DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Early Texas Bandstands of DeWitt County. Now, you might walk past a bandstand in a town square and not think twice about it. Just a little roofed platform, some painted railings, maybe pigeons.
But friend, that humble structure carries a long, loud, and thoroughly Texan story. This particular bandstand in Cuero — the one standing here — is a replica of the first one ever erected in this park. And that original stage saw some living.
Concerts, patriotic meetings, bazaars, ice cream socials, political rallies, street dances. If something worth gathering for was happening in Cuero, this was the spot. And the musicians who played it?
They earned renown beyond the county line. Cuero's band became the official band for the internationally famed Turkey Trot — founded in 1912 and opened that very year with a parade led by Governor Oscar B. Colquitt himself.
Now the Turkey Trot was a showing of Thanksgiving birds prior to shipment, and music was woven right into its programs. That's not a small thing. That's a governor, a parade, and a flock of turkeys — all moving to the sound of Cuero musicians.
But let's back up. Way up. Before Anglo-American colonization, Spanish troops at various presidios already had marching bands out here on this land.
So music was never a late arrival to Texas — it came with the soldiers. Out on the frontier, though, most music wasn't for marching. It was for dancing.
Settlers played violins, guitars, or whatever they could coax a tune from — including, and I love this, a plow point used as an improvised instrument. You work the land all week, and on Saturday night, you play it. Settlers loved their tunes.
That's not my word — that's the marker's word, and it fits just right. Then came April 21, 1836. San Jacinto.
The Texan Army went into battle that day, and they did not go in silence. They moved to the music of "Will You Come to the Bower?" — played on a drum and a fife. Think on that.
Men walking toward one of the decisive fights in Texas history, with a fife cutting through the morning air. By the 1840s, the sound of Texas was changing again. Hundreds of European settlers arrived, and with their household goods came instruments.
Excellent bands were organized. And where you have a band worth hearing, sooner or later somebody builds them a proper place to stand. Bandstands went up across the state.
More than two hundred local bands originated in Texas before the century was out. By 1888, when the new state Capitol in Austin was dedicated, there were enough city bands to fill the celebration — and they did. So the next time you pass a bandstand — even a quiet one, even one with pigeons — know that it sits at the end of a very long line.
From presidio drummers to frontier fiddles to fife and drum at San Jacinto to the Turkey Trot parade rolling through Cuero with a governor out front. Music didn't just accompany Texas history. Sometimes, it led the way.
What the marker says
This bandstand, successor to earlier ones in Cuero, is a replica of the first one erected in this park -- used for concerts, patriotic meetings, bazaars, ice cream socials, political rallies, street dances. Cuero musicians won renown as official band for the internationally famed "Turkey Trot," founded 1912 and opened that year with a parade led by Governor Oscar B. Colquitt. The trot, a showing of Thanksgiving birds prior to shipment, used music on its programs. Before Anglo-American colonization, Spanish troops at various presidios had marching bands. But on the frontier, most music was for dancing, and was played on violins, guitars, or some improvised instrument such as a plow point. Settlers loved their "tunes." When the Texan Army went into battle at San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, it moved to the music of "Will You Come to the Bower?" -- played on a drum and fife. In the 1840s when instruments arrived with the household goods of hundreds of European settlers, excellent bands were organized, and bandstands were erected for their performances. More than 200 local bands originated in Texas in the 19th century. At dedication of the new state Capitol in Austin, 1888, many city bands played for the celebration.