Musical Mystery

After reading the results of Roger Norman's challenge about a Temple band director and the accompanying article from the Temple Tribune, Carroll Newberry wrote:

I did a cursory "google" search of these songs and Mr. Montin's name is not
mentioned as the writer of either of them. Perhaps a more extensive search would
turn up a connection with him. Interestingly, "Mademoiselle from Armentieres",
which is now sung mostly by children, had a number of versions. Some of the
verses were quite descriptive of her nefarious nightime activities with the
soldiers. As a result, these verses were promptly censored and not known among
the general public. Of course, they are now on the internet.

It seems quite a few composers claim credit for the music and lyrics of "Mademoiselle from Armentieres." But Mr. Montin's name is not among composers that scholars speculate wrote the once popular song. The World Book of Famous Music discusses the origin on pages 344-345. So many satirical verses were written, many may have felt justified in claiming authorship.

The Winner Is...

Hey, Pat Cooper Lyford, Class of '57 is the first in with the correct answer! (Alfred C. Montain. You know he played with John Phillip Sousa's band as well.)

Above is our proof – from the Temple Tribune itself. And, Pat wins a prize from Roger Norman - a kiss - that is, a chocolate Hershey kiss to be delivered to her at our reunion in Oklahoma City this September.
-Roger Norman

Name That Band Director

Roger M. Norman wrote:

Who can name for me the Temple Band director who, according to The Tribune, had a place in history in that he composed the music to “The Caissons Go Rolling Along”, and he also wrote the World War I song, “Mademoiselle From Armentieres”? Hint: He was a native of France.

Night Watchmen

Vickie Keck Nowlin, Class of 1970, wrote:

It is interesting reading about the police issue in Temple. I, too, don't remember having more than a night watchman around town when I grew up there in the 1950's and 1960's. I remember Dee Foster and others who sat all night in a car or in the laundromat watching the town overnight. And for a time there was an office for Woody Wilson when he was County Sheriff there on Commercial downtown.

As a teenager, I joined other kids downtown on Halloween riding around and having fun. One year, Pam Hayes Parrish and I rode around with Guerry Douglass and Glendell Cole for awhile. An older boy (who will remain anonymous) flashed his lights at us to stop and asked us to go with him to "egg" a house for a trick instead of a treat. We were scared, but we all got in his car with him and another older boy and went along for the ride. We drove by and he threw the eggs out the window at the targeted house. He drove us right back to our car...which was parked in the middle of the street just across from... you guessed it... the Sheriff's office. He was standing outside and motioned for us all to come in.

I remember being terrified as Pam and I sat down in ONE office chair... holding on to one another, shaking in our boots. (Oh, to be skinny enough to do that again.) Sheriff Wilson made us sit there as he asked the older boy what we was going on. He already knew that eggs had been thrown at the house we drove by! We didn't even drive around any with the older boys.... We drove to the house, watched one of them throw the eggs, and we drove straight back to our car, and the Sheriff already knew what had been done!! I don't remember saying a word. I just sat there with my eyes bugged out and held hands with Pam, terrified.

He knew we were just along for the ride without us saying anything at all. He just talked to the older boys and then turned to us younger ones and gave us a good lecture. I remember he tried to keep a straight face as he talked sternly to Pam and me about not getting involved with such shenanigans ever again. We just shook our heads and agreed to never do that again and started to cry. Then he started smiling and told us to go home. Man, did we ever move fast!

I don't even remember getting up out of the chair, but I do remember being glad to get back home in the safety of my own living room and telling my parents what happened. Of course, I didn't get much sympathy from them...all they could say was, "Good for Sheriff Wilson!" And that I had learned a good lesson, which I have to say, I certainly did! I learned that I had outgrown Halloween "treat or treating" for good!!

Changes in Law Enforcment

Pat Lyford wrote:
In the 50's, I don't remember a police department. We had the town constable and then everything else was covered by the Sherrif's office, even chasing bootleggers. There was a lot more going on then than now I'm guessing. We didn't lock our doors. Guess that time has passed.

What's Up at City Hall

Politics are active in Temple. Virginia Dupler, Jerry Oliver and Joe Giles filed to return as Town Trustees. Dupler hangs her hat on cleaning up the town, getting businesses back in town and working with the County Sheriff to improve town policing. All have previously resigned Trustee positions. Oliver resigned twice. They hope to replace current Trustees Valerie Hale, Janice Cole and Mayor Joe Keaton.

The incumbents hang their hat on their eliminating the police department which they say was a financial and public relations burden to the town. Also the incumbents say that they have managed to get the town’s accounting and spending under control. Mayor Keaton says that the County Sheriff has done a good job of policing the town without the petty and over-policing of previous inexperienced town police. Some businesses say that customers who quit driving to or through Temple because of the police have been coming back. Keaton points out that a recent burglary in the community was solved in 11 hours and that in the past burglaries were never solved.

The election is April 7.

-Harold Powell