Thanks to the generosity of Sandra Dodds, the New Brunswick Museum has received a very important addition to its collection of historical musical instruments. As shown in Image 1, this remarkable drum was manufactured by John C. Haynes & Co. (American, 1865-1900) between 1880-1890 and features varnished wood with leather, skin, metal, and cotton or hemp components, measuring 29.3 × 42.8 × 42.8 cm.
Historical Significance and Provenance
The drum bears an inside paper label reading: “MASSACHUSETTS / DRUM MANUFACTORY / JOHN C. HAYNES & CO. / 33 Court Street, Boston, / Wholesale and Retail Dealers in / SHEET MUSIC, / Musical Instruments & Musical Merchandise / OF EVERY DESCRIPTION / Particular Attention Paid to Repairing Musical Instruments.”
This significant artifact belonged to St. George Cornet Band members, James Dodds (1859-1905) and his brother, Robert Dodds (1867-1905). The Dodds family of Saint George, NB, were prominent figures in the major local granite industry through Epps, Dodds & Co., which operated a granite-finishing mill that employed about twenty workers for cutting, surfacing, carving, and polishing stone. Interestingly, in 1981, the New Brunswick Museum collected a group of fashion costumes and accessories belonging to Adelia Anne Epps Dodds (1858-1941), the wife of James Dodds, establishing a deeper connection between this drum and other items already in the museum’s collection.
Enhancing the Museum’s Musical Instrument Collection
The New Brunswick Museum houses a small but significant collection of Western musical instruments. This drum joins three other important drums in the collection:
- The 2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers snare drum (or field drum) from 1777 (23761)
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band bass drum made in 1883 by David Patterson of Saint John, NB (1980.27)
- The Carleton Cornet Band bass drum (inscribed with 104th Artillery Battalion and 26th Battalion crests), made in Toronto by Whaley, Royce & Company Ltd., c. 1880-1890 (1968.54)
Material Evidence of New Brunswick’s Musical Heritage
This drum provides valuable material evidence of New Brunswick’s social history as well as access to our intangible musical heritage – an aspect of culture that only exists when performed. Community bands appear to have been well established in New Brunswick by the 1870s, and the St. George Cornet Band had already built a significant reputation by 1885. In fact, the Saint John Telegraph Journal of October 22, 1885, related that “…the band played many airs in their usual good style…” at the opening of the newly constructed fish ladder at St. George. This newspaper account suggests that by that point, the band had already been performing publicly for some time.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, many celebrations and events in New Brunswick were accompanied by musical entertainment, including parades, political rallies, and important civic holidays. Often these included picnic excursions that were organized to support fundraising for the bands themselves.
Craftsmanship and Authenticity
This John C. Haynes & Co. snare drum is a very good example of its type, with what appears to be its original animal hide drumhead. The company was a well-known business operating out of Boston, Massachusetts, that manufactured musical instruments between 1865 and 1900 and continued into the early 20th century as a retailer of pianos and instruments.
The Boston origin of this drum is not surprising considering the close connections between Boston and New Brunswick during this period, and it serves as a good example of the importation of luxury goods. The New Brunswick Museum Archives & Research Library houses significant published holdings related to music and archival material relating to band performances, as well as original sheet music that helps contextualize this instrument within the broader musical culture of the region.ignificant published holdings related to music and archival material relating to band performances, as well as original sheet music that helps contextualize this instrument within the broader musical culture of the region.