Flashback Friday: Windsor Locks History with Mel Montemerlo

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Windsor Locks had three junior (youth) drum corps in the 1950s and 1960s. All marched in local parades, and competed in nearby competitions.

The first was the St. Mary’s Drum Corps and Brigade Team, which was formed in October 1949 by Reverend Edward B. Conlon. “The Story of Windsor Locks: 1663-1954” says: “The organization has been aided by a series of top-flight trainers and musicians over the past five years, and has won many laurels. The misses Jacqueline Daly and Jane Pastamerlo are the present Majorettes in the Corps, and Miss Marilyn Barbieri is Majorette of the Brigade Drill Team.”

St. Mary’s Drum Corps included fifes, drums and bugles. It was very active in the early 1950s, but no mention of them exists in local newspapers after 1958.

The Golden Lancers Drum Corps was a second Drum Corps in Windsor Locks. It was started in 1958 by a young couple, Al and Mary Weatherbee, who lived on Litchfield Drive, near Southwest School. The original funding to get the drum corps started was donated by Ray Roncari. It funded the purchase of instruments, uniforms and a small, used bus. The bus was big enough for the group. It was reliable, and it got the group to and from Drum Corps “meets” (contests) in the nearby area. The group also marched in Windsor Locks parades.

Al and Mary Weatherbee deserve a great deal of credit for forming and taking care of the Golden Lancers. The group’s members will never forget the practices, the trips to competitions, an occasional stop at Friendly’s for “Awful-Awfuls” and other ice cream treats. They even went on an excursion in the bus to the East Windsor Drive-in for a movie.

Mr. and Mrs. Weatherbee were excellent leaders, teachers, and role models. Unfortunately the Golden Lancers Drum Corps only lasted from 1958 to 1961.

There was a third Drum Corps in Windsor Locks from about 1960 to 1965. It was called the Cavaliers Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, and was sponsored by the GensiViola Post of the American Legion. Frank E. Merrigan was its director. There were 14 articles about it in Springfield Newspapers which cover Windsor Locks news. They dated from 1960 to 1964. A 1960 article said that they were going to raise money to pay for the annual costs of the group. The 1964 article in the Springfield Union said that it was going to be replaced by a “Marching and Maneuvering” drum and bugle corps which would be named the “Majestic Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps”. However further information on either the Cavaliers or the Majestic Guardsmen could not be found.

The three Drum and Bugle Corps of Windsor Locks provided youngsters with wholesome after-school and weekend activities from around 1950 to the mid 1960s.

Written by Mel Montemerlo

About the author: Mel Montemerlo was a Windsor Locks resident until he went to college in 1960. He is an avid student of town history, having written over 50 articles. He is currently retired and lives in Virginia.