The most enduring organization in New Holland, and probably Lancaster County as a whole, is the New Holland Band. From its earliest beginnings, New Holland Band members were required to practice for long hours and provided countless hours of service to their community at special events.
In 1829, the original New Holland Band formed as part of the 51st Pennsylvania Militia. The Earl Infantry Band (1856) was reorganized in 1864, for Civil War duty as the 203rd Regimental Band. After the Civil War, they became known as the New Holland Citizens' Band.
The New Holland Band has been known as the Patriotic Order Sons of America Band (1900-1915), the Erisman Witmer Citizens' Band (1915-1925), the Boys' Band (1929-1935), and the Victory Band (1942-1958). Since 1958, it has been known as the New Holland Band.
Many of the New Holland Band concerts were reserved during the World War years to play at special events because of their popularity throughout the region. After a century and a half, the New Holland Band is often the most requested band in Lancaster County for community events.
A man of notable mention was Isaac Witwer, an early founder of the New Holland Band. In 1865, Isaac Witwer purchased a lottery ticket during his brief stay in Washington, D.C. Some months later, Witwer learned that he was a winner and won a house in Washington, D.C. worth $8,000.00. Witwer sold the home and used the money to buy land in New Holland and built a three story brick building. The first floor contained businesses. The second floor had a band rehearsal room, a music room, and Witwer's shop for building organs. The town hall was on the third floor of the building. This is where many events were held between 1865 and 1900.
Isaac Witwer was a gifted inventor and musician. He was an organ builder and built organs of many types and sizes. The largest organ that he built was a gigantic pipe organ for St. John's Church. Additionally, he built a small organ for the New Holland Band. It was a two and a half octave instrument mounted on a pedestal, which he played with one hand and directed the band with his other hand. The Witwer organ became the pride of the New Holland Band and the envy of other local bands. At the same time, Witwer designed a clarinet for the band which he made out of seasoned maple wood. He also designed the metal keys and other fittings for the clarinet.
Besides building instruments, Witwer designed other devices. A mechanical fly brush was one of his inventions. The brush was used to keep flies off the dinner table while the family was eating, since there were no window screens to keep the flies away. The fly brush was made with weights, hung from the second floor of the house, which propelled the fly brush to move at the dinnertable. Isaac Witwer had none of his inventions patented, and his creative inventions ended at his death.
The New Holland Band as it is today:
- There are actually six different bands that make up the New Holland Band: a Concert Band, a Dance Band, a German Band, a Dixieland Band and an Ensemble Band.
- A concert in the park, religious celebration, concert hall performance. In the tradition of Sousa, fillmore, and Goldman, the New Holland Concert Band features year-round performances of familiar classics, popular Broadway tunes, stirring marches, and the best in vocal and instrumental soloists.
- Some of the region's finest performers, teachers, conductors, and composers are members. The roster also features adults from other professions, as well as college and high school students. Former members may be seen playing with La Scala Opera Orchestra, the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy Bands.