|
History of the Glen Rock Carolers Association Inc.
Based on a recording by James Kroh,
the Carolers Historian, in 1984, and other accounts
Christmas morning in Glen
Rock as photographed by Charles Ehrman
|
A small village in southern York
County was producing a fine woolen fiber and juke rope, the year was 1848.
A decade earlier this railroad stop was known as Heathcote's Station.
William
Heathcote, who was the prime mover in the development of this village,
suggested a new name for this settlement — Glen Rock. He had
build a large brick structure, sent word to several of his brothers in
England that he was going into the woolen business and needed their help.
Mark Heathcoate and James Heathcote arrived in 1839 with needed machinery
to operate the mill.
Sometime in 1848 two nephews of
the founder arrived in Glen Rock. One of them was Mark Radcliff and
the other was Charles Heathcoate. They were accompanied by George
Shaw. Radcliff and Shaw had learned the trade of rope making in England
and planned to follow it in Glen Rock. Their first facility, called
the rope walk, was situated along the Codorus Creek at a strategic spot
known as the meadows, where the Ambulance Club is now.
All of these men came from England
and from the same general area—Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire.
These men would become the first members of what is now known as the Glen
Rock Carolers Association.
What would make these men journey
out into the darkness of Christmas morning to begin this singing ritual?
Well, historians suggest that these men may have been homesick for their
English Christmas traditions of serenading their neighbors , bringing 19–year–old
George Shaw, 21–year–old Mark Radcliff, 28–year–old Charles Heathcote,
52–year–old Mark Heathcote and 61–year–old James Heathcote out into the
streets to serenade the residents of Glen Rock.
|
Four songs were brought from England:
"Christmas Hymn", "Hark Hark", "While Shepherds", and "Hosanna".
"Ye Faithful" was added at a very early date. In the 1890's four
more songs made their appearance. According to his writings, Arthur
H. Bamford, one who began singing in 1891 and sang uninterrupted for 59
years said, "The new carols were accepted at the rate of about one per
year, first singing them when we stopped in homes and later were used on
the streets". These new songs were: "Glory to God", "Christmas
Tree", "O' Jesus Star of the Morning", and "Softly Sweetly". These
were all American songs. "Silent Night" was added in about 1935.
Since this time two carols have been added. "When Christ
was Born" was added in 1986 by director Darryl J. Engler, and "Raise Christians, Raise"
in 2003 to commemorate the 2002 trip to England's Festival of Village Carols.
The carolers begin their trek through
the Borough of Glen Rock at the stroke of midnight and will continue for
approximately six to eight hours, ending with the singing of the "Doxology"
at the community Christmas tree. On December 25, 2007 this trek was
repeated for the 160th time. This tradition has been continued in
all weather conditions, and even during times of war.
The group is composed of 50 caped
members. Persons seeking membership in the group are required to
apprentice as associate members and will be made full caped members only
when a position has opened by the death or resignation of one of the members.
The singing is unique in that it
is done in three–part harmony. The soprano, the tenor, and the bass
parts are currently accompanied by two trumpets and two trombones.
Throughout the years the carolers have experimented with various types
of instruments. Woodwinds like the bassoon, the flute, and the saxophone
have been used along with brass instruments like the cornet, trombone,
and baritone, and stringed instruments like the violin and cello.
In 1938 and 1939 the carolers even used a glockenspiel.
 |
In 1934 the group decided to acquire
uniforms to give the group some identification. During this time
an orange and black slip–over cap was worn along with a white cane.
In 1948 a navy gabardine cape with red satin lining was added along with
a red and black ski style cap and the white cane. In 1950 a
black high hat replaced the cap. A few years later a gray high hat
was introduced and is still used today. Since 1972 a greatcoat made
of different colored imported woolen tweed with gray hat, gray gloves,
black cane and a wool scarf of varied colors is the identifying uniform.
The 125th anniversary was celebrated in 1972 with the publication of Salute
This Happy Morn: A History of The Glen Rock Carol Singers. Dr. Charles
Glatfelter was proclaimed the first honorary member of the Glen Rock Carolers
for writing the book.
For the 150th Anniversary in 1997, the Carolers produced a video entitled
Softly Sweetly Through the Air: The Story of the Glen Rock Carol Singers.
This hour-long production skillfully presented in sight and sound glimpses the
custom as it was actually practiced in 1996, with some reference to earlier years
and brief interviews with five or six veteran carolers. The script was written by
Don Swartz of Glen Rock who was elected an honorary caroler for his work.
The 150th Anniversary celebration in the Bortner Building,
began with a re-creation of the sound of the original Carolers: Darryl and Glenn Engler,
Bob Nicklow, and Tony Schuchart sang "While Shepherds" as Richard Shue played the Bassoon.
This was followed by a re-creation of the 1912 Carolers: twenty-one Carolers who were
members for at least twenty-five years (1972-1997) sang "Hark Hark" accompanied
by Michael Engler on the tenor sax and Paul Ward on the cello. Both of these recordings
as well as the remainder of the full concert and speeches and proclaimations by
Deb Dominick - Glen Rock Borough Council President, Donna Krebs - Glen Rock Jaycees,
David Seitz - York County Treasurer, Congressman William F. Goodling,
Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter, and Carolers' President Karl Steger,
can be found on the Carolers' CD,
VOICES of CHRISTMAS.
The 160th anniversary in 2007 was highlighted by the release of the second edition of
Salute This Happy Morn: A History of The Glen Rock Carol Singers. Included in
the book of 256 pages is a reprint of the 1972 book, followed by an update of the next
35 years history, including the trip to England.
