Memorabilia from Cripple Creek & Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly from 1939 to 1950.

MEMORABILIA FROM CRIPPLE CREEK & VICTOR HIGH SCHOOL BANDS DIRECTED BY ERNEST T. SLY.
Contributed by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack). ©

Ernest T. Sly was the charismatic band leader and director of music for the schools in Victor and Cripple Creek for eleven years--from 1939 to 1950. He was affectionately known as "Pop Sly" by his students and others throughout the community. Almost everyone wanted to be in Pop Sly's band--and a very high percentage of those enrolled at the two schools participated. Georganna McCleerey and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack) were among Pop's many admirers.

Marching Band in Victor, 1946

Everyone enjoyed this event featuring Pop Sly's Marching Band in Victor. Many of the young boys watching from the sidewalk in front of the Victor City Hall are dressed in suits and ties, so this must have been a special occasion? In the background, notice the old cars parked along Victor Avenue and the crowd gathered by the Victor Hotel. Photo from 1946 shared by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).

The photo above shows the combined Cripple Creek & Victor Marching band paused in front of the Victor City Hall in 1946. The Band Director, “Pop Sly”, stands at front left in a dark uniform with a white belt and hatband (partially obscured by the tall white hat of the center majorette). Photo shared by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).

Others identified in photo include:

Georganna McCleerey--little girl in white dress behind Pop Sly's right shoulder.
Bob Akin--boy behind Georganna with white navy cap.
Cleon Spray--majorette far left, white blouse, dark skirt.
Shirley Wicks--head majorette, center, white outfit and hat.
Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack)--boy standing in crowd, left center, dark suit & tie, being pointed at by tip of center majorette's baton.
Georgia Pospahalla--little girl in pigtails behind Jeep.
Bob Beach--boy standing in crowd to left of Jeep, white shirt & dark tie.
Jack Markley--tuba player, front far right.
Mary Lou Olson--behind Jack.
Patsy Flannagan--tuba player next to Pop Sly.
Willie Cox--shorter trombone player, behind taller trombone player in front center.

Georganna McCleerey in band uniform, circa 1949-50. Photo from Georganna McCleerey Peiffer.

The Band Uniform Jacket worn by Georganna McCleerey has been donated to the Cripple Creek District Museum. Photo from Georganna McCleerey Peiffer.

Concert Band Performing at the Union Printers Home in Colorado Springs, 1947

Cripple Creek & Victor Concert Band Performing at the Union Printers Home, 1947. Director Ernest T. Sly, far right at back.

Bands directed by Pop Sly gained prominence in the Region for their performances. The photo above shows the combined Cripple Creek & Victor band in 1947 playing a concert for the lyceum program at the Union Printers Home “where many compliments were heard”. [Digital clipping of photo from 1947 Gold Rush Newspaper shared by Steve Plutt.]

Band personnel listed in the newspaper caption accompanying the 1947 photo above include: oboe, Bill McMilan; solo clarinet, Betty Jo Ronning, Barbara Sharpe, Robert Chambers, Margaret Knopp; second clarinet, Pauline Johnson, Elsie Davidson; third clarinet, Charles Porter, Beverly Ward, Evalyn Crooke, Fritzye Riley; E-flat saxophone, Elenor Stanke, Shirley Wicks, Virginia Bebee; saxophone, Georgia Pospahalla; solo cornet, Ardelle Chambers; first cornet, Eric Nelson, Don Irvine; French horn, Jean Salsbury; second horn, Sara Fletcher, bass horn, Shirley Ross, Izana Hynes; trombones, Bill Cox, Bob Godfrey; second trombone, Betty Flanagan, Carol Chapman; bar saxophone, Jimmie Dee Rogers; sousaphone, Jack Markley, Norma Parrill; bells, Betty Koleberg; snare drums, Charlotte Rolofson, Donna Pierce, Barbra Fleetwood; bass drum, Sue Kolb; cymbal, Elsie Harshbarger; drum major, Medville Banks; twirlers, Patty Banks, Shirley Wicks, Donna Pierce, Cleon Spray.

Original caption from digital clipping of 1947 Gold Rush Newspaper photo (above) shared by Steve Plutt. Click to enlarge.

Memories of Pop Sly—Director of Bands in Victor & Cripple Creek, 1939-1950
[Based in part on excerpts from June 26, 1950 Gold Rush Newspaper article shared by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer]

Ernest Theodore Sly was born January 23, 1886 in Birmingham, England, and spent his youth there. He and Lucy Berry were married there, and one daughter, Mabel, was also born in England. In 1912 they came to Canada and in 1914 to the United States. Mr. Sly directed bands in many cities in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado, and in 1950 celebrated his fiftieth year in band work.

