Fourth of July celebrations in Cambria
By SERRA MUSCATELLO — Journal Staff WriterArticle Photos
CAMBRIA - The 137th Annual Fourth of July Patriotic Program held in Cambria Friday paid special tribute to a restored piano that has served its community for 83 years.
"It's that little spark of inspiration that always in the background," said Georg Marti, who served as one of the program's committee members. "It's been an integral part of many celebrations here."
The town's Kimball piano was built in 1916 and has been used by the community dating back to about 1925.
"It's been in use now for a long time," said Marti. "I think this piano has a lot of life in it and will serve the community well. This community has been blessed by music through the years."
The earliest patriotic celebrations began in Cambria in the1870s at Wagner's grove, according to Viva Bowen and Darlyne Deopere, both members of the program committee.
These celebrations would draw some 1,000 to 2,000 people, the ladies said.
Bowen has memories of attending many of these patriotic celebrations.
In the piano's early days it would be hauled from the Cambria Town Hall over to Wagner's grove where it would be put on the bandstand and played during the Fourth of July celebrations.
In 1963 the bandstand fell down at Wagner's grove and the celebrations were moved into Cambria.
It was in 1992 the piano was almost sold at an auction.
Somehow it mistakenly got listed on the auction bill when Cambria Township Hall (real estate and building) went up for sale that June. One of the committee members attended the auction and bought the piano back, said Deopere.
During Friday's program, Deopere gave credit to Marshall Harris who had once lived in Cambria, for making the first $100 contribution to restoring the piano. Then Marshall's sister sent $100 and Marshall (again) and his brother each contributed $100 to the work needed on the piano, said Deopere.
Other money coming in from the annual cake auctions and other contributions also helped with the work needed on the piano.
In 2005 restoration began on the piano.
"When we first started restoring it, we had a brand spanking new hall and this old piano," said Deopere.
The following year the inside of the piano was rebuilt with new strings at a cost of $1,730.
H. Dennis Albright from Mapleton was hired to restore the outside of the piano at a cost of $1,900.
"It looked like it had been painted black," said Bowen. "He (Albright) scraped a little with his pocket knife to determine what was underneath."
The piano had originally been built with walnut wood.
Albright refinished the piano to reveal the natural wood's beauty.
"It was just an awesome change," said Deopere. "We feel it was a real bargain and just amazing. I think he did just a remarkable job."
Throughout the program, several piano players, including Marti and his son, Ben Marti, Viva Bowen and Mary Deopere, played songs the piano.
"We've been able to save this piano," said Marti. "A little makeover can go a long way."
The patriotic program was followed by a fancy cake auction sponsored by the Fourth of July Committee.
