(The Hoot News photo provided)

Continuing to think about the arts in the history of Whitley County, from the archives of the Whitley County Historical Museum, today we bring this music group from the early 1900s.
These are the talented members of the West Jefferson Cornet Band of Laud, located in Jefferson Township, Whitley County. Band members in front, from left, include Dick White, Homer Coolman, Ray Crowell and Herb Leppo. Row two, from left, is Ed Coolman, Jim White, John Saurer, Homer Mallott, Bill Grace and Frank Leppo. Leader of the band, who was not pictured, was Dan Saurer.
So…what is a cornet band? A cornet band is a musical ensemble primarily composed of cornet players, but it often includes other brass instruments and percussion as well. Cornet bands are closely associated with brass band traditions, especially in the UK and the United States. The cornet, a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but with a more mellow tone, is typically the lead instrument in these bands.
Cornet bands often play a range of musical styles, including classical, military and popular music. They are known for their rich, resonant sound and are commonly found in community and amateur music groups. The term “cornet band” can also be used more broadly to describe bands where the cornet is a prominent instrument, even if other instruments are also featured.