Music, Bands, Shows, Theater, Events, Entertainment

Page #1By Rich Allison

The Arts in Claysburg

Music, Bands, Shows,

Theater, Events, Entertainment

Claysburg - Then and Now History - The ArtsPage #2

The Arts in ClaysburgGoing back as far as oral stories have been passed down in the area, our ancestors had aknack for playing instruments, singing and entertaining. Whether it was a fiddle, banjo,dulcimer, mandolin, horns of various types, drums and even kazoos, the Claysburg area

has been entertaining since the first settlers arrived. A lot of these talents were broughtfrom the Mother Country of the arriving immigrants and passed down through the years.

Others were taught, trained and cultivated to become performers some more naturalthan others but all doing well.

Probably the initial form of singing and playing instruments came from church servicesafter the settlers arrived. Other forms of entertainment began developing. As a matterof fact, Claysburg can boast of one of the oldest town bands in the state. It is now theClaysburg American Legion Band. People needed a way to be entertained before travel

became easier. Local places like Musselman’s Grove, Mayberry Claar Grove andBarnhart’s Grove provided them with local talented people some of whom moved on to

be quite successful through the years.

Claysburg has always had more than its fair share of talent. Raw talent needs cultivatedand natural talent can always be improved. However, when it is time for a show in

Claysburg whether it is a church play, a school play a community theatre event, a pa-rade, community days entertainment, minstrel shows, art shows or a special celebration,

the people of Claysburg always come through with stunning performances.

When it comes to performing, many of us cannot play an instrument or carry a tune, butwe still have talents. People have volunteered to carry flags in parades, to tell jokes in aminstrel or variety show or to act in stage plays. We all have special talents, but when

you look back through the years at Claysburg’s shows, parades or celebrations, we havehad an overwhelming amount of talent. We have also been blessed with leaders in moul-

ding and shaping our performances whether musical or non-musical.

Take a look at this section, have a laugh, revive a memory, put a smile on your face andremember, Claysburg is a talented place!


Musselman's Grove

Musselman's Grove located in Klahr at one timewas home to some of the most famous Country

Western music stars in the 1940's. Doc Williamsand the Border Riders and his wife, Chickie would

rent the Grove and bring big name stars to theClaysburg area. Doc who was a longtime star of

WWVA, Wheeling, WV brought in named starts likeGrandpa Jones, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, the Carter

Family with Mother Maybelle, Minnie Pearl, RoyAcuff and Hawkshaw Hawkins. The best crowdwas Lulu Belle and Scotty from Chicago with al-most 9,000 paid listeners who were hanging on

top of trees, on top of buildings and automobiles tosee the show.

Musselman's Grove was also home to the AnnualClaar-Walter Reunion which was started in 1901.

Tickets to DocWilliams Show

at Wheeling,WV


Musselman's Grove

This sale bill is undated for the year. How-ever, it is believed to be from 1954.

Musselman’s Grove was in its heyday inthe 1940’s and 1950’s. Traffic wouldget so heavy on Route 220 coming to

Musselman’s Grove that it would causea traffic jam!

Coming up the Klahr valley during anevent was a traffic jam in itself.

During the 1960’s other entertainmentvenues began to erode the markets for

Musselman’s Grove.By the early 1970’s, the Grove was

limited to family reunions and a specialoccasion every once in a while.

Today the Grove sits idle. However, ithas made its mark on history throughthe years, and until a few years ago, ifyou used Mapquest for directions, thedirections to and from Claysburg, PA

showed Musselman’s Grove as the origi-nating point.

A lot of songs were sung, a lot of peoplewere entertained and a lot of wonderfulfood was served at Musselman’s Grove.


Jim & Jane Claar and their Western Vagabonds and the Wagon Shed --Queen, PA

Anyone who has lived in the Central Pennsylvania areaanytime during the 1930’s through the 1980’s has prob-

ably heard of Jim and Jane Claar and their WesternVagabonds or their Wagon Shed which was located

outside of Queen, PA.Jim and Jane both grew up near Queen, PA in the

Scrubgrass area. Music was their first love -- playing,singing and entertaining the fans. They married in 1936and for years travelled throughout the country perform-ing with big name stars. Eventually they settled closerhome and performed in State College, thenWilliamsport

and then Lewistown before returning home to their farmnear Queen in the 1950’s.

By this time, they had three children, Connie Rose,Audrey and Ricky. In the 1950’s, they performed locally

as a family and with other groups and did DJ work locally.In 1957 they built their Wagonshed on the farm near Queen, and it was an instant hit.

Large crowds were there every Saturday night. During the same period, they were host-ing a show on WFBG TV (now WTAJ TV). It was also a hit and continued into the 1960’s.

The Wagonshed closed in 1961. Shortly after, their TV show went off the air due to alack of sponsors.

