New American Legion Junior Band Exhibit Marches Through Time

BELLEFONTE — The Centre County Library and Historical Museum unveiled its latest exhibit, focusing on the storied history of the American Legion Junior Band, with a grand opening at the Historical Museum in the Miles-Potter-Humes House on April 24.

The exhibit marks the Historical Museum’s first new showcase in nearly two decades. It showcases recent donations from community members, providing insight into the rich history and unique role of the American Legion Junior Band in Bellefonte.

The grand opening event was attended by museum staff, former band members, artifact donors and board members.

“All the regions around here had American Legion Junior Bands, but Bellefonte’s band was unique because the Bellefonte band worked together to produce 20 state championships and four national championships,” Judy Dombrowski of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum explained. “Their story hooked me and the more I saw, the more appreciative I was of how hard the band members and their director worked to make music, and they really made a musical legacy for Bellefonte.”

Dombrowski spearheaded the idea for the new exhibit, spending about a year working with donors, community members, the Historical Museum, volunteers and more to bring the history to life for current Centre County residents.

The exhibit, located upstairs in the Miles-Potter-Humes House, pieces together the narrative of Bellefonte’s American Legion Junior Band through artifacts, historical documents and photographs. The layout follows a chronological order, aiming to unravel not only the band’s beginnings but also its eventual conclusion.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the history through interactive displays. Additionally, the Bellefonte High School band, under the direction of Caleb Rebarchak, recorded an original composition of the American Legion Junior Band, offering museumgoers a nostalgic journey through time as they explore the exhibit.

Originating in the 1920s, the American Legion Band evolved into the American Legion Junior Band, which flourished from the late 1930s to the early 1960s, primarily comprising children ranging from elementary school to early college years.

“The American Legion donated a few photographs that explain how this band started. I did a little digging and putting things together and I figured out how it got in the hands of children because these people were from about age 8 through 21. That, I think, makes it so unique,” Dombrowski highlighted. “Little kids, teeny tiny kids were in training before they got to march by the director. It actually involves hundreds of kids, students, parents, community members — they all got together to do this.”

Dombrowski also noted how there’s still much to learn about the band and encouraged community members to help identify family, people they may know and maybe even themselves in the photographs that line the walls of the exhibit.

Located at 203 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, the Historical Museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with the museum’s newest exhibit ready to be viewed by the public. In addition to the American Legion Junior Band exhibit, visitors can explore several other rooms housing artifacts and access virtual exhibits online. Tours are also available upon request.

The Miles-Potter-Humes House stands as a historical landmark for Centre County, with its Georgian-style architecture situated in downtown Bellefonte.

“This building is a very unique part of our organization because it not only has the resources of our genealogy collection, family history and local history, but we also have museum artifacts that are relevant to Centre County and also to Bellefonte,” Denise Sticha, the executive director of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum, noted.

The Historical Museum at the Miles-Potter-Humes House is just one facet of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum’s network. The house previously served as the library from 1939 until the Bellefonte location opened across the street. Over the decades, several more branches have opened, including in Philipsburg and Centre Hall. Additionally, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum’s bookmobile makes 19 stops across the county each week, extending library services to areas lacking public transportation.

From research and genealogy archives to public access to books and history, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum looks to be a free destination with information, technology resources and more for the community while continuing to preserve heritage in Centre County.

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