted women, notorious gamblers, and Billy-the-Kid fans. A somewhat refined gentry, really, regardless of what the fiction writers would lead you to believe. And they sported McGinty Club all the way.
CLUB DIED
It was unfortunately disbanded about 1905, dying an entirely natural death. There was no discord right up until the end, but only an increasing lack of interest and patrons as other diversions were offered. The following officers of McGinty Club, performed a real service for their city:
D.W. Rieckhart, who was the only president the club ever had; James J. Watts, secretary; E.H. Offley, choirmaster and leader of “all voice” groups; W.H. Watts, treasurer, who kept no books, but was the faithful keeper of funds; Charles Merrick, orator, who provided speakers for official welcomes; M. Hester, musical director who had charge of co-ordinating all musical activities with the club; Carl Piftzer, leader and director of the Concert Band.
F. Grandover, captain of the Light Guards and keeper of the two Cannons; Edg. Shelton, chairman of the musical committee, Edward Watts, commissary general, responsible for the “eats and drinks” at all functions; Al Lamour, chief pyrotechnical artist, who was in charge of all the illumination and brilliant spectacles held at Fort McGinty; G.E. Nemmaun, manger of Orchestra; F.W. Edlesten, head rain producer and weather prophet (if there was no rain, he always managed to have a fire hose); H. Ward, Librarian; Harry A. Moss, sketch artist. He was the clown of the club; he was clever in his drawings; Guy Orme, astronomer – his job was to provide good weather for all outings, and believe it or not, he was most successful.
Louis E. Behr historian. (The club did have a nice library and Louie kept an album. If anyone knows of its whereabouts the author would appreciate your kind advice.) James Longwell, drum major, Drum and Fife Corps. Jimmy was one of the tallest men in the club and his 36-inch high hat made him the most handsome in the group; R.C. Lightboy, general of the Plug Hat Brigade. He was in charge of the marching unit of the “white hats,” an auxiliary to the Light Brigade; P.S. Jenkins, general of the stiff Hat Brigade. This unit was made up of members who did not belong to a "military marching unit,” and wore dark silk hats.
MANY JOBS
A.C. Wheeler, surgeon – he had the easiest job, since no one was ever known to need medical attention at any function or initiation; The Rev. J. Milne, chaplain. Every member of the club was reverent in is religious practices; Chas. Layer, manager of the Typical Orchestra. This particular unit was the talk of the town for their delightful renditions and good taste; Charles Keifer and Z.T. Merrill, commanders of the Fambeau Club. This group was the “brains” and the boosters of planning the entertainment to be accorded visitors; Captain Jack Crawford, poet lariat – this position was unique, a sort of jester, not in the sense of clowning; William O’Brien, general of artillery. As the title implies, he managed to keep the cannons well supplied with ammunition.
Warner Gibb, manger of the Drum Corps – every detail and upkeep of the corps came within his province; he certainly kept them well dressed; Frank Tusten, manager of the Fife Corps. He tried to out-do Gibbs, but both kept abreast in all their activities; both were excellent managers and El Paso was proud of both corps; Dr. “Dad” Spencer, chief of Quarantine Department – he had a ticklish job to perform when the Club would venture to and from Juarez; O.F. Heckelmann, official scorer – in addition to his duties at games, he took care of the side bets; W.B. Merrick, drum major, Brass Band – he used to give Longwell lots of competition.
T.R. Teustis, chief listener to members’ troubles – he did nothing, since no one was ever known to have any troubles; J.D. Ponder, scribe – he was the reporter who furnished newspapers with current items (and he was a good one); Charles Reed, foreign diplomat – he took care of international relations and arranged for El Paso-Juarez activities; Will. R. Brown, manager of Brass Band – he was the best provider in the club (the only thing he didn’t give away was the Santa Fe depot). J. Allen, manager, Banjo Troubadours – this musical organization was the pride of every member; Charles Rokahr, manager of Maenercohr – this 20-man choir was in great demand at all festivities; William Edelsten, collector. He was what the name implies and always brought the dough.
Thank you Trish,
I absolutely love these old stories about our great region. El Paso was always a unique place to be, that's what makes it so special.
Posted by: Beth | February 17, 2010 at 12:35 PM