Fitchburg, MA United States
Founded: 1952
CORPS Photos
After a few years, when it became apparent that church funding alone would not be able to sustain the corps, a few adults took over its management, changing the name in the process to the Black Hawks. Although youth interest remained high, costs soon demanded a more stable sponsor; that sponsor arrived in the form of the Fitchburg Order of Eagles. A name like the Black Hawks seemed inappropriate for an Eagles-sponsored group, so the corps renamed itself the Fitchburg Kingsmen.
The corps remained an all-male unit throughout its early years, and grew in reputation and respect. The adults wrote bylaws and established a full-fledged non-profit organization in 1950. More and more people were becoming involved over the seasons, and numerous fundraisers kept the corps in operation.
By the early seventies quite a crowd of young women was following the corps wherever it traveled. The corps clearly had to become more inclusive, and girls were welcomed into the Kingsmens’ ranks. Again the corps grew in size and respectability. With the assistance of the Massachusetts State Lottery, a weekly bingo game began to help the corps’ finances keep pace with its needs; the new funding purchased three used Silver Eagle buses to transport the corps.
And the corps’ travel schedule was growing heavier. They were now competing on a national level in Drum Corps International with travel taking them as far south as Florida, as far north as Canada, and as far west as Colorado. No matter where the corps went, they were warmly received and enthusiastically applauded. The young people became young ambassadors of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, wherever they went, and brought home many citations and trophies. The Kingsmen's highest DCI finish was fourth in Class A Finals, in 1979.
In 1988, 1989, and 1990 the Kingsmen competed as a senior corps. Many of the men and women who had marched with the corps as youngsters put on their marching shoes once again under the direction of the late Pepe Notaro. They finished 12th at DCA Finals twice, in 1989 and 1990.
The Kingsmen returned to the ranks of the junior corps in 1993, but rising costs limited travel, shortened itineraries, and eventually grounded their buses. But their competitive spirit endured. The corps still paid for professional instruction, uniforms, equipment, insurance, transportation, repair of instruments, and utilities at the hall. Even with bingo games every night of week, costs continued to challenge the continued survival of one of the activity’s oldest continuing drum corps. The corps finally disbanded in January of 2000.
[http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/1219/history3.htm]
Highest Score 87.360
Final show in DCX Archives July 14, 1956 Braintree MA placed 2 with a score of 80.400
Highest Score 82.770
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1957 Braintree MA
Highest Score 59.720
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1960 E-Mass Finals Marlboro MA
Highest Score 65.380
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1961 Norwich CT placed 4 with a score of 65.380
Highest Score 66.600
Final show in DCX Archives July 7, 1962 Rockland MA placed 5 with a score of 66.600
Highest Score 72.850
Final show in DCX Archives June 5, 1963 Tewksbury MA placed 1 with a score of 72.850
Highest Score 71.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 22, 1964 Cavalcade of Music Millis MA placed 2 with a score of 71.050
Highest Score 72.850
Final show in DCX Archives September 26, 1965 Haverhill MA placed 3 with a score of 71.500
Highest Score 75.416
Final show in DCX Archives September 9, 1966 Gardner MA placed 1 with a score of 75.416
Highest Score 71.310
Final show in DCX Archives June 11, 1967 Leominster MA placed 5 with a score of 71.310
Highest Score 65.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1968 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 16 with a score of 65.700
Highest Score 69.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1969 VFW Nationals-Preliminary Round Philadelphia PA placed 42 with a score of 69.400
Highest Score 56.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 22, 1970 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 34 with a score of 56.000
Highest Score 63.700
Final show in DCX Archives July 21, 1972 Sponsor: Rangerettes Franklin MA placed 1 with a score of 63.700
Highest Score 67.900
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1973 Eastern Mass Finals Somerville MA placed 3 with a score of 67.900
Highest Score 59.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1974 Lowell MA placed 10 with a score of 48.800
Highest Score 63.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 1975 U.S. Open Marion OH placed 10 with a score of 49.000
Highest Score 62.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1977 Battle of Champions Malden MA placed 8 with a score of 62.600
Highest Score 57.400
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1978 Battle of Champions Malden MA placed 10 with a score of 57.400
Highest Score 63.500
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 1979 Malden MA placed 7 with a score of 63.500
Highest Score 40.950
Final show in DCX Archives August 2, 1980 World Open Prelims Lynn MA placed 15 with a score of 40.800
Highest Score 44.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 1982 American International Open Class A Butler PA placed 11 with a score of 44.650
Highest Score 51.200
Final show in DCX Archives July 17, 1983 Braintree MA placed 3 with a score of 51.200
Highest Score 57.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1984 DCI World Championships Division II Prelims Atlanta GA placed 18 with a score of 53.700
Highest Score 53.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 1985 DCI World Championships Class A60 Prelims Madison WI placed 10 with a score of 53.700
Highest Score 37.100
Final show in DCX Archives July 8, 1995 DCE Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 20 with a score of 37.100
Highest Score 51.800
Final show in DCX Archives July 21, 1996 Lynn MA placed 8 with a score of 51.800
Highest Score 68.600
Final show in DCX Archives July 20, 1997 Lynn MA placed 7 with a score of 55.600
Highest Score 56.100
Final show in DCX Archives July 29, 1998 Canadian Open Division III Prelims Kitchener ONT Canada placed 16 with a score of 44.800
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
(Progin) Grifffith, Cindy | Brass | 1988 to 1989 |
Bastien, Dick | Percussion | 1968 to 1970 |
Bastien, Mike | Drum Line | 1966 to 1969 |
Beauregard, Edward | Soprano/Baritone | 1956 to 1960 |
Comeau, Karen | Color Guard | 1973 to 1977 |
Courtemanche, Dave | Contra Bass | 1965 to 1971 |
Grelle, Frank | Instructor | 1997 |
Jeffrey, Mike | Drums | 1963 to 1976 |
LaQuire, John | drumline | 1978 to 1981 |
Maguy, Cheryl | color guard and horn | 1970 to 1977 |
Mallard, Brett | Brass/Drum Major | 1967 to 1977 |
Pelletier, James | Drum Major | 1969 to 1970 |
Richardson, Ann | color guard | 1969 to 1975 |
riley, kathy | brass | 1996 to 2000 |
Roy, Donna | French Horn | 1972 to 1978 |
Smith, Dave | Drumline | 1970 to 1975 |
Smith, Marshall | drumline | 1966 to 1975 |
Sturtevant, Sharron | drum line | 1972 to 1975 |
Wiles (Brouillet), Beverly | Color Guard/Flag 1st yr/Rifle the following yrs | 1970 to 1977 |
CORPS 4 items
LOADING.....