History of the Silver Band

In March 1887, the YMMIA Silver Band was formed in the Lehi City Hall under the direction of Joseph Kirkham. Though the band was motivated by a Mormon Church youth group, it was intended initially as a political organization to promote the minting of silver coins. Over the next few years, the 18-piece Silver Band traveled around Utah County, drumming up support for various political causes and performing for local celebrations.

In the spring of 1891, the band bought its famed bandwagon after the band's financial director, William Goates, saw a display by the Cooperative Wagon & Machine Company at the Mitchell Fair in Salt Lake City and thought, “here is the ideal wagon for the boys”. Gay Whipple, Lehi master carpenter, crafted the wagon box with seats, and the finished wagon was given a highly polished “piano finish.” Four years later, Edwin Evans, just back from art study in Europe, was hired to paint the wagon. His masterful job complemented Whipple’s ship­like design and included life­like nude mermaids on each side of the vehicle, much to the dismay of some Relief Society sisters.

From 1905 to 1912, the band changed their uniforms at least twice. Around 1913, the wagon's artwork was painted over, and “Lehi Silver Band” was placed in raised letters on the side of the vehicle. The band fizzled out for a few years until 1920, when Abraham Anderson reorganized it and started a series of open­ air concerts at Wines Park. Not long after, the band dimmed into inactivity. The wagon was stored uncovered for the next 30 years, narrowly escaped destruction by a barn fire, and gradually deteriorated. In 1952, under the direction of Donald Wright, the bandwagon was repainted in Lehi High purple and white. Musicians reorganized and the Lehi Silver Band again appeared in scores of parades.

In 1975 it was decided to retire the wagon and construct a park and pavilion to display it. For several years, Lehi City power crews had been removing the old oak wheels before each parade to soak them in Dry Creek, what was necesasry to prevent the brittle wood from breaking. The last hurrah of the band and its purple and white wagon was the days of ‘47 Parade in 1976. At the end of the parade, the wagon was placed in the just ­completed pavilion at Bandwagon Park. For three hours, the Silver Band played its last serenade for townspeople in Wines Park, after which the dedication ceremonies for Bandwagon Park were held. After the band members were honoured, the wagon was retired forever.

In 1997, a new and better wagon was built by Melvin Anderson using donated materials, and the band was reorganized using the historical Lehi Silver Band name. Later, the concert arm of the band was named the Lehi Area Symphonic Band for a period of time, but reverted to "Lehi Silver Band" in the summer of 2023.