19th century music — Stolen violins

Stolen violins were recovered.

“New York detectives on Monday recovered six violins which were stolen from a music store in that city on May 6. They also arrested the burglars and their accomplices. The violins belonged to the estate of the late Professor Pecor of Whitehall, the well-known orchestra leader, who died about four years ago,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Aug. 14, 1895. “The Rev. J. S. Ethier of Glens Falls, Professor Pecor’s intimate friend and pastor, says the deceased owned several violins, one of which, a Paoli Magina made in 1680, was valued at $500 (the equivalent of $18,738 in 2024 dollars). The violins were sent to a New York music dealer to be sold for the benefit of the heirs.”

In other 19th century music news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

1860

• The fourth annual concert of the Fort Edward Cornet Band opened with “Shelton’s March. Notwithstanding the rain, the Union Hall was crowded.” The Fort Edward Ledger reported on June 8. “ The band did themselves full justice, although the dimensions of the room are much too limited to secure a good effect.”

The band was eager to get bookings.

“The Fort Edward Cornet Band hold themselves to march at an hour’s notice to any place in the United States in double … time.”

1882

• “Miss Lucy Smith, the accomplished pianist, now of Brooklyn, entertained a few friends at the residence of A. J. Pearsall (in Glens Falls) on Wednesday evening,” The Glens Falls Messenger reported on Dec. 29. “Miss Smith, whose fame as a musician is is steadily on the ascendent, was recently given a complimentary reception by the Young Apollo Club, the well-known vocal organization of New York City.”

1895

• “Professor Paul Rubens, pianist at the Crosbyside Hotel, Lake George, will be given a benefit hop at the hotel tonight,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 14. “Professor Sherman Holcomb and W. T. Burtt will assist Mr. Rubens within the musical program.”
• “F. G. Smith of New York, manufacturer of the Bradbury piano was in town (Glens Falls) yesterday looking the place over with a view of opening a piano wareroom,” The Morning Star reported Aug. 13.
• “A special car, bearing banners advertising the bicycle races, carried the Juvenile Band to Sandy Hill and Fort Edward last evening. The car made brief stops in the villages along the line while the band discoursed enlightening selections,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 15.

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