Notable People

Also: www.oldhomeweek.org

In 1986, during the 29th Old Home Week triennial, the Citizens National Bank published a booklet entitled A Safe Kept Memory – The Old Home Week Story, written by the late William P. Conrad. As the historian for Greencastle and Antrim Township, Conrad began the story with a social studies lesson on Greencastle-Antrim’s societal history, beginning with the Civil War era, in juxtaposition with American history. Since then, this little booklet has become the classic history book on Old Home Week and Philip Edward Baer, with its information gathered from the Old Home Week programs and newspaper articles during the triennials.

What a difference the Internet has made over the last 30 years since A Safe Kept Memory was written. Since its “toddler” years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the first closed Internet was controlled by governments of the world and later was decommissioned for commercial use in 1990, an inconceivable amount of information has been “exchanged” via the Worldwide Net. Sites like Ancestry provide U.S. Census records, death certificates, passenger lists, military records and much more. 

On May 23, 2016, Allison-Antrim Museum received an email from Curtis L. Peoples, Ph. D., Archivist, Crossroads Music Archive in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Through an Internet search, Peoples found the Web sites of Allison-Antrim Museum and Old Home Week with information about Philip E. Baer, about which he was unaware. Peoples is in the process of writing a book about the music history of Lubbock, Texas. What in the world could Lubbock, TX have to do with Greencastle, PA and Prof. Philip Edward Baer? Both Peoples and I have discovered that Baer had a whole other side to his life, not previously known about from either of our perspectives.

That being said, there’s still the old-fashioned hardcopy archives from which there’s also more information to be learned. The Old Home collection has one ledger book, in its collection, which was begun in August 1950, by Richard J. Ervin, Secretary of the 1950 17th Triennial Old Home Week. Ervin wrote: “In an effort to provide for future use a supply of records of various activities of the Old Home Week committees as they progress through the years, I have endeavored to first, bring the happenings up to date by the clippings which were obtained from various papers and some historical writings by several of the Old Boys.” 

Within this ledger book is a 1902 Echo Pilot account of the first “Old Boys Reunion,” at which about 100 non-resident men, from all over the U.S., returned home to Greencastle and Antrim Township. “The oldest son of Greencastle, not a resident here, who is attending the Reunion is Mr. Johnston McLean, of West Alexandria, Ohio, who left here in 1849 and moved westward. Mr. McLean, was employed on the old Franklin railroad when it was operated by horsepower.”

After his formal training in Milan, Italy Professor Philip E. Baer returned to the States and ultimately established his own opera company – the Prof. Philip E. Baer Opera Company. But an opera company in the late 1800s and early 1900s was not the same as a mid to late 20thcentury opera company, such as the New York Metropolitan Opera. 

Entertainment during the postbellum period, late Victorian, and Edwardian eras consisted of medicine shows, minstrel shows, the bawdy to “higher” burlesque shows, the Gilbert-and-Sullivan-opera era, vaudeville, and Edwardian musical comedy – a blend of operettas (with classically trained singers) and lighter singing from the vaudeville era, i.e. “sophistication with a common touch.”

During the first Old Boys’ Reunion, on Monday, August 11, 1902, Prof. Phil E. Baer’s concert company performed in Town Hall at 8:15 p.m. and, “promises to be a musical event of unusual interest here.” From a January 31, 1906, Gettysburg Compiler newspaper ad, it is learned that the Philip Baer Opera Company was described thusly: The world’s greatest Tenor Dramatic Company supported by the best Comedians, Vocalists, Dancers, and Vaudeville Artists. Three complete entertainments in one. 

The 1902 Echo Pilot article continued with the following. “The first part of the program will consist of a revival of the old Bert & Miller minstrels in which the original artists (“Old Boys” from Greencastle’s minstrel shows) will, as far as possible, participate.” (Bert & Miller were listed among the returnees.) “After the revival of the old-time minstrel show has been completed, an unusually attractive musical program will be rendered, for which a number of artists of well-known ability have been engaged. (This most likely refers to members of Philip’s Opera Company.) Especially enjoyable features will be trios by the Messrs. (Philip and brother John) Baer and C. F. Stanley (Chicago) whose beautiful singing at the various entertainments of this week’s reunion have been so effective, specialties by James E. Carroll, a well-known comedian, female impersonations by Walter Negley, whose soprano singing is fine, and selections on the piano by Madame Fowler, of Philadelphia.”

