It was a throwback to an earlier era and part of Chris Sanderson’s legacy. It was also a 6-year old dream.
Part of Sanderson’s life was the Pocopson Valley Boys — the band made popular by long time Chadds Ford resident and historian Christian C. Sanderson — and that lived on as the museum that bears his name hosted a concert in its namesake’s honor.
The side porch of the Sanderson Museum on Creek Road was the stage as 10 musicians — including two who played with Sanderson in the 1940s and ‘50s — performed two sets of old timey music.
For museum President Sue Minarchi, it was and idea whose time had arrived.
“This has been a dream of mine for six years, to have a band play on the side porch where people can just come and enjoy themselves,” Minarchi said during a break in the music. That was after she and a few friends were doing the Mummer’s Strut to a set-closing tune.
While it was a dream for Minarchi, it was a trip down memory lane for accordion player Bill Strine.
Strine was a 15-year-old when he played with Sanderson and the Pocopson Valley Boys in the 1950s.
“We played all over Pennsylvania. It was fabulous in the ‘50s. People were carefree. They square danced and Chris was a great organizer,” he said.
He said the June 14 session at the museum was a great tribute to Sanderson’s legacy and that he was excited to be playing the old music again.
Bob White, the drummer, only played with Sanderson briefly as a 12-year-old. He said he recalled thinking when he first met Sanderson, “What an old guy.”
But White and the boys played at the Philadelphia USO for a time during WWII.
When White first heard about the tribute, he called the museum to say he wanted in.
His reaction to getting to play: “Great.”
West Chester musician Tom Hoey got the ad hoc tribute band together during a six-month period. They only had two hours of rehearsal, but the crowd sat back, clapped, danced and enjoyed the two sets.
Among those enjoying the music were Barbara and Rich Masho who used to live on Brinton’s Bridge Road. They knew Sanderson and Rich Masho said he was one of the people who saw Sanderson juggle his Indian clubs for the last time.
“This brings back wonderful memories,” Barbara Masho said. “We used to see him walking from West Chester to Chadds Ford all the time.”
(Top photo: From left, Sally Denk-Hoey, Sue Minarchi and Rena Cuno do a Mummers' Strut as the band played a set-closing closing number.)
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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