Augusta in Kennebec County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

Sousa the <i>nonpariel</i> / L'incomparable Souza Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

1. Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The afternoon concert at Augusta city hall on May 1, 1897, proved to be both popular and historic. On that day the people of Augusta heard the most famous band in the land—Sousa's Band! John Philip Sousa was by the time of his Augusta concert America's "March King," having composed some of his most famous marches: The Washington Post March and Semper Fidelis. These and other marches were performed in Augusta's new city hall, which opened in 1896. This handsome building, designed by noted architect John Spofford, provided spacious offices and an auditorium for the city. Sousa's band enthralled the Augusta audience with spirited music, and his first encore was a new untitled march. Here, at Augusta's city hall in 1897, America heard for the first time Stars and Stripes Forever!

Le concert qui eut lieu à la mairie d'Augusta l'après-midi du ler mai 1897 fut à la fois populaire et historique. Ce jour-là, les citoyens d'Augusta écoutèrent la fanfare la plus célèbre du pays - l'orchestre de Souza ! John Philip Souza était à l'époque du concert d'Augusta le « Roi de l'Amérique

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des Marches militaires» car il avait déjà composé ses marches les plus célèbres : la Washington Post March et Semper Fidelis. Il joua ces morceaux ainsi que d'autres dans la nouvelle mairie d'Augusta qui avait ouvert ses portes en 1896. Ce beau bâtiment, dessiné par l'architecte renommé John Spofford, possédait des bureaux spacieux et une grande salle municipale. L'orchestre de Souza enchanta le public d'Augusta avec sa musique entrainante, et il offrit en premier rappel une nouvelle marche encore sans titre. C'est ici, à la mairie d'Augusta en 1897, que l'Amérique entendit pour la première fois Stars and Stripes Forever!

Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Augusta, Maine series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 1, 1897.

Location. 44° 18.991′ N, 69° 46.247′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. Marker is at the intersection of Cony Street and Willow Street, on the right when traveling east on Cony Street. Marker is near the Old Fort Western parking lot entrance off Cony

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

2. Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza Marker

The former Augusta City Hall (1896–1987) is across the street.

Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Cony St, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Kennebec Bridge / Le premier pont du Kennebec (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western (within shouting distance of this marker); Birds and Fish of the Kennebec (within shouting distance of this marker); Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Augusta, Maine (about 300 feet away); Gunshots Reverberate on the Kennebec / Des coups de fusil résonnent sur le fleuve Kennebec (about 300 feet away); Cushnoc Trading Post / Le Comptoir Commercial De Cushnoc (about 400 feet away); 1775 Quebec Expedition (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. The Museum in the Streets Tour Map, Augusta, Maine. (Submitted on November 28, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever - The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own". YouTube video (2m 10s) (Submitted on November 28, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Additional keywords. Sousa the nonpariel

Old City Hall and Old Fort Western image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

3. Old City Hall and Old Fort Western

Looking NE across the Kennebec River

/ L'incomparable Souza

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on December 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.