But what else is known about Philip Baer? Philip Edward Baer and his fraternal twin Sarah were born on May 28, 1865, just after the end of the Civil War. Their parents, Adam and Catherine Goetz Baer were both born in Germany. Adam, a shoemaker, arrived in America on June 24, 1852, from Baden, Germany, at the age of 24, while Catherine arrived in the U.S. as a baby, in the year of her birth – 1834. Adam was naturalized on October 5, 1858, in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court but Catherine, according to the 1900 U.S. Census had not been, most likely because she was a baby when she arrived. Philip grew up in a bilingual family and attended the local public schools. Like all children growing up, life-long friendships were formed with the “kids” in the neighborhood, while swimming in the pond of the “old dam” during hot summers or skating on the same pond of thick ice in the dead of winter. Those who remembered Philip from childhood said he was mischievous which prompted, upon numerous occasions, reciprocal physical punishment (paddles) from his schoolteacher. Perhaps his red hair as a youngster had something to do with his mischievousness. During high school, Baer, who was athletically talented, played first base for the high school baseball team. Whether to put money in his own pocket or to augment the family income, he worked at C. R. Hoover’s local brickyard at the south end of Washington Street. In 1883, Philip graduated from Greencastle High School. Over the next year, he worked in the molding department of J. B. Crowell’s industrial complex across Washington Street from the Hoover Brick Yard. It is said that he considered going through an apprenticeship to become a “skilled” molder. 

Becoming a skilled molder did not come to fruition though. Young Philip was well known for his natural talent for singing and he often performed solo at the churches in town and for musicals, which were held in Town Hall – the community’s special events center. Philip wasn’t the only one in the family though with a talent for singing as Philip’s father and two brothers, Adam, and John, formed a popular quartet – the Baer Family Quartet.

In vogue for about 80 years between 1850 and 1930 were the family-friendly traveling medicine-minstrel shows. Two of the most successful and popular medicine shows were Hamlin’s Wizard Oil Company and Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company. The musical entertainment was interspersed with “commercials” for “medicines,” such as Hamlin’s Wizard Oil, and others like liniments, ointments, and elixirs, with claims of miracle cures. 

About the age of 19, Philip Baer left Greencastle in 1884 for the big city of Chicago, Illinois. An unnamed friend suggested he try out for an advertised baritone vacancy in Hamlin’s Wizard Oil Company traveling show. The tryout did not go well because Philip could not read music and therefore could not identify the baritone notes in the score. The director was not impressed and most likely to add insult to injury asked Philip if he could sing “anything.” Philip responded by singing “Old Black Joe” which, despite there being no open position for a tenor, just baritone, Philip E. Baer was hired! And so began his amazing career. His next employment, several years later, was with minstrel companies – Primrose & West'g, and then as interlocutor for Cleveland’s Haverly Minstrels, the Houston Light Guard Minstrels in 1891, and Barlow’s Minstrels in 1904. 

This is what is known from an April 20, 1891, Galveston Daily News advertisement: Tremont Opera House, Tuesday, April 21, Matinee & Night. The Famous Houston Light Guard Minstrels under the personal supervision of J. S. McMurray, late of Cleveland's Magnificent Haverly Minstrels. One of our strong features will be the vocal selections of Philip E. Baer. Elegant Costumes, Beautiful Singing, Funny Comedians. The most novel first part ever seen in minstrelsy, introducing the celebrated Anvil Chorus from the opera of “Il Trovatore.” Eight End Men. Ten Singers. Ten Specialties. It appears that when J. S. McMurray left the employment of the Cleveland Minstrels, he took with him Philip Baer, who from the age of 19, got to travel all over the country, from the East to Midwest, to Southwest.

One question remains – did Philip leave the Houston Light Guard Minstrels sometime between April 1891 and March 1894 and return to the Cleveland Minstrels? A 1947 Old Home Week Echo Pilot article about Philip Baer, written by sisters Mary and Ann Ziegler, daughters of G. Fred Ziegler, says that in 1894, while traveling with the “Cleveland Minstrels,” who were performing in Washington D.C., Philip found himself on Good Friday, March 23, 1894, performing solo, for several masses at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Although he had been invited by Father Gillespie, it was Monsignor Satolli, of Rome, who was so very impressed with Philip’s voice. The Ziegler sisters wrote, “With Father Gillespie of the Church, Satolli made arrangements to provide for Philip’s musical education in Italy, and as the result he spent four years in Europe studying voice, grand opera, piano, violin, and the Italian language.” Philip had the privilege, later, to study under such opera greats as Alberto Bimboni (1882 – 1960) and F. Blasco. Although there are no known extant recordings of Baer’s voice while performing, people who heard him in concert said his voice sounded similar to Enrico Caruso’s (1873 – 1921) voice. If you’re curious, do an Internet search for a Caruso record to listen to his voice.

