Volunteers needed to get bandwagon rolling
By Evelyn Gander
Staff Writer
It's not too late to ``run off and join the circus'' - or at least help build what was once a part of it. Not the Big Top, but the Bandwagon.
Carpentry skills? Not needed. Just an extra hour or two of ``elbow grease.'' And a memory of summers with pink cotton candy - and music.
Map skills? Not needed. You'll have to run off only as far as Popplewell Lane, Boyle County, Kentucky.
That's the home of Darell Shannon's Bluegrass Carriage Works where this newest addition to the Great American Brass Band Festival is being built.
When finished, the Bandwagon will stand about 7 feet high, 5 feet wide and 13 feet long. Shannon is a specialist in building and restoring horse-drawn vehicles. He and Festival Organizer George Foreman of Centre College emphasize the Bandwagon is a project for everyone.
Coleman's Lumber of Harrodsburg is donating lumber, Stuart Powell Ford-Mazda is donating paint.
And John Dixon of Dixon Design will be providing his graphic art skills.
``He is just a master at the old hand-lettering techniques,'' Foreman says. ``He is better at that than anyone I've ever known.''
For the Bandwagon's lettering and decorative design, Dixon is the ``best person anywhere to do that part of it.''
It's artwork from the 19th and early 20th centuries, when horse-drawn bandwagons came to town with circuses.
``In those days too, they did have bands that performed - mostly brass bands,'' Shannon explains.
The local craftsman has been building and restoring horse-drawn vehicles for the past 10 years.
``I've been involved with horses all my life,'' he says, recalling how Bluegrass Carriage Works came to be.
``You just kind of woke up one morning, and all of a sudden, you're in the business.''
Foreman's idea for the Bandwagon began to take shape about two or three months ago, when he talked with Bill Gay of Saxton's Cornet Band and Gay's wife, Philippa Burgess. Not only is Gay a musician - he is an employee of Shannon's carriage business.
From that conversation came research on how these 19th century vehicles looked and operated - and how they were built.
``There's a lot of things that go into one of these things,'' Foreman stresses. For instance, a band's bass drum player was always seated at the back facing the rear of the wagon to allow more room for the drum.
Both Foreman and Shannon emphasize that without donations of materials, expertise and volunteer time, the Bandwagon would cost about $20,000.
``This is a very unusual project really,'' Shannon says. ``I've built stagecoaches and other things but never a bandwagon.''
It's a special addition to this year's eighth annual Festival, set for June 13-15.
``I guess the number one reason is that there just aren't many bandwagons floating around. Most of them are either in private collections or museums.''
This one, though, will be on Main Street around 11 a.m. June 14, as it carries 13 members of The Advocate Brass Band in the Festival's parade.
Right now, volunteers are needed ``to get the Bandwagon rolling.''
Shannon said sanding the solid oak wheels is the job he most needs help with. Materials for the job are there at his business on Popplewell Lane.
``It's just plain, old hard work really.''
``All it takes is an interest,'' Foreman emphasizes, ``and a little bit of `elbow grease.'
``The critical thing is we need to do this starting right now.''
Foreman sees the Bandwagon as something unique.
``... a good symbol of the Band Festival and the community's interest in it. And we'll all be very proud of it.''
George Foreman and Darell Shannon estimate about 100 man-hours between now and May 24 are needed for work on the Bandwagon. Anyone who can volunteer two or more hours at a time is asked to call Bluegrass Carriage Works at 236-8395.