An undated colorized portrait of Simon Wesley “Simmy” Romberger (1853-1916), bandmaster of Reiner City (Muir), Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
The following brief biographical sketch of him was found in the Centennial History of Tower City and Porter Township, 1868-1968:
A really dedicated and inspiring bandmaster was Simon W. Romberger, who resided in Reiner City. In his late teens, he was already an accomplished musician and assumed the directorship of the Reiner City Band in 1875, when he was but twenty-one years old, and served in that capacity for twenty-five continuous years. He also organized the Orwin Cornet band in 1893 and served as leader and teacher until 1899. He also taught a band at Outwood and Green Point, often walking across the mountains in order to serve in this capacity, returning the next day. He received no formal training, but was a completely self-taught musician. His particular delight was the E-flat cornet on which he was so proficient that he was recognized as the greatest soloist of his time in this vicinity. His fees for conducting rehearsals was 50 cents per night, later increased to $1.50. He gave private lessons on all instruments, in what spare time he had, after walking to and from Lincoln Colliery each day and laboring there for eight to ten hours. He was truly a great and dedicated musician and bandmaster.
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Photo & sketch from Centennial History of Tower City and Porter Township, 1868-1968.
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