Marching bands are part of nearly every parade. At the WYO Parade each year there are high school bands and the 7th Cavalry Drum and Bugle Corp. At one time the coal mining town of Monarch had its own band, made up of around 30 young people, dedicated against many high odds to make music.

Kevin Knapp, in his Sheridan Community Land Trust Explore History Talk in January, gave a presentation about Monarch, and said this about the band.

Water Tower at the Monarch Site

Here is their story.

The Sheridan Post, July 9, 1914 – Those Bands Were Good Music Did Much to Make Stampede Success Monarch Aggregation Comes in for Large Share of General Praise. Nothing added more to the festivity and joy of Stampede days in Sheridan last week than the music of the two excellent bands which were always on the job, working practically night and day for the edification and amusement of the crowds. Sheridan people are familiar with the history and achievements of the local musical organization, and appreciate its merits, but they are less familiar with the other, the Monarch band, which was also on the job.

The Monarch band has made wonderful progress, and a brief history is not amiss by any means. A local man who has been closely connected with bands, and a player in several for twenty years, remarked that he had never, in all his life, seen a band play on continuous march as long as the Monarch band did. Commencing to play at the bridge on North Main, the band marched up Main and around the Great Western hotel by the Congregational church it stopped for the first time but long enough to change music. Then, still playing, the band marched down Main to Grinnell. Down Grinnell to the roadway to the Sheridan Inn. There the band halted but the music continued until the long parade had marched entirely by. Musicians say they never saw anything like it.

They also complimented the band on its precision in marching and the excellence of its music. The Monarch band has been in existence only about eleven months. A number of Polish boys at the Monarch camp had some cheap instruments which they had bought from a mail order house and were wont to play a little around the camp, altho most of them could not read a note of music. At the request of a few friends Prof. John Sanderson Joyce advised the boys to form a band and get better instruments.

Thru the assistance of Decker-Cummings Music company the boys did secure first class instruments. After they got so they could play a little, then decided to secure uniforms. Mr. Pollock, manager of the Wyoming Coal Mining company, told them it was the best thing thing could do, and made a donation of $100 toward the cost of the uniforms he also fitted up a band room in which to practice and has encouraged the boys in every possible way. Mr Kooi, of Kooi, was also interested in the Monarch band and gave them several donations, the last being $40 for the uniforms. Decker-Cummings donated $20.

Several of the band cannot speak a word of English and Prof. Joyce frequently, in explaining and teaching, has to make use of an interpreter. Mr. Joyce is very proud of his band, as he has a right to be and the Monarch camp is in turn proud of both Mr. Joyce and the band.

Several Sheridan people remarked upon the presence of George W. Messick with the band, acting as drummer during the three Stampede days. When the band arrived in Sheridan, it was without a drummer and Mr. Messiek volunteered his services, leaving his business for three days, and donated his work to help out on the celebration.

The Sheridan Post, December 17, 1909

The band traveled as far as Dayton and Ranchester. This from The Sheridan Post, September 23, 1913- Ranchester was serenaded Sunday afternoon by the Monarch band on their way home from the Dayton picnic held in that town Sunday. The band is composed of about 22 pieces and certainly give first-class music. They played for the dance given in Dayton Saturday night and those present declared it to be the greatest function of the season.

And this from The Sheridan Enterprise, July 6, 1914, in a story about the Stampede – The Monarch band, under the leadership of J. S. Joyce deserves considerable credit for its efficient services during the Stampede. They were always on time and always on the job. In the parade Thursday morning they gave the longest exhibition of continuous playing while marching of any band that has ever been in Sheridan.

The band was organized about a year ago under adverse circumstances. (actually, the first reference to the band in the newspapers was in 1909) The boys were all foreigners, among them being Poles, Montenegrins and Italians, and scarcely half of them could speak English. They owned no instruments or uniforms and were without funds. Through the courtesy of the Decker-Cumming Music store they were able to get their instruments on easy terms and by contributions from Peter Kooi Monarch Coal company. Decker-Cummings and other generous friends, they were able to get their uniforms.

During the Stampede they were without a snare drummer and George W. Messick, who is a fine drummer, kindly donated his services at one time Mr. Joyce was director of the Sheridan band and was the leader when the new band stand was opened about two years ago.

The Sheridan Enterprise, March 25, 1914

The Sheridan Enterprise, September 5, 1915, in an article about the upcoming Labor Day parade, it talks about how the band go from Monarch to Sheridan.

The line of march will be down Main Street, to third and across Broadway, where the column will halt to allow the miners, headed by the Monarch Band, to de-train from the special train which arrives at that hour, and form to the front of the procession.

The band played in parades, at dances, at political rallies, and other events around the area, and was a going concern for over 10 years. The last reference to the Monarch Band was in the Sheridan Post on February 20, 1922, where they played for a wedding. The story of the band shows what youngsters can do when they dream a dream and have help to make it come true.