Jim and Jane decided to slow down from the music profession and live life on the farm.Jim did some truck driving, and Jane lived on the farm during the 1960’s and 1970’s.Then in 1986 they performed again at Hyndman, PA and did that yearly until 1990.

Jim died in 1991, and Jane died in 2011. Son Ricky lives outside of Bedford, daughterAudrey lives beside the farm and Connie Rose lives between Bedford and Everett.

Many people would have loved to have seen the Wagonshed continue and the TV show,but as with all good things, they must come to an end sometime.


Smokey Pleacher

Eugene Pleacher grew up in the Claysburg, PA area. He started doing comedy routineslocally and became a hit. Nicknamed “Smokey” he joined with Jim and Jane and the

Western Vagabonds in 1945 and was performing in the State College and Williamsport,PA area.

By 1947 Smokey had left the local performances to join with Doc Williams and the Bor-der Riders and was performing in Wheeling, West Virginia as part of the WWVA Jambo-ree. Smokey also performed in Nashville. In his later years, he found time to return to

Claysburg to perform with Doc Williams in the early 1970’s on a few performances.


Mayberry Claar Grove

Mayberry Claar Grove was located on the out-skirts of Queen on the Beaverdam Road that leads

toward Pavia.It is believed that the picnic area was built around1935. The Knisely Reunion used to be held locallyat Wilmer Claar’s until Mayberry Claar Grove was

completed, and then it moved there for manyyears.

Also, a different group of the Claar-Walter familyheld their reunion there after they had split from

the group that help one in Klahr.Jim and Jane Claar performed there in their early

days as did Jane’s sister, Ethel also known asTexas Lil.

Smokey Pleacher began his performances therewith Jim and Jane and later moved on to be with

Doc Williams.

This is the only remainingbuilding at the MayberryClaar Grove in Queen, PA


Mayberry Claar Grove

Additionally Mayberry Claar Grovehad other entertainers performingmostly on Saturday and Sundays

depending when a reunion was beingheld. Movies were also played at the

Grove with a large wooden screenbuilt over the stage for watching the

movies.

Mayberry Claar Grove was the springboardfor many local talented musicians who even-tually moved on to bigger and better things.It was also the entertainment center for the

people of Queen and surrounding areas.


Barnhart’s Grove - Claysburg, PA

Barnhart’s Grove was located in Claysburg, PA along Bedford Street.It was the place for church picnics and town socials for the people of

Claysburg.

It was located where the old F.D. Roosevelt Elementary School wasand adjoined the old original yellow brick high school building on

Bedford Street. The Barnhart land stretched for quite a distance andreached to Route 220 and as far north as where the current school

bus business is located on the Pine Hollow Road.

The original farmhouse and barn were located behind where the cur-rent bus business is located and was the site of the old Pine Hollow

Road before it was re-routed to its current location.

The Barnhart property basically stretched across the entire bottom-land where Route 220 is located to the current Claysburg High

School.

Barnhart’s Grove was the scene for many picnics and family gettogethers. Picnic tables were available. However, there was no stage

for entertainment. The Grove no longer existed after the land wasacquired to build the elementary school in the mid-1930’s.


Picnics in Claysburgat Barnhart’s Grove - Claysburg, PA


Greenfield Picnics

Hawaiian Aires performed at Greenfield on August 9, 1941. Left to Right: Bruce Lindsey(seated), Paul Burket, Junior Cox, Clarence Lindsey and Smokey Pleacher (kneeling).

Note: Paul Burket was killed during World War II in the invasion of Normandy, Franceand is buried there.

Greenfield Picnics were held in the wooded area behind the Greenfield Church on ImlerValley Road.


The picture is of theClaysburg Concert Band. The

date is unknown. However,there are cars in the back-ground that probably datethis picture to the 1920’s.

Claysburg has had a commu-nity band since 1879 and

was known as the ClaysburgCoronet Band. Later the

name was changed toClaysburg Community Band,

Claysburg Area Bands

and in 1934 the band became known as the Claysburg American Legion Band.

The Claysburg Legion Band is the second oldest band in the area surpassed only by theFishertown Band. The band continues its long standing tradition of parading in Memo-

rial Day and Fourth of July parades in other towns as well as all local parades.

Claysburg Band - Approx 1885This is probably the oldest photo of a

Claysburg Band known.

1st Row: #2-Mont Smith, #3-Joe Dibert,#6-Austin Dively

Back Row: #2-Gilbert Feathers


Claysburg American Legion BandEstimated Mid-1930’s

This photo of the Claysburg American Legion Band is probably right after they wererenamed the Claysburg American Legion Band from the Claysburg Community Band.

The Legion Band was formed in 1934 shortly after the Claysburg American Legion waschartered. Look at the next several pages for a larger blow up of this photo to give you

more detail on the individuals.

Music, Bands, Shows, Theater, Events, Entertainment

Documents

Transcript of Music, Bands, Shows, Theater, Events, Entertainment