Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band

The Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band is a pipe band based out of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Founded in 1910, it is the oldest pipe band in continuous existence in the United States. A regular feature in the Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade since the first in 1952,[3] the band also performs at Smith College's annual commencement, as well as charity and private events.

Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band
Established1910
LocationHolyoke, Massachusetts
Grade4[1]
TartanRoyal Stewart
Notable honoursOldest continuously operating pipe band In North America[1][2]
Websitewww.holyokecaledonians.com

The pipe band was first founded by two Scottish immigrants Bob Ramsay and Jim Robbie, soon after arriving in Holyoke, and was initially connected to the Holyoke Caledonian Benefit Club. The Caledonian club, established in 1879, was a benefit society dedicated to granting charity to their fellow Scots "in times of sickness and distress" and for the cultivation of Scottish culture, through the promotion of literature and the arts.[4] The band would hold regular rehearsals on the top floor of their namesake Caledonia Building in downtown Holyoke until 1966.[5]

The pipe band performing in the 2019 Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade

The band would make its first official appearance in Holyoke in the July 4th parade of 1910, with 8 pipers, 2 snares, and a bass drummer led by pipe major Ramsay, who went on to serve the band in this capacity until 1930. In their first appearance the pipe band wore no special uniforms or tartan.[5][6] Within the next year the band had taken up the Ramsay Tartan, which it wore until 1935 when the Gordon tartan was adopted, as this tartan was readily produced by a local Holyoke mill. From 1962 until today the band has worn the Royal Stewart tartan.[7]

Early in the band's history, it inspired the creation of the now second-oldest continuously operating pipe band. The Manchester Pipe Band, was established in 1914 after a visit from the Holyoke Caledonians and their bandmaster, which was said to have inspired several students in that city to start their own.[8] Members of both bands have in the past competed jointly in Scotland in the Cowal Games.[9]

References
  1. Donaldson, Emily (1998). The Scottish Highland Games in America. Pelican Publishing Company. p. 110. ISBN 9781455611713.
  2. Hesse, David (2014). Warrior Dreams: Playing Scotsmen in Mainland Europe. Manchester University Press. p. 87. ISBN 9781847799173.
  3. F. B. M. (March 23, 1952). "Reporters Notebook". Springfield Union. p. 10C. ...all the parishes of the city were represented in the 35-minute parade which even the bitter bite of March air couldn't chill. How could it, when the skirling of the pipes of the Caledonian Kiltie Band, resplendent in their color kilts, came along?
  4. "Golden Jubilee of Caledonians at Holyoke 23d". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. November 3, 1929. p. 9.
  5. Chipkin, Robert (February 1, 1976). "Kiltie Band Marks 66th This Year". Springfield Union. p. 4.
  6. "Holyoke; City Sees Fine Parade". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. July 5, 1910. p. 14.
  7. "About the HCPB". Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  8. Jensen, Cindi (May 16, 1996). "Manchester Pipe Band First Stepped Out In The World War I Era". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. The Manchester Pipe Band is the second-oldest pipe band in continuous existence in the United States -- and one of four in Manchester. As the story goes, it began 'with 20 students and a dream in those dark days prior to World War I.' When Pipe Major Alex Scot and the Holyoke Pipe Band paid a visit to Manchester in 1913, their traditional bagpipe music set the imaginations of this area's Celtic population on fire.
  9. Perkins, Robert (May 6, 1977). "Pipe band to compete in Scotland this year". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. p. 15.
External video
video icon Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band in 2019 St. Patrick's Day Parade, Holyoke Media
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