Belvederes

The Belvederes drum and bugle corps founded by Richard T. Lord in 1965 in Schuylkill Haven. Lord and his wife developed the idea of organizing a drum and bugle corps while watching the town’s annual Memorial Day parade. A list of 45 interested youngsters was soon completed, and a meeting was scheduled. On May 30^th, 1965, the idea of the Belvederes drum & bugle corps was born.

By October, the corps was donated instruments by the Goodwill Fire Company of Pottsville, and by October, the unit was ready for their first appearance in the Cressona Halloween Parade, wearing uniforms donated by the Rainbow Hose Company. They ended their first year of performances with a few other local parades.

1966

On January 5, 1966, the charter was received. In August, the motley crew, with hand me down uniforms, donated drums and bugles, struggled to play their instruments and learn a drill. They ventured onto the field for the first time in an exhibition at the Coatesville Pageant of Champions. On September 3, at the Pottsville Moose Hall, the former Port Carbon Drum & Bugle Corps was having a reunion, and the Belvederes performed their first standstill concert for old members. The corps went on to win their first trophy, at the Palo Alto Fireman’s Convention, their 1st place award. In total, they closed out with 6 Halloween parades, a Christmas parade, one standstill concert and three exhibitions, and 25 parades, for a total of 29 engagements.

1967

During the winter months of 1966, the corps was hard at work in preparation for its first field competition season. New music numbers were taught and a new drill had to be learned. All this was done by their life time instructor, Ken Greene. June took the corps to many fireman’s convention parades and on June 25, the corps travelled out of state for the first time. It took them to Lindenwold. to a contest held by the Lamplighters drum & bugle corps. This was a 9th place finish. Many parades and competitions took place during the months to follow, and a few trophies were won. On Sept. 24th, the corps performed an exhibition at the National Association Championships in Reading. They didn’t compete because they didn’t think they were good enough.

1968

From January to May, the corps participated in 8 color guard shows, and 8 drum ensemble shows, placing not too bad. On June 22nd, they held their own show for the 1st time, which they named the “Sounds of Youth”. The Crusaders of Brookhaven took 1st place honors and were a crowd pleaser, but when the hometown kids took to the field, the stands went crazy. It sure showed the kids that they were loved in their hometown of Schuylkill Haven. On July 19th, the corps left for Philadelphia to represent the Schuylkill Haven Legion in the PA State Legion championships. They finished 9th out of 12 corps.

1969

1969 was a pretty good year for the Belvederes. They placed 9th in the VFW PA State championships, placed 7th in the American Legion State championships and finally, on August 24th, was named 1969 National Association Champions. Behind the winners was a group of dedicated adults, who struggled through the trying years, and devoted time and effort to bring about this tremendous accomplishment. Trophies and the championship flag were not the only results of this great 3 1/2 year effort. The championship is proof that the enthusiasm of youth could be channeled to worthwhile pursuits, and the youngsters could experience the joy of accomplishment, an unforgettable memory for the rest of their lives.

They participated for the first time in the Eastern States championships, finishing 6^th; not bad for the first time.

1970

Another season and a lot of hard work was the way they started the season. The Belvederes travelled to Philadelphia to Connie Mack Stadium for an afternoon competition, where they placed 3rd, but had the distinct honor of playing the National Anthem in the stadium. They traveled to Harrisburg American Legion contest, where they placed 5th. Traveled north for a show in Corning. This was the NY State championships. They took 1st place honors in the “Open Class”, against 12 others, as the NY “Open Class” circuit champions. 1970 was another great accomplishment. Our own drum major, Kathy Bevan, finished 1st, among some pretty good drum majors in the competition, where they placed 5th. 

They participated in the Eastern States championships, once again finishing 6th. This was a bad year as far as losses. And not competitions. They lost a beloved friend in that of Harold Bevan, a dedicated volunteer and bus driver. He was sorely missed but, over the years, the corps played his favorite song, that being “Hang Em High”.

1971

On June 17th, the corps achieved another great honor, being named the 1971 American Legion State champions. They went on to take a 2nd in Brookhaven, but one better, they received their new drums that week, and came in 1st out of 6 other corps, including the Chessmen, who were usually tops in percussion. That was only the beginning of what would become one of the best drum lines to compete in any contest. And all feared us when they took to the field. In 1971, a new crew of ” Knights on the Road ” appeared in the corps. They were Earl Kremer (don’t get us lost), Bill (Mario) Krammes, and Bill (the mechanic) Ebling. They travelled more than any other year, including their first appearance at the US Open “Class A” preliminaries, placing 7^th.

1972

What a drum line. They competed in 23 contests, the drum line finished 1st. 18 times. The corps won 10 contests, 8 – 2nd places, 3- 3rd place finishes, 1- 4th., and 1- 5th. They were a corps to fear when they took to the field. In 1972, they traveled to Marion for the 2nd time. Competing for the 2nd time, they finished 4th in the “Class A” championship finals. They were top in marching in both prelims and the finals. They missed out of 1st place by 1.95 points. When they arrived home from the contest, they were greeted by the towns people, for a job well done.  They were all proud of the corps, so they gave them a personal parade to show their gratitude for all the support received through the years. They ended the year with a 2nd place finish in the Eastern States championships, which was won by the Chessmen. Things only got better after that.

1973

So much happened in 1973. They had one of the best, if not the greatest tympany line to take to the field. With great parts being written by drum instructor, Walt Mitzel, they were hard to beat. The rest of the drum line did their part at being at the top of their game. You had to hear to appreciate the hours of hard work that the whole corps put into this year. After a 5^th place finish at the US Open “Class A” finals, the corps arrived in Allentown for the Eastern States Championship, everyone knew what had to be done. They took to the field, and after the first note, our people knew they were going to bring it home. They beat all the top corps that had beaten us in past contests, so this made it even sweeter. They were the Grand champion drum and bugle corps of Eastern States.

Billy Hightower was a brass instructor and music arranger for the Belvederes. He was a member of the National Buglers' Hall of Fame and served as judge, instructor and music arranger for numerous units in the East and Midwest.

1974

The Belvederes continued to be a strength within the Eastern seaboard. They took a 1st on July 4th in Easton, two days later, another 1st in Ocean City, a second in Minersville, to the Blue Rockland on August 9^th. They placed 3rd in the “Class A” finals competition at the US Open. Next, they traveled to Ithaca, for the Drum Corps International, where they finished 40th. Not bad for the first time. Again, they were crowned the 1974 Eastern States Circuit Champs. All in all, they had 50 engagements that year.

1975

In 1975, brought the resignation of long time president, Earl Kremer. He would be missed by all of his kids, as he called them. Next taking the reins was Clarence Greiner. They took a bunch of 2nds and went on to Marion again, to finish 15th in the “Open Class” division at the US Open championships. They went on to Philadelphia for the DCI prelims and missed out on making the “Tope 25” by a mere .25 of a point. Another year to remember.

1976

And finally, in 1976, with 70 parades, contests, and exhibitions, they took 2- 1^st, finished 12th in the American International “Open Class” championship finals, 15th in the “Open Class” preliminaries at the US Open and 37^th in the DCI “Open Class” championships. They concluded the season with a 4^th place finish at the Eastern States championships.

1977

After the 1976 season, a large drop in membership forced the corps to merge with another junior corps, the Highlanders of Hazelton, to form the Black Diamond Regiment in May of 1977.

Legacy

The Belvederes began competing as an “up and coming” marching and music group against other junior corps. With expert coaching, practice and experience, their on-field performance progressed to the point where the corps rose to the top ranks of junior corps in the mid-Atlantic states and beyond.

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