Music in Somers

Music in Somers
Somers, from its start and early development, has taken and held a prominent place in the music field.
Perhaps many of us residing in Our Town today have almost forgotten those native sons and daughters whose musical talents added much to the artistic world.
Somers' own prima donna, Miss Charille Runals, known as Lily Runals, was born March 14, 1855.  Her early life was lived on the Runals Homestead, known as the Willowbrook farm in Our Town, and attended school at District No. 2, now Hillcrest School.
In early life she developed a sweet soprano voice and following her graduation from the Kenosha High School, she studied voice in Ohio, later going to New York, where she rapidly rose in public favor as a singer and poetic reader, and soon joined the Metropolitan Opera.  She charmed vast audiences with her rendition of her own arrangement of "The Sky Pilot", "Black Rock", and other beautiful stories.  As she sang the beautiful sacred songs and those immortal hymns, she made a lasting impression on her hearers.  Many of the older people of Our Town may recall when this prima donna came home on a visit and gave a concert at the Methodist Church.  Her rendition of "The Holy City" on this occasion has never been forgotten by those who listened.  She sleeps in a cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Florence Spencer Owen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Spencer, who came from the East in the early days, was  a school teacher, a teacher of music and was talented with a sweet soprano voice that thrilled her hearers for years.
The Jordan family was a family of music.  Miss Ann Jordan, a singing school leader, started many young people on a musical career.
John G. Mitchell, a son of a sturdy Scotch family, who came early, was a baritone of renown.  One of his favorite solos was "Rocked In The Cradle of The Deeps."  For years he was leader in the male and mixed quartet's Somers was so proud of.  He was a singing school master and started many of our young people in the music world.
And so on down the decades, our people have added much to the field of music.  The descendants of those pioneers are carrying on in the field of music - Mrs. Mabel Yule Longmore, Jay W. Rhodes, Mrs. Mabelle Cook Rhodes, Mrs. Eunice Bradley Bullamore, Mrs. Elizabeth Flett Felton."
(Source:  Photo of Lily Runals and information above, My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  All Rights Reserved.)

(Source: Photo of Lily Runals and information above, My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

Somers Band Stand - Mitchell Park
Our first park was in the Village of Somers, and for many years band concerts and social activities were enjoyed at "The Mitchell Park" where a fine band stand was built.  The Third Somers Brass Band, under the direction of John G. Mitchell, and these musicians, Fred W. Leet, Adam Lytle, Robert and Burdette Burgess, Elmer Cooper, Sherman Gibbon, Anton Nelson, William Munroe, Maurace Gould, Delbert Bishop, and Ray Mitchell, the drummer boy, offered many fine entertainments.
Ray Mitchell later became leader of an Illinois State Military Band.  A story of the first and second bands organized in Somers is not available.

(Source: My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

Bullamore Forks School

School District No. 8 - Bullamore Forks
"The early history of this school is not available, but in a review we find that the first building was constructed by James Petrie about 1850 and the substantial building served the district some eighty years when it was sold and moved a short distance away and remodeled into a dwelling house.
In 1929 a new two-room modern red brick building was erected on the original site and accommodates some 90 pupils.
John Umland served the district as its clerk for twenty years.
Among the earlier students were the seven Flett brothers.  James taught school many years.  David studied law and later was appointed Judge of the first Municipal Court, Racine.  George was, for many years, a minister in the Presbyterian Church.  Charles followed teaching for some years, later studying medicine, locating in Milbank, South Dakota.  Among other students were the Winslow's, the Hermann's, the Bullamore's, the Eick's, the Murray's, and the Ozanne's."
(Source: My Memoirs, by Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  Copyright 1948--Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  All Rights Reserved.)

Kids at Bullamore Forks School, about 1924.

The boy in the back on the extreme right is Oren S. Bullamore, born 1912.

If anyone can identify any other children in this photo, please click here to email Jackie.

(Source: Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz.)

Bullamore Forks School, Town of Somers
Bullamore Forks neighborhood was a "v" on Highway 158
Teacher on the right is Ione Smith Kreamer (sister of Merlyn Smith)
Photo taken September 15, 1939
(Photo courtesy of Jim smith)

Kids at Bullamore Forks School, about 1920.
Lucille (Bullamore) Swartz is the 3rd from the right, in a big hat.
Allan Bullamore is front, ceneter.
(Source:  Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz.)

Somers Presbyterian Church 1839

Presbyterian Church, circa 1800's, Somers Township, Kenosha County
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

The Reverend John Gridley
Pastor of the Somers Presbyterian Church, which was formed in 1839 and was located on the Green Bay Road near Petrifying Springs.  He served as a Pastor for 17 years from 1855 to 1872.  He was born May 23, 1787 and died December 27, 1876.  John Gridley was not only a doctor of divinity, but also a doctor of medicine.

Somers Presbyterian Church
Photo Courtesy of Kenosha County Historical Society, Inc.
Contributor:  Mrs. Minnie Ozanne/Kenosha Vocational School
c. 1839

History of the Somers Presbyterian Church

Among the oldest churches in this vicinity was the Presbyterian Church in Somers.  Rev. S. Peet was the organizer of the Presbyterian congregation, and it was under his direction that the church structure was erected in 1839.  The building was most substantially constructed with heavy oak timbers that were hand hewed from the neighboring woods.

It originally stood beside the Old Indian Trail, a road established by the government from Chicago to Green Bay, on land a short distance south of the Somers town hall donated by “Uncle Billy” Smith.  (Please read the blog entry for William Smith for additional reference and map).

It remained there until 1845, when it was moved half a mile north to a site given by Rev. James Ozanne and Charles Leet.

As persons entered the building they faced the congregation, so it was well to be on time.  The pulpit was in an elevated alcove in the front of the church, and the choir apartment was at the rear.  A dark red curtain of heavy material was drawn in front of the choir after each song.  The congregation turned around in the pews when they sang.

An early custom was for members to buy their pews and received deeds for them.  Doors were at each end.  In the front of the building, to the right and left of the pulpit, were square pews.  The late Mr. and Mrs. James Flett, early Scotch settlers, with their eight sons, occupied the southeast square pew.  Among the sons was the late David Flett, judge of the first municipal court in Racine.  Mr. and Mrs. William Robertson and their seven children had the northeast square pew.

In the summer of 1886 the church was moved to the village of Somers.

Rev. O.F. Curtis, who served to 1840, was the first pastor.
(Source:  Kenosha News June 15, 1935 Centennial Edition)




"Fred and George Leet have built the cement walks at the Presbyterian Church."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times publication October 27, 1910)


"One hundred years ago on December 3, 1839, the Presbyterian church of Somers was organized by Rev. S. Peet, and was built on the Green Bay trail, the land being donated by William Smith.  In June 1846 the building was moved a half mile north to a site given by Charles Leet and Rev. James Ozanne.  It stood there until 1886 when it was moved to the village of Somers.  The first pastor was Rev. O.F. Curtiss, who served 1839-40, and the first four members of the church were Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Spence and Mrs. and Mrs. James Hurlbut.

In 1863 a Methodist Church was established near the intersection of the Somers Road and the Green Bay trail and this too after many years was moved to the village.

On July 21, 1918, these two bodies united, continuing as the Somers Federal Church until December 11, 1921, when the organization became Congregational.

The main portion of the present building is the original part of the Presbyterian Church built in 1839."
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date December 4, 1939)