Music by the Hearth

By Foster White

Almost from the beginning of their existence, family units would gather by the warmth of the hearth and enjoy some form of music. Throughout human history, music in many forms played a significant role in social development.

In this study, author Foster White presents his assessment of this important aspect of music history through the lens of his own familys story of musical development and ingenuity. Exploring music as it related to family life and home entertainment in the time prior to radio, television, and the Internet, White shares a saga beginning in Caernarfon Wales in the mid-1500s and ending rather tragically by the Atlantic Ocean on the Massachusetts coast in September 1938. Along the way, he recounts the intriguing history of the development of the player piano and the Artrio Angelus Reproducing Piano. The story of the Strong/White family and the Wilcox and White Organ Company is one of creativity, dedication, musical skills and the ability to adapt to change and survive the difficult situations presented in life.

Full of intriguing historical detail, Music by the Hearth offers a consideration of one familys contribution to music over the course of more than three centuries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781480816510

Foster White

Foster White was born in New York City and currently resides in Connecticut. He earned his BS degree in marketing from the University of Hartford in 1959. He has been a community actor and singer, performing in many area musical and dramatic productions. A widower, he has two sons and two grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2015 Foster White.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-1649-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1650-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1651-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906720

Archway Publishing rev. date: 4/29/2015

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

As the human species developed, music in many forms played a significant role in social development. Almost from the beginning of history, family units would gather by the warmth of the hearth and enjoy some form of music. Though somewhat primitive at first, this musical interlude, at the conclusion of the day’s labor was a significant factor in social development. In the beginning, the music may have been provided by rudimentary instruments created from hollow logs and stretched animal skins, which subsequently evolved into the sophisticated electronic musical devices we enjoy today.

In this work, I present my assessment of a segment of musical history. The interpretation relates to family life and home entertainment in the time prior to radio, television, and the Internet. The saga begins in Caernarfon, Wales, in the mid-1500s and ends rather tragically by the Atlantic Ocean on the Massachusetts coast in September 1938.

This is a story of a family and a history of artistic and industrial growth. It presents to the reader a record of ingenuity, creativity, dedication, musical skills, and to some extent the ability to adapt to, change, and survive the difficult situations presented in life. It is the story of the Strong/White family and the Wilcox and White Company in Meriden, Connecticut. It portrays the lives of the men and women who created significant innovations in the home entertainment industry. It relates to a time when family life centered on the hearth and the warmth provided by the heat of fire and comfort provided by the comradeship of family and friends was augmented by the harmony of music. Although many of the musical instruments manufactured during this period no longer exist, the technology developed continues in our current electronic lives today. Most important, the society as enhanced created the world we live in today.

I did not set out on this venture to create a literary masterwork; my intent was learning. Why do I think the way I do? Why is music critical in my life? Further, I am compelled to find the answer to the question. Is service to humanity the best work of life? I arrived at a point when I questioned my personality and nature and contemplated my values and ascetics. I still ponder the individuals’ primary motivating factors and values in life. I believe that these all are inspired by ancestry, that where we came from dictates, to some extent, we are today.

THE FORMATIVE YEARS

RICHARD STRONG

1590–1613

CAERNARFON, WALES (1590)

WHEN HE AWOKE, IT WAS DARK IN THE LOFT SPACE. RICHARD COULD hear the wind whistle in the thatched roof as it wafted on shore from the sea. He began to think of the sea and how it had become a part of his life and livelihood; he thought this may soon change, and as he began the fitful journey into full consciousness, his mind became more active and the journey back into restful sleep less likely.

He was now alone in Caernarfon; his mother had passed soon after his father. With her passing, his relations with the folk of Griffith County quickly started becoming awkward. He, more like his father than his mother, had never adopted the local mores of the Welsh tradition. In Richard’s heart and mind, he was English. How these Welshmen spoke had always bothered him; it seemed that when they did not want him in their conversations, they always reverted to the Welsh language, that Celtic dialect. Why had the Crown allowed the translation of the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer into the Welsh language anyway? That was another story. What was to become of his life?

He was not comfortable remaining on his land close to the sea he loved. The opportunity to be relieved of the responsibility for the property did exist, and he did have the chance to take title to lands southeast in Devon, just south of his family’s traditional home. He loved his life on the sea and all that it provided, but he was alone and yearned for the love and warmth of family. Ah, a wife and children might just ease the pain caused by being away from the oftentimes exciting and sometimes tranquil life by the calm sea just east of Erin.