The timeline is not specific as to when and how long Philip studied opera in Italy. Tradition says four years but one of the Galveston newspaper ads says seven years. To date, only two primary documents have been discovered between the 1891 Galveston newspaper ad and the 1900 U.S. Census that give any information about what Philip was doing during that nine-year time span. 

One document is Philip’s August 4, 1896, U.S. Passport application. It states that Philip’s permanent residence, at that time, was Washington, D.C. and his occupation was singing. His intent was to go abroad “temporarily” for one year. Philip was 31 years of age and 5’ 10 ½” in height. He was described as having a high forehead, brown eyes, dark hair, and complexion, with an oval-shaped face, “Roman” nose, and broad chin.

The Ziegler sisters wrote about a visit Philip made to Germany while abroad but did not include a year. During this trip abroad, unannounced, Philip visited his father’s parents, in Weinheim, Germany. Mary and Ann Ziegler wrote that Philip’s grandparents, who had never seen him before, immediately recognized him. Philip then sent for his father to journey back to his place of birth in Germany. Adam Baer’s passport application, dated August 13, 1897, pinpoints the time more closely that Philip and Adam were in Germany. Curiously, Adam’s passport says his place of residence was Washington, D.C., the same as Philip’s said one year before. All the U.S. Census records (1860 to 1930) indicate Adam lived in Chambersburg or Greencastle but no primary documents, except his passport application tells what Adam and Catherine were doing in between the census years. In 1897, Adam was a boarding housekeeper, 66 years old, 5’7” tall, with a high forehead, brown eyes, and gray hair. His face was oval with a straight nose and bearded chin. 

It is not known why Catherine did not make the trip to Germany. Within three years of the 1897 passport date, Catherine, Adam, and Philip were living in Greencastle, during the U.S. Census in 1900. When Adam went to Germany, Philip was at the end of his visa, and in fact beyond his predicted return date. After visiting together with their family in Germany, father and son then left together for home by ship. The weather was very bad, and the stormy weather made both of them seasick. Most likely, they were not the only ones. Philip told the story about waking to find his silk top hat floating on water that had entered their cabin through the porthole. “He reached down with his ‘cane’ to rescue it.” Mention of his cane may corroborate information Curtis Peoples provided, which says that while touring Germany, Philip was stricken with “a paralysis that ended his performing career.” If the paralysis struck at this time, Philip would have been 32 years old. Could the paralysis be one of the reasons Philip sent for his father to come to Germany? And was his career abruptly ended or did he somewhat recover enough to still work? I believe it was the latter because of the continued traveling he was able to do once he returned stateside. 

The next primary document is the June 15 and 16, 1900 US Census. Philip was single and lived with his parents, in Greencastle again. He was a music teacher and had been out of work for 10 months. Adam, 68, was not working, mostly likely retired. He and Catherine had nine children; only seven of them were still living.

According to an ad in The Star and Sentinel newspaper of Gettysburg, Philip sang in Pen Mar, on Thursday, July 19, 1900, upon the occasion of the 11th Annual German Reformed (Church) Reunion.

After the Civil War, many Greencastle-Antrim veterans who had caught “wanderlust” moved west settling in towns and cities. During Philip’s tours, he’d often see and visit with former friends from Greencastle-Antrim. At such times, their childhood friendships were renewed, and they would reminisce (the spark that lit the idea of Old Home Week) about their hometown. From these chance meetings, Baer soon began talking about getting everyone (the men) together for a reunion in Greencastle.

On September 5, 1901, Philip Baer wrote a letter to the editor of the town paper asking for help to get people interested in organizing an Old Boys' Reunion in August of 1902. In April of 1902, the program was announced for the first Old Boys' Reunion that would be held August 10 to 20, 1902. Events that year included a chicken dinner at the Town Hall; a picnic at Sandy Hollow (a favorite swimming place since colonial times) along the Conococheague Creek; speeches; and band concerts by the Junior Band. 

