Beverly, MA United States
Founded: 1950
CORPS Photos
St. Mary’s Crusaders drum & bugle corps was originally formed in the fall of 1950 as the St. Mary’s Juniors, a feeder corps to the St. Mary’s Seniors (Cardinals) and sponsored by the St. Mary’s parish and the Holy Name Society.
The corps’ colors were fuchsia, white and black and were under the leadership of Pietro J. Nuccio as corps director. They participated and competed in the Archdiocese of Boston circuit and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) as a parade “straight marching” unit from 1952 to 1957. In 1955, the corps became the St. Mary’s Crusaders and Awards included the 1957 American Legion (AL) Straight Marching state title and several local CYO titles.
The corps entered the field of competition as a “Class C” member in the Eastern Massachusetts (E-Mass) circuit, building their status over the first few years, placing 5th in both the 1960 and 1961 championships. The following year saw the group make a giant leap in 1962 as champions of the CYO “Junior” circuit and a 2nd place finish in the E-Mass “Class C” circuit. Over the next 3 seasons, the Crusaders were crowned the E-Mass “Class C” champions with an appearance in the 1964 World Open “Class A” preliminaries, placing 37th.
In 1966, the corps moved up to the E-Mass A-2 division, where they placed 6th in the finals and finished 19th in the World Open “Class A” prelims. The corps entered a rebuilding stage in both 1967 and 1968, returning to “Class C” competition in the E-Mass circuit, officially changing its name to the Beverly Crusaders in 1969 when the St. Mary’s parish reorganized its sponsorship commitments. That season the corps restored their finalist status in the E-Mass “Class C” division.
In 1970, the Crusaders, sporting new uniforms, continued their competitive path in the E-Mass “Class C” circuit and under new leadership by Edward E. Reanie, returned once again to the 1971 E-Mass finals, finishing 4th. This was the ground work that led to “Class C” titles in both 1972 and 1973, moving up to the A-2 class in 1974 and returning the next two years to the “Class C” arena, placing 2nd in the 1977 E-Mass championships.
The next year saw the corps compete in the 1978 World Open “Class B” preliminary round, placing 28th and won the E-Mass “A-2 Class” title, improving to a 16th place finish in the 1979 World Open “Class B” prelims and a 6th place finish in the “E-Mass” championships. In their final year of competition, they toured to the 1980 American International Open and the US Open “Class A” prelims, placing 19th and 17th respectively.
They disbanded in 1981.
Encyclopedia of Drum and Bugle Corps, 1966; Paul Legault (DCX)
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives October 18, 1953 Medford MA
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives April 24, 1955 Newburyport MA
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives April 25, 1957 All American Newburyport MA
Highest Score 80.320
Final show in DCX Archives July 16, 1960 Braintree MA placed 3 with a score of 80.320
Highest Score 82.100
Final show in DCX Archives September 16, 1962 Eastern MA Circuit Championships Malden MA placed 2 with a score of 76.900
Highest Score 82.950
Final show in DCX Archives August 23, 1963 Lawrence MA placed 1 with a score of 82.950
Highest Score 78.100
Final show in DCX Archives September 20, 1964 Eastern MA Circuit Championships Malden MA placed 1 with a score of 78.100
Highest Score 68.500
Final show in DCX Archives June 12, 1965 Danvers MA placed 1 with a score of 68.500
Highest Score 75.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 28, 1966 Winchester MA placed 2 with a score of 75.350
Highest Score 34.150
Final show in DCX Archives August 1, 1980 U.S. Open Class A Prelims Marion OH placed 22 with a score of 34.150
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Doyle, Chuck | Drum Line/Horn Line/Drum Major | 1974 to 1980 |
Hollis, Mary | Drumline/ ColorGuard | 1978 |
Hollis-Gerrish, Mary | Color Guard | 1979 to 1981 |
Melanson, Bill | Drum Line | 1975 to 1977 |
Milne, Dwayne | Snare Line | 1977 to 1980 |
Mulligan, Jack | Horn (Baritone) | 1953 to 1955 |
Ranahan, Maryann | Horn | 1978 |
Spanks, Carol | Horn (Saprano) | 1974 to 1977 |
Ward, Mike | Baritone | 1959 to 1961 |
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