STORY BEHIND GRANDON CIVIC CENTER

What a gift! The city of Sterling was the beneficiary although in reality all area citizens were the ones to ultimately reap the many rewards in the years since the July 20, 1938 Dedication ceremony.

The donor of this magnificent structure was David Washington Grandon, better known as D.W. He was born in Pennsylvania on January 15, 1859 and came to Sterling, Illinois in 1915 and purchased The Sterling Daily Gazette. According to one quote at the time, he was "getting old in years, but his spirit was still that of a young man".

In 1935, shortly after building one of the finest newspaper plants at the corner of Second avenue and East Fourth street, D.W. had another brilliant idea came to the fore, largely, it is said, through a comment made by J. "Johnny" Richards in an editorial which appeared in The Daily Gazette newspaper. Richards, who did a great deal for music in the community, emphasized the need for a band stand.

J.J. Richards had first met D.W. in Florida and renewed his acquaintance in 1936 when he moved to Sterling. Together, they spoke of Sterling's need for an up-to-date bandstand. D.W. thought that Sterling had been good to him and told others, "I feel that I would like to do something for the town before I die, what better thing can I do than give to Sterling a center for art, culture and music?" As the civic center was built, he watched every detail and was a principal speaker at the Dedication ceremony: the memorial stands as a tribute to his perseverance--a most perfect music shell from all acoustical and artistic standpoint.

DEDICATION CEREMONY

July 20, 1938

The band shell was dedicated on July 20, 1938. A concert was presented by seven area school bands. The bands were St. Mary's band, J.J. Richards; Milledgeville band, Ralph Fahrney; Wallace school band, K.M. Bailey; Chadwick band, W.R. Fuller; Polo band, Henry W. Burch; Sterling band, Gunner Benson; Morrison band, Henry W. Burch.

That evening a dinner was hosted by the Sterling-Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce, followed by the Mendelssohn Treble Clef Chorus of Sterling, directed by Mrs. Muriel Phelps. The dedication exercises that followed were opened by the playing of Mr. Richards latest march, Salute to Sterling, dedicated to Mr. Grandon in recognition to his great service to the City of Sterling. Mr. Grandon personally presented the Civic Center to the city of Sterling. Mayor W.E. Long accepted for the city and expressed the appreciation of the whole community.

The Sterling Municipal Band's concert that evening included vocal selections by Doris Andreas Wiles and the following list of guest conductors; Capt. H.C. Bronson, Joe Bereim, Henry Restorff, Ray Dvorak, A.R. McCallister, Karl King, Clare Chenette.

NOTE 1: According to the program, the bands in order of appearance were St. Mary's band, Milledgeville band, Wallace School band, Chadwick band, Polo Community band, Union School band (with 72 students from Central and Lincoln schools), and Morrison High School band. The Salute to Sterling was performed by the Sterling Municipal band. Source: Sterling Daily Gazette, July 18, 1938, p.6-9.

CAST OF PLAYERS

(Some of the names found in photo captions)

S.M. Barraclough, Chairman of the Building Committee and Arrangement Committee; also a member of Sterling Municipal Band Board.

Arthur C. Carlson, aka "Art", Secretary of the Committee and member of the Building Committee; also Business Manager of The Sterling Daily Gazette.

Willis Coward, aka "Bill", employee of Brainerd.

Urvin R. DeVoe, Master of Ceremonies, member of Building and Grounds Committee; also Chairman of Sterling Municipal Band Board.

David Washington Grandon, aka D.W., newspaper Publisher and donor of civic center to city of Sterling.

Preston E. Grandon, aka "Pres", son of D.W. Grandon, later publisher of The Sterling Daily Gazette.

Gilbert A. Johnson, Architect, Firm of Peterson and Johnson of Rockford, Illinois, who designed both Grandon Civic Center and the Gazette building.

Rev. William Pratt, President, Ministerial Association; also principal speaker at Dedication of civic center.

John H. Powers, a Sterling General Contractor who erected the Grandon Civic Center at the direction of the Building Committee.

J.J. Richards, aka "Johnny", Composer of Salute to Sterling; also member of Building Committee, Committee in Charge of Dedication, and Director of Sterling Municipal Band.

Fred Sangrey, Carpenter of J. H. Powers.

Harold Ward, Member of the Building Committee and Committee in Charge of Civic Center.; also editorial writer for The Sterling Daily Gazette.

CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHS

All photographs courtesy of Scott Grandon. The original scrapbook photo album was compiled by Harry E. Kidd as a gift for D.W. Grandon.

REFERENCE

Grandon Family Webpage at www.grandon.org/paf01.htm

History of the Sterling Municipal Band at www.sterlingmunicipalband.com

Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Museum, Sterling, Illinois

The Sterling Daily Gazette (past newspaper articles)

1937 Sterling City Directory