Although there were only 50 men and boys on the first Old Boys Reunion photograph, about 100 out-of-town native sons signed the first guest register. The Old Boys' Reunion was such a success that they decided to do it again in three years in 1905. And so was born the now 114-year-old and most unequaled triennial tradition in the nation.

During the year after Old Home Week 1902, Philip traveled to Italy. On September 12 and 14, 1903, “Prof.” Philip Edward Baer, having just returned from Italy, placed two ads, exactly alike, in the Janesville (WI) Daily Gazette: WANTED - Furnished room; select family where piano is in home. Will give lessons on voice, culture in exchange. Just returned from Italy. Prof. Philip Edward Baer, General Delivery. 

Janesville is in Rock County, which is in the center of Wisconsin’s southern border, bordering Illinois and not that far distant from Chicago, where Philip’s career had started in 1884. 

It was also in 1903, that Philip wrote the song “Mary My Love.” A copy of this song and another, “Eastern Star,” that he wrote and published in 1911, are displayed on Philip’s Steinway & Son, 1870 grand piano, located in the large parlor of the museum house. The piano was a gift from the late Joe Henson, who lived in the Baer home at 140 North Carlisle Street. Baer purchased the used piano, which he took from place to place during his concert tours.

The following spring, on April 1, 1904, in the Janesville Daily Gazette, the first article in the second column reads: "PROF. PHILIP BAER JOINED MINSTRELS" Made His First Appearance Last Evening - Thirty Eagles Attended in a Body. Prof. Philip Edward Baer who has been getting out an atlas of Rock County for the past year made his initial appearance with Barlow's Minstrels last evening. His rendition of "The Holy City" was much appreciated by the audience. He has joined the company and left today for Milwaukee with the aggregation. Prof. Baer studied vocal music seven years at Milan, Italy, and traveled for years with Primrose & West'g, Haverley's, and Cleveland's Minstrels. William Stuart, another recruit, also joined the organization last night. A large crowd was present at the entertainment. Thirty members of the local lodge of Eagles marched in and took front sets just before the curtain rose. 

Eight months later, Philip Edward Baer married Jannette (Jeannette) Dubbell (born in Tennessee), in Washington, D.C. on December 29, 1904, which was his place of residence at the time.

It’s not exactly known when Philip established his own opera company. The Echo Pilot accounts during the 1902 Old Boys Reunion mentioned the Prof. Philip Baer concert company, which performed for the “Old Boys,” but in April 1904 he was performing with Barlow’s Minstrels. An advertisement in the Gettysburg Compiler on January 31, 1906, though, is the first known primary document to describe his opera company – a vaudeville company. The advertisement read: “Xavier Hall Feb 1 & 2, 1906: Philip Baer Opera Company, The world's greatest Tenor Dramatic Company supported by the best Comedians, Vocalists, Dancers, and Vaudeville Artists – three complete entertainments in one Price – 15, 25, 35-cent seats.” 

Over the next year and a half, Philip’s disability must have progressed enough that his doctor, as was and still is, advised him to go to the American southwest in hope of improving his health. According to the information shared by Curtis Peoples, the history ‘books’ of Lubbock, TX say that Philip and Janette (Jeannette) Baer arrived in Lubbock, from Wisconsin, in September of 1907, due to ill health. 

Philip wasted no time in beginning voice lessons. He taught in Hale Center, TX which is about 33 miles north of Lubbock. That year, Philip’s music class raised money for the Lubbock Library Association, by giving a recital in the Lubbock Band Hall. 

Philip and Janette (Jeannette) returned home to Greencastle but again traveled to Lubbock, TX the following summer of 1908, the year of the third triennial Old Home Week. From Lubbock’s July 31, 1908, newspaper, we learn: Roberts and McWhoter, report the sale of a block of land in the McWhorter and Roberts addition, this to Philip E. Baer. July 31, 1908, page 3.

Philip resumed teaching voice lessons, only this year, he taught in Lubbock. He charged $4.00 for a lesson. He evidently had enough talented students studying under him that on August 28 and 29, 1908, Philip’s students performed arias from Gounod’s Faust, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and Verdi’s Il Trovatore and… Aida. Peoples wrote, “Evidently, the first of its kind for Lubbock, the well-received Grand Opera reportedly was, “a treat never as yet enjoyed by this part of Texas.”” There is no mention of Philip Baer being present for the 1908 Old Home Week celebrations and the fact that the Lubbock recital dates were August 28 and 29, seems to corroborate the fact.