It was through the influence of John Phillip Sousa, whom he met in England, that he decided to make music his career. Sousa lifted him up on a box when he was a small boy and let him direct his band, afterward telling him he thought he showed great promise.

For nearly eleven years Pop Sly was the band leader and music director in the Cripple Creek and Victor schools, coming from Durango in 1939. In this time he won the devotion of his pupils and the community alike, and made the Cripple Creek~Victor District Band one of the outstanding organizations in the state. It became a matter of course for his group to win a “superior” rating at the annual music festival in Pueblo.

Besides giving his students a thorough groundwork in music, he imbued them with the life and pep with which he always led them, and gave them the example of a fine Christian gentleman. The picture of Pop stepping out at the head of his band, full of youth and enthusiasm, will always remain with those who knew him.

Photo from June 26, 1950 Rold Rush Newspaper article (published after Pop Sly died) shared by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer.

Years later, former student Charles “Sonny” Clark wrote a brief tribute to “Ernest T. Sly, The Band Man” [click link]. Clark recalled how Pop’s enthusiasm and talent enabled him to transform a ragtag group of students (who initially didn’t know which end of a horn to blow in) into proficient musicians.

Former student Georganna McCleerey Peiffer attributed part of this success to Pop Sly getting kids started early playing “Tonettes”. As shown in the photo, the Tonette is a small (6 inch), end-blown flute made of plastic, which was once popular in American elementary music education.

Designed as a pre-band instrument, the Tonette was nearly unbreakable, chromatic, and tunable. It was easy to blow and the fingering was simple. By 1941 over half of the grammar schools in the United States had adopted the Tonette as standard pre-band equipment.

Tonette musical instrument employed in music classes to get younger students started and interested in band.

Ernest T. Sly was a member of the Cripple Creek Elks and the Sylvanite club. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Consistory and the Shrine. His home lodge was in Yankton, S.D. During the last year of his life, Mr. Sly was president of the Colorado Music Educators’ association, and very active in the association’s program.

The newspaper article published at the time his death (in June 1950) reported that Mr. Sly was survived by his wife, Lucy; two daughters, Mrs. Clyde Roberson of Lance Creek, Wyo, and Mrs. Ival Larmer of Chicago, Ill; a son, Fred Sly, of Rifle; two brothers, Percy and Tom Sly of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; a sister in England; and three grandchildren.

"Memorabilia From Cripple Creek &Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly" contributed (April, 2020) by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack) ©.

POST-SCRIPT -- Enter the VICTOR TOMMYKNOCKERS Gold Rush Days Marching Band.
When a band from the Cripple Creek & Victor High School was no longer available to perform in the annual Gold Rush Days Parades, the VICTOR TOMMYKNOCKERS organized an ad-hoc band of marching musicians to participate in the celebration. The VICTOR TOMMYKNOCKERS are a volunteer group of part-time residents established to "Support & Enhance Victor Projects and Spirit". For many years the TOMMYKNOCKERS organized Gold Rush Days garage sales and donated all proceeds to support the Victor Volunteer Fire Department.

The VOLUNTEER VICTOR TOMMYKNOCKERS BAND has offered much appreciated "Marching Musical Entertainment" for annual Gold Rush Days Parades. Their "Youthful Exuberance and Homemade Costumes" more than compensate for their small (but mighty) numbers. Notice their "ears" and the "tin can headlamps" mounted on their hardhats. Band organizer Rich Ray, third from left. Photo shared by Maxine & Bob Marchese, fifth & sixth from left.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS:
Georganna McCleerey grew up in Victor, Colorado. She fondly remembers that time and place, as well as cherished childhood friends. Georganna is married to Bud Peiffer. After retiring, Bud and Georganna (McCleerey) Peiffer reconnected with their roots in the Mining District and now live in Cripple Creek. Georganna has scrapbooks with an extensive collection of photos and memorabilia which she has generously shared in several stories contributed by others to the Oral History Pages of the Victor Heritage Society Web Site. Thank you Georganna!
Charles Spray and Georganna were school mates in Victor. To learn why Charles was also known as Jeep Hack, check his story titled "Recollections of Life in Victor". He also shared these companion stories: "Memories of Washington Elementary School", "Adventures at the Beaver Valley Ranch", "Memories of Ina & Henry Cleveland Hack", "Lighter Side of a Visit to Hack's Victor Barbershop", "Memories of Margaret & Henry C. 'June' Hack, Jr", "A Day in the Cresson Mine", "Firewood For Victor, Colorado", "Sports in Victor & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High School Basketball Tournament", Winters in Victor, Colorado during the 1940's & early 50's, and Tragedies When I Was Growing Up In Victor, Colorado in the 1940's & 1950's.
Thank you Charles / Jeep!

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