The Barrington Band in East Barrington, New Hampshire, is just
four years younger than the Allentown Band, but it has the unique
distinction of having had only three leaders, all from three
generations of the Wiggin family. In 1832 James Wiggin, grandfather of
the present leader, organized the Wiggin Band with his five sons and a
few neighbor boys as members.
George Wiggin, one of the five sons, “had the band in hand” at the age
of seventeen and carried on as bandmaster until 1880. During this time
George had five of his sons in his band.
Elmer Wiggin, the present leader, had his four brothers in his group
when he took over in 1880. “After I became leader, we played our
initial job for a Garfield and Arthur torchlight parade,” he says. “But
our uniforms weren’t as colorful and elaborate as those of my father’s
band, purchased about the Mexican War time.”
In 1890 the name was changed from the Wiggin’s Band to the Barrington
Band. Now Elmer Wiggin, loved and revered by his community, carries on
with his son and a grand-nephew representing the family in today’s band
of thirteen players.
“I am now in my eighty-ninth year,” says Bandmaster Wiggin, “but I
expect to lead my band on Memorial Day as I have for sixty-nine years.”