Dear Editor,

This letter is written in response to the Eric Geller letter of May 27. The Scotia Band came to be 75-years ago in a Humboldt County that was notably different from the one we live in today. The lumber industry was in full swing, the rivers were overflowing with fish, and the arts were esteemed in our schools. It was a long way to Eureka, where most of the community cultural events were taking place.

Scotia Band has always been a community band. From the beginning, the membership of the band was not exclusive to residents of Scotia nor to employees of The Pacific Lumber Company.

Lloyd Anderson, the first conductor of the group, was the music teacher at Fortuna High School and James Batchelor, brass player, was the vice principal there. Membership during the first 5-years included a rancher from Hydesville, dairymen from Ferndale, a lawyer from Fortuna, and a businessman from Eureka.

A change in rehearsal space from Scotia to Fortuna took place in 1939. However, for the historical purist, the group was all men. That changed 6-years later with the U.S. intervention in WW II. To sustain the popular group, membership was opened and remains open to all wind and percussion musicians.

Iris Anderson of Fortuna and Bill Crane of Ferndale rallied local musicians and students to keep the group together during the war years. Our current membership includes an exchange student from Germany, a seasonal resident from New Mexico, students from local schools, a Pacific Lumber Company retiree and lots of diversity.

The band's historical archives include programs and notes from the “Music Nights” through the 1950's. The first “Music Night” included a dance troop and a musical comedy duo from Fortuna, a folk band from Ferndale and a singer from Hydesville. The talent was never limited to residents of Scotia.

The Scotia Fire Department and The Pacific Lumber Company were two of the main supporters of cultural programs in the Eel River Valley and the lumber company continued its support for 71-years until it's demise in 2008. The Fire Department remains as a supporter.

The Scotia Band is a 501 (c) 3 organization who's mission is to enrich our community by providing high quality traditional and contemporary concert band music and educational experiences.

Our production of “Music Night Revisited 2010” was intended to be a window to a style of entertainment and a celebration of community music, not an historical reproduction. We are planning “Music Night Revisited 2011” for Sept.10, 2011, again in the beautiful Winema Theatre. We are proud to continue a Humboldt County tradition of community music.

Sharon Holt

Scotia Band historian

Fortuna