Squire’s Own: A Tribute to Donald Hurrelbrink and the Warren Junior Military Band

This story has two beginnings. The birth of Donald W. Hurrelbrink and his love of music is one. The other is the development of a band program at St. Mary’s School in Warren, Ohio. The way these events coincided, and the legendary history of this band, is the focus of this tribute. It has turned out to be a warm story of achievement, love, and devotion, experienced by hundreds of individuals through one man’s dedication, which shaped a music ensemble lasting from 1927 until 2010.

This story is set in the context of this midsized city in the northeastern part of Ohio. The area is best known for its manufacturing and steel industry, including the origin of the Packard Motor Car in the early twentieth century and a robust steel industry, both of which bolstered its growing economy. Its highest population reached 63,494 in 1970. It is well known for producing some highly accomplished public figures, film industry luminaries, professional athletes,¹ and a world-class summer theater program, which brought celebrities from all over the United States to perform there. Unfortunately, the collapse of the steel industry in the 1970s devastated the economies of Warren and nearby Youngstown. On September 9, 1977, “Black Monday” announced the beginning of local steel mill closures, with the loss of over 5,000 jobs,² which sent economic and social conditions in Warren on a downward spiral from which it is still struggling to recover. Warren’s population has now dropped to an estimated 38,382,³ with high unemployment and crime rates.

An amazing facet of Hurrelbrink and the band’s story is that it managed to grow and persist through much of this change, which makes it a unique accomplishment in an otherwise declining community. Dr. Michael Westmoreland comments on why the band maintained its popularity during the years of the economic collapse in the Warren and Youngstown area:

Here is my view as why the Warren Junior Military Band was popular during the time of the steel industry collapse and economic depression in the Mahoning Valley. Patriotism at that time was very different than it is now. Having personally marched in the Fourth of July parades in Canfield and Austintown, I remember there being a large turnout of people cheering as the various parade units would march by. Also, as a member of the W. D. Packard Concert Band, I saw many people attend the annual Fourth of July concert at Packard Park. People loved to see the band and to be entertained. The Warren Junior Military Band was truly a “show band” in that it could do concert, parade, and field show all in one setting. I think these various performances allowed people to escape the worries of a job loss and a failing economy.⁴

The information for this article was obtained through email and telephone conversations with Hurrelbrink’s daughter, Janne.⁵ These were followed by a trip to Warren, Ohio, to visit the archives where the history of the band and Hurrelbrink’s life story are preserved by a small but dedicated group of band alumni. Their stories reflect wonderful memories of the band and its history. Such a program would be difficult to duplicate today in an arena where young people’s and their parents’ lives are often overscheduled, and selflessness may not always be valued.

Visits with former band members during a trip to Warren left me in awe of the impact their experiences in the band, under Hurrelbrink’s leadership, had made on their lives. The care with which they continue to preserve the band’s archival materials and the lifelong friendships this band has produced are inspiring.

Squire

Donald Hurrelbrink was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1909. He learned to play violin at age eight and French horn at age 12, and he continued to develop his love of music as he finished his public school education at Libbey High School in Toledo. There he played in several musical ensembles and served as drum major...