Bygland Band

The Bygland Band was an instrumental band put together on March 4, 1908, in Bygland, Minnesota. The object of the organization was to learn how to play musical instruments in an ensemble. Qualifications for membership included: "any person of good character" who was over the age of twelve years, paid the membership fee of one dollar, attended every meeting unless excused or during the "spring work, harvest and threshing" seasons, and agreed to the constitution and bylaws of the organization. Although membership was open to "any person of good character" who was over the age of twelve years, the band mainly consisted of boys. Every member had to agree to be financially responsible for the band's expenses and to maintain their instruments and sheet music, even though they did not personally own them. At first, the officers responsible for the management of the band consisted of a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and a janitor. Later. the duties of the secretary and treasurer were combined and given to one individual and the janitor position was replaced by two business manager positions. All major decisions concerning the organization were voted on by the whole group, and a four-fifths majority was needed in favor of the decision before it was implemented. In 1918, attendance by the members of the band dwindled, even though there was a twenty-five cent penalty for not attending every meeting. Finally, it was noted in the log book that not enough members attended to have a proper meeting. The last entry in the log book was on September 15, 1918.