60 years and still marching on

BANTAM — The Winsted Fire Department and the Mattatuck Drum Band celebrated 60 years of marching history Sunday at Bantam’s Community Field. Since 1948, the two all-volunteer organizations have marched down main streets all across Connecticut with the band leading the fire department in historic marching style.

Members of the fire department and drum band reminisced about years past at Sunday’s event, with music by the rock group Tirebiter. The Mattatuck Drum Band performed one song in honor of the occasion and the group exchanged gifts celebrating “60 years of brotherhood.�

Mattatuck’s history

The Mattatuck Drum Band was first formed in 1767 and has earned national recognition as the oldest fife and drum band in the United States with continuous membership.

Originally formed under the name Farmingbury Band and based in Farmingbury, Conn. (now known as Wolcott), the organization changed its name to the Wolcott Drum Band when the town was incorporated in 1796. In 1881, when the band relocated to Waterbury, the name was changed again to Mattatuck Drum Band, since the Indian name for Waterbury is Mattatuck.

The band performed for Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign. When the Civil War erupted, members of the band were recruited to serve. Under the direction of Colonel H.C. Hart, the band was eventually attached to the Army of the Potomac and became known as one of the best drum corps in Army.

In 1961 the Mattatuck Drum Band attended the inaugural parade of President John F. Kennedy. Playing several tunes, “The Battle Hymn� was a favorite of the crowd, and when members marched by President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson playing “Yankee Doodle,� they received a standing ovation from the nation’s new leaders.

While Mattatuck found its roots in fifing and drumming in battle, a great deal of their time was also spent playing for celebrations and parades. It was as a parade band that Mattatuck was first hired to march with the Winsted Fire Department in 1948.

Valmore Caron, a current member and former president of Mattatuck Drum Band, joined the organization in 1961. Following in his father’s footsteps, Caron was just 12 when he first became a member of Mattatuck. Both of his brothers, his two sons and his nephew also have been members.

“We use to go to all the parades,� said Caron, who noted this year the band was hired for 23 jobs, six of which were with the Winsted Fire Department.

The first parade of the season with the WFD and Mattatuck is the Memorial Day Parade. Even while Main Street was being renovated, the fire department marched behind the Mattatuck players, who kept the beat for the firefighters along the mile-long parade route.

Mattatuck also regularly performs at the Laurel Parade and the Winsted Firemen’s Parade.

Out of town, the Winsted Fire Department marched behind Mattatuck at least four times this year at various parades, with the two groups becoming a recognized pair.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in the state of Connecticut who has done 60 years with one band — that doesn’t happen anymore,� said Caron. “Fire departments are always looking for bands and Winsted always has theirs.�

“It’s just going to keep going and going,� continued Caron. “The band and the fire department are just going to keep going and going.