The first ball of the Larchmont (NY) Engine Company was held on Wednesday, April 17, 1901, as reported in The Larchmont Times on Saturday, April 20th. Like the Wichita fireman's ball given in 1903, it heavily featured waltz, "deux temps" (which I believe to be two-step, rather than the older deux temps), and quadrilles, with a few other popular nineteenth century dances mixed in. It's a bit more old-fashioned a program compared to Wichita's, which fits since it's a couple of years earlier and not as far along toward the "all waltz and two-step" programs sometimes found a few years later. The image at left is courtesy of the Larchmont Historical Society; which has the whole front page of the newspaper up on its website. I've made the page available for download here. (Edited 6/21/24 to remove the dead website link and add the link to LHS and the downloadable image.)
Here's the dance list transcribed for readability:
Part First -- Grand March, Lanciers, Waltz, Deux Temps, Quadrille Waltz, Polka, Schottische, La Varsouvienne, Waltz, Lanciers, Deux Temps, Waltz.
Part Second -- Grand March, Quadrille, Waltz, Lanciers, Polka, Caledonian, Deux Temps, Schottische, Reel and Jig, Waltz, Deux Temps, Virginia Reel, Home Sweet Home.
That doesn't actually seem like a whole lot of dances for a ball that lasted from nine to midnight, then commenced again after supper and continued until "an early hour", but it's all we've got to go by. Perhaps they took generous breaks between dances; I've seen dance programs where the dances all had dedications which probably involved toasts and speeches.
The breakdown of dances:
- two grand marches, one for each part
- three Lancers quadrilles (Lanciers)
- one plain quadrille
- one waltz quadrille
- one Caledonian
- one Virginia Reel
- five waltzes (plus Home Sweet Home)
- four deux temps [two-step]
- two polka
- two schottische
- one varsouvienne
- one "reel and jig"
Presumably the first part was before supper and the second part after supper.
The balance is clearly tipping away from set dances and toward couple dances; it's literally a 1:2 ratio. Six quadrilles and one Virginia Reel for set dances vs. fourteen couple dances. The Lancers is the overwhelming favorite among the quadrilles, while the waltz and deux temps share the honors for the couple dances. Having two grand marches is interesting, and there's one minor mystery with the "reel and jig", which might be some combination of a Scotch Reel and a fancy dance. Interestingly, the five-step, which would be so prominent at the Wichita ball only two years later, made no appearance at all.
The deux temps/two-step terminology confusion goes back decades into the nineteenth century. It's unusual to see an American two-step labeled deux temps as late as 1901, but I think that's more likely than a sudden revival of the old valse à deux temps of the 1840s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A transcription of the entire article:
INITIAL BALL OF ENGINE COMPANY
THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE ATTEND RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE FIREMEN.
Everybody Happy and the Ball Was voted a Big Success.
Sixty Couples in Grand March Led by Thomas Mandeville.
Some of Those Present.
The first annual ball under the auspices of the Larchmont Engine Company was held at the Casino on Wednesday evening. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting.
There were sixty couples in the grand march and fully three hundred people in the hall. Dancing commenced about 9 o'clock and continued until midnight when they formed in line and marched next door to the Alexander Building where refreshments were served. After partaking of the refreshments they marched back to the Casino and resumed dancing until an early hour.
Thomas Mandeville as Floor Manager, was assisted by William Hynds and William Camp.
The Reception Committee consisted of Foreman C. A. Singer, Assistant Foreman E. F. Campbell, Secretary and Treasurer G. W. Lippincott, and Assistant Chief C. O. Hamilton, did everything in their power to make it a big success.
The Committee of Arrangements consisted of T. S. Holland, H. B. Hamilton, T. Mandeville, W. F. Camp and F. Mandeville. It is needless to say that they worked hard and deserve a great deal of credit.
This was the first ball given by the Engine Co. and it being so successful no doubt next year's one will be far superior.
The music was furnished by Prof. Dan McCarthy of Portchester:
The order of dance follows:
Part First -- Grand March, Lanciers, Waltz, Deux Temps, Quadrille Waltz, Polka, Schottische, La Varsouvienne, Waltz, Lanciers, Deux Temps, Waltz.
Part Second -- Grand March, Quadrille, Waltz, Lanciers, Polka, Caledonian, Deux Temps, Schottische, Reel and Jig, Waltz, Deux Temps, Virginia Reel, Home Sweet Home.
Comments