Before he and Janette (Jeannette) left for Pennsylvania, Philip made more purchases of land in Lubbock: M. C. Overton to Philip E Baer, Lots 6-7-8-9-10 in blk 14 in Overton addition. The newspaper was dated September 4, 1908, and the ad appeared on page 7. On page 8 of the same newspaper, under “Social Siftings,” the following notice was printed: Prof. Philip E. Baer and wife left Thursday morning (September 3) after having spent several months in Lubbock. As newcomers to Lubbock, they appear to have made quite an “East Coast” impression upon the citizens of Lubbock.

Philip and Janette (Jeannette) did not return to Lubbock again until the spring of 1910. It was their last trip to Lubbock, TX. During their stay, Philip’s music class studied diligently and again presented a Grand Opera, referred to as, “a decidedly classy musical recital.” It was a wide-ranging recital with solos, duets, trios, quartets, and a quintet. Philip’s students and their presentations included Mrs. Van Sanders, “Waiting;” a trio of Mrs. Frank Wheelock, Smylie Wilson, and Professor Baer singing Verdi’s “Hear Us Oh Lord;” Mrs. Oscar Tubb’s “The Lost Chord;” and Bonnie Hudgins, Gounod’s Faust, described as “show stopping.” It must have been very gratifying for Philip Baer to have accomplished so much musically and theatrically throughout his career, having come from humble beginnings in Greencastle. Curtis Peoples wrote, “After the concert, Baer left again and did not return to Lubbock, but his influence remained among the early Lubbock citizens and helped pave the way for Lubbock music.” 

An aside: Forty years later, one of Lubbock’s most well-known musicians was Buddy Holly. In 1954, Waylon Jennings moved to Lubbock, where he and Buddy Holly became friends. Holly produced Jennings’ first single in 1958. 

Philip was present during the 1911 Old Home Week and was among the honored speakers. The next spring, he was in Gettysburg for the annual Memorial Day ceremonies. From the Gettysburg Times, dated May 27, 1912: Was Here Before – Mr. Baer, soloist at St. James Lutheran church Sunday morning and evening and at the Grand Army services in the afternoon, will be remembered by some Gettysburg persons as a member of the "Baer Opera Company" which held forth in Xavier Hall a few years ago. He carried four or five people in the company. Mr. Baer's home is in Greencastle. The wording of this notice implies that the Baer Opera Company, by 1912, was no longer performing as a touring group.

Taken during the 1914 Old Home Week was a photograph of Philip Baer, seated in a place of honor, surrounded by all the Old Boys of the committee standing behind him. On the sidewalk, beside his chair, was his cane, then his constant companion as his crippling illness progressed. But Philip continued to persevere and travel when able, as long as the illness would allow. After the presentation of the drinking fountain to the Borough of Greencastle during Old Home Week 1914, the Old Boys presented Philip Baer with gold watch, according to the minutes. A “loving cup,” engraved with, “Presented to Prof. Phil. E. Baer, Founder of “Old Home Week.” By The Old Boys of Greencastle, PA in Reunion Assembled August 10 – 17, 1914,” was also presented to Baer.

Janesville Daily Gazette, Feb 26 & 28, 1917: Apollo (Theater) Matinee daily at 2:30 Evening 7:30 & 9:00. A Treat for Apollo Patrons Tonight in addition to our regular picture programs we will present Prof. Philip Baer in a varied selection of songs that please. No extra charge for admission A 50c program for 10c.

“Sept 28, 1917, Janesville Daily Gazette; Personal Mentions: Philip E. Baer, tenor, will sing Sunday, Sept 30th at the evening service in the First Christian Church, corner Milwaukee and Academy Streets. Mr. Baer will sing by request the Holy City and Lead Kindly Light. Mr. Baer has been over the entire continent and will please all who are at services.”

