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12 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, November 21 , 2007 _CARPET CLEANING â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"Fresh Start _ _â€" W Steamatic cleaning reduces the level of bacteria, pet dander & dust mites W Wall to wall carpeting & area rugs W Upholstered furniture B Ask about duct cleaning Servicing Waterloo.Kitchener. Guelph Cambridge and surrounding areas f .Cabl & WWe ¢os 6994 Cl mmy; STEAMATIC. 519.893â€"0046 MOVING + RENOVATING + NEW BABY + ALLERGIES The rates you‘ve earned â€" the service you deserve! 519.772.5051 / 1.888.5050.999 Unique Trusted since 1968 (Waterloo & Cambridge town The grand new hall (on Erb Street at Albert) opened in 1875; the Town of Waterloo was incorporated in 1876. In their village, town and city, the citizens of Waterloo have always had a good brimming measure of proud confidence in their community. Nowhere was this same spirit of enthusiasm more evident than in the musical life of Waterloo. Bands, both adult and youth, band tattoos and competitions, the Saenger Get a free, noâ€"obligation quote and you will be entered for a chance to WIN® 2.000. 1.500 or 1.000 AIR MILES® reward miles City‘s love of music is nothing new Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic‘ he Waterloo Town Hall was planned at least two years before the village acquired the status of Valerie Poulton Hometown News for an Awesome Hometown waTERLNG GiRONICLE fest festivals, church musicians and choirs, music publishing and today, still, the vibrant sucâ€" cess of German club choirs and of music programs at Wilfrid Laurier University‘s faculty of music and at Conrad Grebel College â€" all of those activities sprang from traditions that were deeply rooted in Waterloo. No matter how professional or how amateurish they were, all of those movements and organizations relied almost wholly upon people who felt the wealth of satisfaction that music can offer, and were willâ€" ing to devote their personal energy to enriching others‘ lives. This photo shows the Waterloo Musical Society Band led by bandmaster C. H. Thiele, There have been a vast numâ€" ber of individuals who conâ€" tributed to the cultural life of Waterloo. The members of one family may be mentioned merely to illustrate the contributions and devotion of all who shared in early Waterloo‘s musicâ€"making. The Roos family were well established in Waterloo by the second half of the 1800s. Variâ€" ous members of that family set up professionally in the village, town and neighbourhood. They were boot makers (the company store was on King near Dupont), hotel proprietors (of the Commercial Hotel, which housed a fashionable music hall}, accountants and pharmacists. The family‘s long association with the Waterloo Musical Sociâ€" ety (organized as such in 1882) and its band spanned at least four generations. Michael Roos played a bari tone (a smaller tuba) in the band for a great many years, serving as its secretary from 1883â€"1885 and treasurer from 1886â€"1888. Michael‘s uncle, William Roos, was president in 1883, and later a cousin, Henry W. Roos, was elected president in 1902. Julius H. Roos, who played alto horn in the band, was secâ€" retary of the society from 1886â€" 88, treasurer until 1912, and then president in 1915 and 1916. He had begun work for Mutual Life at a time when there were still only half a dozen employees. Edward N. Roos and Fred J. Roos, sons of Julius, served as presidents of the society in later years (1939â€"40 and 1945, respectively). A brother of Julius, Peter H. Roos (1865â€"1955), joined Dominion Life Assurance Co. as an accountant two years after its founding and while there were still only two or three other employees. _ "The important role that music played in the life of early Waterloo‘s citizens developed not just at the whim of officers He soon became the compaâ€" ny‘s secretary treasurer. A snare drummer in the band for over 50 years, as well as a composer of marches for it, Peter Roos was president of the musical saciety in 1910 and 1911 and served at length on the execuâ€" tive in a variety of other capaciâ€" ties. Peter H. Roos was regularly entrusted by the society with the vital responsibility of interâ€" viewing and recommending a bandmaster. Most remarkably he travelled (at his own expense) all the way to New York city in 1919 to interview Charles H. Thiele, associated at that time with the band of John Philip Sousa. He further invited Thiele to Waterâ€" of the town, its elected or appointed officials." PHOTO COURTESY 0F THE waATEALOO PUBLEC ciBRaRY loo, to see the town and its own solidly established band. Then later he put up the new bandmaster and his wife in his own house while the newcomâ€" ers found their new residence . (on Duke/Dupont Street at Queen/Regina). That generous and cordial gesture was entirely typical of the Rooses and of townspeople generally in early Waterloo. Peter Roos married Elizabeth Zimmerman, daughter of the owner of the Waterioo Hotel, in 1892. Their daughter Marion, nine years old at the time of the New York trip, accompanied him and still remembers that train adventure vividly. She, too, became familiar friends with the Thiele family. Other families were likewise intimately bound to the Waterâ€" loo Musical Society. In particuâ€" lar the Devitts and Uffelmanns, the Moogks and Wells, gave in their own ways long and distinâ€" guished service to the society. And consistently, as always, the Seagrams were financially genâ€" erous to it The important role that music played in the life of early Waterloo‘s citizens developed not just at the whim of officers of the town, its elected or appointed officials. It came from the dedication of ordinary townspeople who were blessed with enthusiasm for making good music togethâ€" er. Waterloo has long benefited from the initiative, the good will and energy of its volunteers. Terence Scully, a member of the Municipal Heritage Committee, with the support of the Waterloo public library, and Heritage Resources, will be writing a colâ€" umn biâ€"weekly throughout 2007 to celebrate Waterloo‘s 150th anniversary. Scully can be reached by emailing tscully@wiu.ca.