CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL BAND
DETAILED HISTORY

1871-1872

612 Adams, Memphis, Tennessee

    The Christian Brothers, A Catholic order of teachers, came to Memphis, Tennessee in November of 1871 and opened a school with twenty-six students at 612 Adams.  The building was purchased from Rev. William H. Mitchell of Florence, Alabama, who found it impossible to carry out his plans of reopening "The Memphis Female College of Memphis, Tennessee," which existed in the building since 1854.

CBC Historic Marker

    A dedication ceremony took place on November 19th, 1871.  The Memphis Appeal gave an account of this ceremony.  A procession led by a band formed at St. Peter's Church, the parish of the Christian Brothers, at three o'clock on Sunday and made its way up Adams Avenue to the College. The dedication ceremony was performed by Reverend Stephen Byrne, O.P., pastor of St. Peter's.  Colonel M. Magevney Jr., and John J. Duffey were also present at the ceremony. The band leading the procession may  have included future Christian Brothers band members considering that thirty or so musicians in the original band and orchestra had previous musical experience before joining the Christian Brothers Band in 1872.

     With opening classes in 1871, Brother Maurelian (George Valin Sheel) was appointed President, and six other Brothers served as the faculty.  By the end of  the first academic year, there were 87 students registered, eight being boarders.  Brother Maurelian reported that, "Some of the students who were between 16 and 18 years of age, had studied the Latin classics and a fair share of literature and mathematics. On the whole they are a good class of students, polite and docile"

Brother Maurelian (George Valin Sheel)
Founder of the Christian Brothers Memphis

      The college had four departments: the preparatory, commercial, collegiate, and science.  Fees for board and tuition were $62.50 per quarter with a $5.00 charge for washing and mending.  Day students were charged $18.00 per quarter in the higher classes, $13.00 in the intermediate classes and $10.00 in the preparatory department.

      The Prospectus of the College stated that the object of the College "is to afford the students the means of acquiring a refined and liberal education.  The discipline of the institution is of a suave and parental character.  Since the Christian Brothers are specially vowed to the culture of youth, it is hardly necessary to assure the public that vigilant care is stowed on the moral training of all committed to their charge."

      From Brother Maurelian's diary,  the first reference of efforts to establish a band were recorded: "On March 27, 1872, spoke to students about getting subscriptions to buy brass instruments for brass band." On the same day Brother Anthony of Rome Walsh, F.S.C., Brother Maurellian's assistant and future President of CBC on Adams, wrote in his diary: "Brother Director spoke to the boys this afternoon about raising a subscription to organize a band and purchase instruments." On April 25th Brother Anthony of Rome Walsh wrote: "Brother Director is working hard to have the subscriptions for the band made up.  There was a nice piece in the Ledger about it."
 

Back to 1872-1893