Richard was now fully awake. He rose and left the warmth of his bed, felt the wind from the sea in his face as he left the comfort of the cottage, and walked down the quiet streets of Caernarfon. He set out to see if he could find a ship that would take him down the coast and southeast, the start of his journey back to Devon, England, and home. He knew the trip would not be easy, if possible at all. With his experience at sea as a fisherman, he might even be able to work aboard to earn some, if not all, of his passage. He had made voyages southeast to Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest before, but from this point on east to the English coast would be a new adventure. In times past, immediately after the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549, the trip would have been fraught with peril, but the animosity of that conflict was long past. Another cause for concern would have been the turmoil caused by the reign of three English monarchs in the nine years since the death of Henry VIII, but this concern was now somewhat eased by the stability of the rule of Elizabeth.

Richard’s mind was set. He would set forth on this new adventure in his life.

He would now go to his friend John Speed, also a man of the sea, who used his small lateen-sailed vessel, the Margaret Anne, for fishing and transport of local product to markets to the south and east.

As Richard made his way down High Street, the dew from the sea made the air smell fresh and sweet, a great way to begin the day and perhaps his journey. He slowly strolled past the thatched-roof cottages with town folk still asleep in them. He passed into the walled portion of Caernarfon, on to Stryd Twll Yn Wal (Hole in the Wall Street), and then down past Pepper Lane. There, off to his left, he could see two souls prone against the wall of the Black Boy Inn, perhaps too much of the spirits last evening. Just another reason that he really did not belong in this town—or this part of the world.

He knew John would not be about as of yet, so he continued down to the wall by the inlet that led to the sea; he loved this part of the day—quiet and with the gulls and terns just beginning their daily search for sustenance. As the sky lightened, he watched as the pipers skittered just along the line of waves breaking gently on the shore. Gradually, the rising sun warmed his back, and he relaxed. He began to walk slowly to John’s home on Ditch Street.

As he approached the cottage, he noted that the door was open and John was standing in front, beginning his work of the day. Good morning, friend, Richard said as the two comrades met and warmly embraced.

What brings you to my home? inquired John.

Richard replied that he was seriously thinking of going back to Shropshire and restarting his life in the land of his father.

How can I assist? John asked. "I will do anything I can for a friend. Please walk with me to the Margaret Anne and we can proceed with the creation of a solution to your needs. In fact, I am now planning a short voyage in that direction to deliver some goods made at Shirt Hall and to pick up wool for them on my return home. My hand, Joshua, is required to remain here while his good wife delivers their third child. Perhaps you could serve as his replacement and work as my hand to earn your passage. I do plan to sail up to Bridgewater, and from there, you will have a short overland trip to Taunton and Shropshire."

By the time they reached the Margaret Anne, the agreement had been established that they would depart within a week.

In preparation for his departure, Richard gathered his meager belongings and the tools needed for his trade as a carpenter. He made arrangements to dispose of his cottage and belongings not required for his journey. The most difficult task was to prepare himself in his mind for his departure from Caernarfon and the start of his new life, a new beginning to life at the age of twenty-nine.

Richard felt it was an ominous start for a voyage into new beginnings. The sky was dark and gray, the sea foreboding in appearance. The waves were higher than he had experienced in many months and were pounding angrily along the rocky coast as he bent against the onshore wind with the salty mist stinging his face. Slowly he walked down to the Margaret Anne.

As Richard and John labored to load the Margaret Anne with cargo and supplies for their journey, the day brightened and the sea calmed as they waited for the tide to turn. The voyage that they anticipated would take at least five full days began at slack tide, and they ventured away from Caernarfon. They still had hours of daylight to guide them on their way—first a westward heading through the inlet to the open water beyond and then down along the coast. The initial phase of the trip would take them off the coast past Dinas Dinlle, Gyrn Goch, and Tretor, and then they would make a heading for Bardsey Island. At this point, they would change course directly southeast toward Cardigan and the Pembrokeshire Coast. This was the most difficult part of the passage, but John knew these waters well. He could read the sea, and Richard was confident that their trip would go well. His mind was at ease. As he had no tasks at the moment, he let his mind wander to dream of the days ahead.

