Nevers' 2nd Regt. Band Performs Again
100 Years After First Performance at Peace Treaty Celebration
Updated February 5, 2006
In 1905, the forerunner of today’s Nevers' Band, marched in the welcome parade which wound its way through Portsmouth's streets among decorated buildings, gun salutes, enthusiastic U.S. dignitaries and masses of cheering citizens. Portsmouth set the scene to host the Russian and Japanese delegations as they began the month long process of crafting the Treaty of Portsmouth, thus ending the 1904 war between the two nations.
Nevers’ Band performed, this past September in Portsmouth NH, celebrating the 100th anniversary of this historic event. The Band performed in the morning at the South Church for the "Service of Peace"; again at 12:00 noon for the Wentworth by the Sea’s Centennial Brunch and finally at 3:00pm, where they presented a concert of popular 1905 music at the Christ Episcopal Church on Lafayette Road. Rich Spicer, former Nevers’ conductor and Peace Treaty music historian, presented accompanying narrations explaining the importance of music throughout the peace process.
The Band has a long and distinguished history in New Hampshire. The beginnings of the band can be traced back to the last half of the 1800's when the majority of its members were associated with the 2nd Regiment of the NH National Guard. It is this National Guard organization that marched in the Peace Treaty parade in 1904. It is also believed that prior to it’s National Guard involvement, certain band members are linked to the 3rd Regt. NH Volunteers, which served in at Hilton Head, South Carolina during the Civil War.
Some of the band’s other historic NH performances include, playing for the dedication of the battleship USS Alabama, turn of the century political rallies, State Fairs, Dartmouth College Commencements, the dedication of the original Tramway and its replacement, the Tram II at Cannon Mountain. In 1981 a prominent Japanese film company invited the band to play for their "docu-drama" recreating the Peace Treaty signing called "Flags Over Portsmouth."
This past summer, the Band was pleased to perform at the Franconia Notch State Park. The concert concluded the summer long concert series, sponsored by the General Federation of Women’s clubs and supported The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund.
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