When its 85-year-old bandwagon finally stopped rolling in 1976, the Lehi Silver Band broke up, and most figured it would never return.
But a new bandwagon, fashioned after the original one built in 1891, made its debut this summer. The band-wagon has sparked a rebirth of the Silver Band and has given residents something to rally around."Communities need things to do other than haggle about subdivisions," said Melvin Anderson, who built the new bandwagon. Although he got help from others, Anderson was the one who designed the wagon and spent eight to 16 hours per day for two months on the project.
"I rode in that older wagon for 22 years," Anderson said. "I used to sit back in the corner with a tuba, and I just about got knocked out of the wagon a time or two. My whole idea was to make (the new wagon) a little more comfortable."
The 1997 version of the bandwagon weighs 2,800 pounds unloaded. It is nearly 19 feet long, 9 feet tall and holds as many as 26 people. It has cushioned seats for band members, unlike the original wagon, which is on permanent display at Lehi's Bandwagon Park.
"It's handcrafted like the old wagon was, but it's done with the materials of today," said Anderson, adding that he hopes his version will last as long as the original. He made the front wheels smaller than on the first wagon so it could maneuver easily.
"The suspension is so good, it's like being on a Cadillac," said band director Kaye Collins. "It is amazingly smooth."
While he knew he could build the wagon, Anderson still faced the challenges of finding a band to ride in it and getting horses to pull it. The latter problem was solved when Thanksgiving Point committed horses Clyde and Dale, and the former problem solved itself.
Collins said the community band actually developed independently of the push to rebuild the wagon. But as both emerged this spring, it was natural for them to get together.
"It just sort of all clicked," she said. "When we're on the wagon, we're the Lehi Silver Band. The Silver Band's tradition is on the wagon."
Besides playing marches on the wagon during parades in Lehi, Provo and Salt Lake City already this summer, the band has performed at several concerts and community events. Right now, the band has about 25 members and is looking for more.
"We have people from all walks of life," Collins said. "Our youngest member is 22, and our oldest is 82. We have people at all levels of playing and commitment."
Lehi resident Lenard Wing, who plays the drums, is the sole member of the band who played in the old bandwagon before it was retired. Wing's wife, Julia, plays the bass clarinet.
"It's been a thrill," Wing said. "It's fun to see the people of our community remember (the band) and be glad to see it again."
All labor and materials needed to construct the wagon were donated. Anderson estimates materials alone cost $7,000, but total cost of building the wagon is probably about $28,000, he said.
Because Anderson put up the money for materials, he technically still owns the wagon. But the city is in the process of collecting donations in order to purchase it from him.
Anderson isn't playing in the Silver Band this time around, but he did ride on the bandwagon at This Is the Place State Park during the July 22 celebration of the arrival of the pioneer trek. For now, the wagon is stored in a carport, but the city plans to house it in its fire station.
"It's just fun being on that wagon and knowing that you're part of such a long tradition," Collins said.