2005 Year in Review

Sesquicentennial Sounds of Music

Music makes any occasion festive. It reconnects us with our past and joins people sharing events in the present. On Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, visitors to Morrison’s Sesquicentennial will be treated to a rich variety of musical entertainment.

A $2 admission pass admits everyone to the Whiteside County fairgrounds. They will enjoy a DJ, a community chorus, gospel bluegrass and rock and roll/country bands, and a musical audio-visual program. That amounts to $0.40 per performance. In addition, the parade includes free musical enjoyment.

During the Saturday parade, which begins at 1:00, a community band will perform the unpublished march titled “The Morrisonian.” The piece was written by former Morrison High School band director Henry Burch, grandfather of local attorney William Burch. The band includes students from the junior and senior high schools and adults, with Carolyn Aiken as director. It is not too late to join the hometown band. Call Aiken at 772-2813.

Dee’s calliope music will also drift through the parade route and the fairgrounds, courtesy of Schuler Motors, Inc. and TheCity1.com. Clinton, IA Shriners have entered their Oriental band.

On Saturday evening from 7:00 to 10:00, join Davenport, IA DJ Jason Vidmar as he entertains in the Blue Building at the fairgrounds. He will feature music from the 1950’s to the present, and the building offers plenty of dancing space. He will honor requests for favorite tunes if they are available.

Vidmar will include fun activities for all ages: lip sync, apple-eating, and hula hoop contests; “Name That Tune;” a “Decade Dance” for married couples; group dances. Prizes will be awarded, but the attraction here is movement and music.

“Mountain of the Lord” and the rousing gospel number “River in Judea” are stirring anthems that are part of the ecumenical church service on Sunday. This community-wide event is scheduled for 1:00 at the grandstand. Kathy Janicek will direct the chorus. You may join them by attending the 7:00 Wednesday practice July 6, at Bethesda Lutheran Church.

Sunday also features two, outstanding area groups performing concerts before the grandstand. First is the Anderson Family band, a gospel bluegrass ensemble from Clinton, IA comprised of Mike and Debbie and their daughters, Celesta and Angela. They play upright bass, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, respectively, blending instruments and voices seamlessly.

To develop their skill, the whole family took private, weekly, lessons from 2001 to 2004. Expect a toe-tapping, hand-clapping performance of 30 or more songs from 3:30 to 5:30. Anderson Family CD’s will be available at the grandstand for a donation.

“Buster Brown” follows the Anderson Family with rock and roll and country favorites from the 1950’s to the present. Their program is from 6:00 to 8:00. The Sterling-Rock Falls band consists of five members, led by Rudy Attebury on keyboards. Larry Bushman (drums), Rick Stoudt (bass), Bob Frederick of Morrison (lead and steel guitars), and dynamic Jodi Sunday (vocals) complete the band.

Concluding the Sunday performances is Bob Vaughn’s “Memories Are Made in Morrison” program. It begins at 8:00, with Tanya Ernst singing the National Anthem.

The audio-visual portion of the program will utilize two, large viewing screens furnished by Effective Networking of Clinton, IA. A unique DVD presentation captures facets of the Sesquicentennial and our community.

Certainly, Morrison will be alive with the sounds of music July 9 and 10. Musical memories will follow you home.

by Stephanie A. Vavra, Guest Columnist
June 29, 2005