The Clay Center Band Shell was completed in 1935 and was funded by PWA. It was dedicated March 30th of that year and a plaque lists the city engineer and designer of the project.
The original plans were dated Sept. 7, 1933. The Band Shell was part of a $10,600 payment from the Federal Government to the City of Clay Center. Originally, $8,200 was granted for park improvements, then the city applied for additional funds to encompass the City Pool, playground equipment at Huntress Park, and the Dexter Park Band Shell.
The check was received by the City in January of 1936 and would equal more than $240,000 today.
It was refurbished in 1996 and rededicated on Sept. 28th that year. The project was funded by donations and the city. Refurbishing work was completed by Craftmaster out of Wichita.
The first band concert was held June 3rd of 1935 by the Clay Center Municipal Band. It was their first outdoor show of the season. Leda Paul was a soloist and the group was directed by Oscar Kutschinski.
Weather permitting, the band was slated to hold a concert at the Band Shell every Wednesday through the summer. It’s a tradition that still stands today.
The first Band Shell concert was announced in the Times, next to an ad for vacuums by Logan Music Co. The smallest model was available for $1 a month, up to $1.50 per month for the fanciest model.
In addition to the Band Shell, Dexter Park was home to slides and swings, the smaller park at the time; Huntress Park was home to more play equipment. In addition, the Boy Scout Cabin was in Dexter Park, serving as a public shelter house.
In 2016, Clay Center City Band celebrated its 100th anniversary in the park with a concert in the Band Shell. Famed musician, Carl “Doc” Severinsen played along with the band. Severinsen is known for playing the trumpet and leading the band on the Tonight Show, as well as a longstanding friendship with former City Band director, C.L. Snodgrass.
Snodgrass directed City Band from 1968 through 2022. Before that, his father, Wayne, directed from 1940 to 1967.
The idea of band shells became popular in the 1890s, quickly growing in frequency in small towns. They were designed acoustically to focus sound outward toward the audience. In addition, most small towns had a band to provide entertainment for both the musicians and their audience.
Above: original plans for the Band Shell, dated Sept. 7, 1933. Photo via Clay County Historical Society.
Right: an ornament commemorating the rededication of the Band Shell was released for the holidays in 1997. The ornaments were made by Howe House out of Lafayette, Indiana as part of their Custom Christmas Series.
Above left: the Band Shell today.