The minutes of the 1917 Old Home Week do not mention Philip Baer’s name. There was no program printed because of the War. He was one of the speakers for the 1920 Old Home Week, along with the Hon. W. W. Brewer, W. R. Davison, Esq., Hon. Henry Prather Fletcher, and Bones Smith. In 1923, Philip sang at the Jerome R. King Playground and was one of the eight Vice-Presidents. During the 1926 Old Home Week, Philip Baer presided as Interlocutor for the “Shoo Fly Minstrels,” with End Men – White, Shirey, Warfield, McLaughlin, Poper, Kuhn, and McDonald. Philip was 1st Tenor in the quartet along with White – 2nd Tenor, Glass – 1st Bass, and Lear – 2nd Bass.

In Safe Kept Memory, William Conrad wrote, “The 1929 observance included a recital by Philip Baer. Presented on Friday evening (in the square), the program served as an affectionate tribute to the founder of an institution, now so much a part of his hometown’s life. He was gradually becoming an invalid, suffering from a crippling disease which left him more handicapped with each passing day.” The debilitating disease caused progressive (central) muscular atrophy as noted by Dr. Thomas Harry Gilland on Philip Baer’s death certificate.

The 1929 minutes also note that Philip sang “a brand-new song about Greencastle.” At the beginning of the week, there was a ride around town – a tribute to Baer and the surviving members of the first Old Home Week Committee, who included Pitt. F. Carl, C.C. Kauffman, H. E. Petrie, George S. Heck, J. Adam Carl, and John H. Hostetter.

In 1932, the tour of the town and township included a stop at the home of Philip Baer on North Carlisle Street “to greet him.”

Old Home Week 1935 was the last Old Home Week in which Philip Baer participated. That summer on Monday, August 5, Philip was the honorary marshal of Monday morning’s ride around town – the last time he rode through the streets of his hometown during Old Home Week.

At the beginning of the 1938 Old Home Week celebration, the triennial tradition of placing a wreath of flowers at Philip’s grave was begun. Professor Philip Edward Baer, founding father of Greencastle-Antrim’s Old Home Week triennial, will never be forgotten for generations to come.

From 1902 through Old Home Week 2016, the triennial reunion has continued to grow in the number of events packed within eight days of non-stop festivities – something for everyone. 

In the 1986 booklet A Safe Kept Memory – the Old Home Week Story, Mr. Conrad continued with many details about succeeding Old Home Weeks between 1902 and 1986. When Conrad got to the 1929 Old Home Week, he wrote, “The 1929 observance included a recital by Philip Baer. Presented on Friday evening, the program served as an affectionate tribute to the founder of an institution, now so much a part of his hometown’s life. He was gradually becoming an invalid, suffering from a crippling disease which left him more handicapped with each passing day. In 1935 he was the honorary marshal of the parade for that year’s observance. Once more he rode along the streets so familiar to him, seeing many friends for the last time. A month later, on September 8, Philip Edward Baer died in the seventieth year of life filled with an abundance of professional triumphs enriched by an abiding love for the town of his birth.”

**Please note in the 1986 29th Old Home Week booklet, A Safe Kept Memory, it says that the reunion became known as Old Home Week in 1905 when the “old girls” of Greencastle were invited. It also states that the “sons and daughters of Antrim” were not invited until the 1908 triennial celebration.

The 1905 program has Old Home Week printed on the front page. This is further confirmation of the facts.

Until May 23, 2016, that was the only information this writer had been able to find about Philip Baer’s life. Then an email arrived from Curtis L. Peoples, Ph. D., Archivist, Crossroads Music Archive in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections library at Texas Tech University. Peoples was in the process of writing a book about the music history of Lubbock, Texas. What in the world could Lubbock, Texas have to do with Greencastle, PA and Philip Edward Baer? Lubbock, Texas, is the “home” of such well-known modern musicians as Buddy Holly. Lubbock County was founded in 1876, with the town of Lubbock becoming the county seat on March 10, 1891. It was incorporated on March 16, 1909. Peoples was in search of Philip Baer’s story, and what a story he had for all of us here in Greencastle-Antrim! Philip Baer had a whole other life in Lubbock, Texas that I’d not found recorded in the history books of Greencastle-Antrim or Franklin County. 

The following was provided by Dr. Curtis L. Peoples.