England
Through a series of coincidences, the Glen Rock Carolers re-established the connection
to roots in England. Don Swartz traveled to England in 1999 and found the homestead farm
of William Heathcote, founder of Glen Rock, and met with the Vicar of the church
in Micklehurst. At the same time, Dave Eyre was in England reading an article Linda Morris
wrote about the Glen Rock Carolers in the magazine Dirty Linen.
Through contact information in the article, Dave connected with Ed Bailey and the
Carolers' website.
Soon thereafter, the Carolers received an invitation to appear on the Festival of
Village Carols in Sheffield, England, on November 30, 2002. The invitation was
cheerfully accepted and on November 27, 2002, thirty-five of the fifty Carolers set off on
their journey to the homeland of the original Carolers, the place where it all began.
They arrived in Manchester, England the following day and traveled to Mossley/Micklehurst
for a visit to the farm of Graham Heathcote, a descendant of William Heathcote, the chief
founder of Glen Rock. During their visit the Carolers sang a few songs for Graham Heathcote
and his family and met a year-old bull, named Glen Rock, born around the time the Carolers
accepted the invitation to visit England.
The next stop was Micklehurst where the Carolers would sing for the students of the All
Saints Primary School and the Micklehurst Elderly Social Scene (MESS), a somewhat older
generation of residents. It was Thanksgiving back home and the Carolers were welcomed
with a sign reading "GLEN ROCK CAROLLERS WELCOME HOME ."
One caroler recalled the words of a 90-year-old woman who said, with tears in her eyes,
that she had not heard the carols sung in the Carolers' style since she was a little girl.
Following a live interview on the BBC, the Carolers performed on the Festival of
Village Carols at the Grenoside Community Centre, Sheffield, England, to a standing
ovation of approval from the festival.
The Carolers arrived home on December 2 with a truly memorable experience fresh in
their minds. Several of the people who hosted the Carolers during their visit to
England have since visited Glen Rock, including Dr. Ian Russell, Martin Watson, Chris
Lowrey, Dave and Helen Eyre. Other Carolers continue the friendships started in
England by providing live phone calls during the Christmas morning trek.
In a surprising twist of fate, shortly after Christmas of 2002, Musical Director
Darryl Engler received an email from Tom Youngson, who was in attendance when the Carolers
sang at the All Saints Primary School in Micklehurst. Tom related that he and several
others in the audience were so impressed by the Carolers' singing, that they set out on
foot through the streets of Micklehurst and sang the carols to the residents there.
The tradition of singing carols had died out many years before, and the Glen Rock Carolers
were just what was needed to inspire them to sing again. So completes the circle:
James, Mark, and Charles Heathcote, Mark Radcliffe and George Shaw brought carol
singing to Glen Rock, and the Glen Rock Carolers returned the custom to Micklehurst!
The Peanut Man
by Don Swartz
Following a long Glen Rock Caroler
tradition, in 1972 Mike Frey assumed the
role of the Caroler's Peanut Man.
He precedes the Carolers, and announces
their imminent arrival by handing
out 30 pounds of peanuts over the course
of a Christmas Eve. The first Peanut
Man was Mark Radcliffe, one of the
original five Carolers from 1848.
In 1991, the Carolers made Mr. Frey
an Honorary Caroler, in recognition of
what was then 19 years of faithful
service. For his fidelity, dedication,
and devotion to duty, and a long
line of really good peanuts, his fellow
Carolers say, "Thank you, Mike."
In 1999, Gary Ferree became the Peanut Man and continues to serve to this day.
The Dog Pelter
by Don Swartz
There used to be a Dog Pelter, whose
job it was to protect the Carolers
from canine onslaught. George Shaw
was the first. He was the Caroler—one of
the original five from 1848—who
came out by himself one 19th Century
Christmas Eve when the weather
was spectacularly offensive and by so doing
singlehandedly kept the caroling
tradition alive.
But the position of Dog Pelter has
been abandoned. In recent years dogs
have become less aggressive, less
amorous, and less inclined to view a
stationary Caroler as a public
facility. For this, we thank the dogs.
Members
Members of the Glen Rock Carolers include Life Members, Caped Members, Associate Members,
Inactive Members, and Honorary Members.
Click HERE to see a list of members.
Life Members
AMENDMENT II of the bylaws, adopted on the 19th day of November 2000, provides for Life Membership:
"Upon serving as a member of the Glen Rock Carolers for fifty (50) years,
the member becomes a LIFE MEMBER of the group, with all the rights and privileges of an active member."
The Life Members are:
- James R. Kroh (1935 -
- P. W. Shepperd Jr (1942 -
- Rodger L. Smith (1946 -
- Donald Slonaker (1955 -
- Charles A. Miller (1956 -
Honorary Members
Article II - Section 4 of the bylaws provides for Honorary Membership:
"Honorary Membership Such membership may only be extended to those individuals who have contributed of themselves and their resources in such a manner as to perpetuate and epitomize the purposes of the Association. Membership shall only be granted upon unanimous action of the Association."
The three Honorary Members are:
- Charles Glatfelter (1972) for writing the historical account of the Glen Rock Carolers
-- "Salute This Happy Morn"
- Mike Frey (1981) for 25 years of service as the Peanut Man.
- Don Swartz (1997) for writing, producing, and directing the 150th Anniversary video
-- "Softly, Sweetly, Through The Air" |