In 1976 a group of volunteers got together to renovate a vacant building on Central Ave. S. to be used as a recreation and meeting center.
Members joined together every other Wednesday for a meeting which sometimes includes a potluck lunch.
One of the projects for the club is the Senior Citizens Band which was started in 1978 by Tillie Hoggarth and Esther Laughlin. The band is somewhat patterned after the Melville Homemakers Kitchen band which existed several years ago.
The band is made up of various types of instruments, pipes, bellows, reeds, and many articles that are most often found in the kitchen.
Alvin Paulson, who plays the accordion, is "leader of the band." He said he may have to settle for the harmonica, as his instrument seems to be getting heavier. A strong back up for Al is Eldon Laughlin who is adept at playing the violin. Myrtle Anderson, once pianist in Short's orchestra plays the piano in the band.
Esther Townsend is another accordion player and Thelma Rafferty chords on the piano at times. She also plays the garden hose with funnel, the teakettle, kazoo or whatever is handy.
Edythe Willyard plays the small glass washboard
May Willy, at 85 the oldest member of the band, plays the large brass washboard
Carl Pedersen beats the washtub
Ed Meyer is on the chimes which he made in his own shop, and also blows into the brown jug
Martha Lange handles the ebony sticks
Clara Meyer manipulates the "karakas" and blows a small horn
Frances Welk shakes the plastic bottle with beans
Gladys Munson shakes and strikes the tambourine
Tilly Hoggarth performs with Tambourine and kazoo
Annie Haugen, bells
Esther Laughlin, chicken fryer lid with wooden spoon, coffee pot, kazoo or whatever is in reach.
Toady Zimmerman once played the saxophone with the group, and his sister, Babe Malinski played the piano for a while.
The group besides having fun just practicing have performed for various organizations in the community. It is truly an unusual band that really enjoyed themselves as well as providing entertainment for others.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 248