“......was with a professor of music named Philip E. Baer. Baer trained in Milan, Italy, as an operatic tenor and studied under Alberto Bimboni (1882-1960) and F. Blasco. Some have said that his voice sounded much like the famed Enrico Caruso. While touring Germany, he was stricken with paralysis ending his performing career, so he came to the western United States to better his health. Arriving from Wisconsin on an immigrant train in September of 1907, Baer was in his late thirties (42) when he first came to Lubbock. During his first trip, he taught voice in Hale Center, Texas, and brought the music class for a recital at the Lubbock Band Hall to benefit the Lubbock Library Association. He returned to Lubbock the following summer to teach a class. Students studying with him paid $4.00 for a one-hour lesson. At the end of the term, he put on two opera performances, one on August 28 and the other the following day. The grand opera included arias from Gounod’s Faust, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Aida. Evidently, the first of its kind for Lubbock, the well-received Grand Opera reportedly was “a treat never as yet enjoyed by this part of Texas.” 

“After the concert, Baer headed back east for the winter. He returned in the spring of 1910 to prepare for another class in the summer. Once again, the class performed a Grand Opera at the end of the term. Referred to as “a decidedly classy musical recital,” the program featured solos, duets, trios, quartets, and one quintet. The show’s highlights were Mrs. Van Sander’s “Waiting;” Mrs. Frank Wheelock, Smylie Wilson, and Professor Baer singing Verdi’s “Hear Us Oh Lord;” Mrs. Oscar Tubb’s “The Lost Chord;” and Bonnie Hudgins’s show stopping performance of Gounod’s Faust. After the concert, Baer left again and did not return to Lubbock, but his influence remained among the early Lubbock citizens and helped pave the way for Lubbock music.”

Thank you,

Curtis L. Peoples, Ph.D.

Archivist, Crossroads Music Archive, 

Unit Head, Crossroads Recording Studio

www.crossroadsofmusic.ttu.edu

http://library.ttu.edu/crossroadsrecordingstudio/

“Thank you!” Dr. Curtis L Peoples for completing Professor Philip E. Baer’s biography and sharing it with all of us here in Greencastle-Antrim!

It was during an operatic tour in Germany, that Baer was first stricken with a paralysis. It is presumed that this paralysis ended his touring career both stateside and abroad. Philip Edward Baer died on September 8, 1935. His death certificate listed his cause of death as “progressive (central) muscular atrophy,” possibly myasthenia gravis, which, at the time of his death, he had for 30 plus years. Philip Baer was laid to rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Bonnie A. Shockey

President & CEO

Allison-Antrim Museum

365 South Ridge Avenue

Greencastle, PA 17225

Updated April 10, 2024

The following is the timeline of Philip’s early performances.

1891 Houston Light Guard Minstrels as Philip E Baer (had left Cleveland Minstrels)

1894 Good Friday March 23 Washington D.C. St Aloysius Church In 3.22.1894; hockey’s first Stanley Cup championship game was played; home team Montreal defeated Ottawa, 3-1.

1900 June 15 & 16 US Census: Single; Living with his parents; a music teacher; out of work for 10 months. 

1900 July 19 Pen Mar at 11th Annual German Reformed reunion Philip E Baer

1903 Janesville Just returned from Italy.

1904 Janesville Prof Philip Baer first appearance with Barlow’s Minstrels 

1904 Washington DC Residence Married Dec 29, 1904.

1906 Gettysburg Philip Baer Opera Company

1908 Lubbock July 31 bought one block of land.

1908 Lubbock Sept 4 Overton addition bought Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in block 14.

1908 Lubbock Sept 4 Left Lubbock Th, Aug 27 after several months

1912 May 27 Memorial Day weekend (Sun 22 May) Gettysburg Times St James Church & GAR 

in afternoon

1917 Janesville Feb 28 at the Apollo solo performance Apollo Matinee daily at 2:30 Evening 

7:30 and 9:00 A TREAT FOR APOLLO PATRONS Tonight (2.26.1917) Tuesday and Wednesday, in addition to our regular picture programs we will present PROF. PHILP BAER in a varied selection of songs that please. Prof. Baer has a rich, powerful tenor voice over which he has a masterful control. No extra charge for admission. A 50c program for 10c

1917 Janesville Sept 28, 1917, Janesville Daily Gazette; Personal Mentions: Philip E. Baer, tenor, will sing Sunday, Sept 30th at the evening service in the First Christian Church, corner Milwaukee and Academy Streets. Mr. Baer will sing by request the Holy City and Lead Kindly Light. Mr. Baer has been over the entire continent and will please all who are at services.