The winds were most favorable, and they made good time departing from Caernarfon and out into open sea. Soon they had sailed out of land sight; the sea was calm and the wind was at their back. So began the first day at sea.

They agreed that they would maintain watches of four hours and John would set the course for Richard to follow. If the weather permitted, they would maintain this schedule. If the weather got heavy, they would sail with no sleep until landfall. They would use the sun by day and the stars at night to direct their passage. Soon, the sun began to settle in the west; the sky glowed red and the rays sparkled on the smooth sea, a good omen from the sea.

The night passed uneventfully. At first light, they could see Bardsey Island to the port side, and John changed heading to the southeast. This part of the voyage would require seamanship, and there would be danger if the weather turned. Being the Sabbath, both John and Richard turned to prayer to seek guidance and support for their adventure and the potential hazards of the open sea.

The days that followed were rather uneventful as the winds were steady and the sea relatively calm. Richard played the lute, as did John, who also had acquired Scottish bagpipes. The two bided their time with the music they could provide, although Richard was not truly fond of the pipes.

They also passed their hours relating the tales of the all-too-recent sea battles with Spain and the defeat of Phillip in his attempts to invade and conquer England and return the country to Catholic rule under the papists. They recounted the tales of the great seamanship of Sir Francis Drake and his superior tactics of keeping the Spanish Armada at bay with superior gunnery skills and avoiding the grappling tactics favored by the Spanish. The Spanish losses were substantial, while the English lost not one ship and only sixty men. There were countless tales among the people of England of thousands of drowned Spanish bodies washing up on the eastern shores of the English coast. This was the beginning of an era of superior English seamanship. As men of the sea, Richard and John also retold the exploits of the privateering tactics of pirates like Grace O’Malley and Digorie Piper. They were mutually astounded by the triad tactics of John Hawkins, who made a practice of sailing to Africa to obtain slaves and then sailed to the Spanish colonies in North America and returned to England with goods and sugar gathered from the Spanish colonies. They both vehemently opposed the traffic in human souls.

They now had reached the Pembrokeshire Coast and were proceeding due east, heading for the open water between Barry to the north and Minehead to the south. Soon they would be arriving at Bridgwater and the mouth of the River Tone. As the water was still high, John believed that he would be able to navigate directly into Taunton and eliminate the need for overland passage of his cargo. This would also permit Richard to enter directly into Taunton, making him available to unload the cargo aboard and assist John with the loading of freight back to Caernarfon. Richard would soon be at his destination—back in England where he belonged, or so he thought.

They reached the mouth of the River Parrett by the settlement of Burnham at nightfall. The passage up the River Parrett to the junction of the River Tone was narrow, and it would be difficult to keep the Margaret Anne from running aground. They anchored in the bay for the night, ate a light meal, and relaxed in a most needed deep sleep. In the morning, they planned to go ashore and determine whether passage as far as Taunton on the River Tone was still possible for the Margaret Anne or if they would have to use smaller vessels to transport the cargo to Taunton and return with the wool that had been ordered for the Shirt Hall in Caernarfon.

The dawn was bright and clear, and they made landfall and ventured into the settlement of Burnham. They determined that it was possible for them to take the Margaret Anne all the way to Taunton if they were careful but that they may be required to hire draft animals up some of the narrow passages; the river water was higher than normal and the current swift. They were told the locations of the owners of the draft animals and the fees that may be required for them. These negotiations took most of the daylight hours, and the trip up to Taunton was delayed another day. The two-day journey would commence the next day.

Five days after their arrival at the mouth of the River Parrett, they arrived in Taunton, located the merchants receiving the cargo, and began offloading. Richard agreed to supervise this process while John ventured out to locate the farms where the spring wool was ready for shipment. One of the laboring men offloading the cargo had experience at sea and was anxious to return to Wales with John on the return trip. Meanwhile, Richard had discovered the need for a man with his carpentry skill and was also able to find lodging in a local farmstead.

RICHARD STRONG

1590–1613

TAUNTON, ENGLAND

RICHARD WAS SATISFIED WITH HIS RECENT RELOCATION TO TAUNTON AND was gradually being accepted into the community. His skills as a tailor and serge maker were providing sufficient income, and life settling into a routine, perhaps too much of a routine. In some aspects his life was empty and unfulfilled; there must be more to his life someone to share his days. The days sped by faster than he had anticipated, and he quickly adapted to his new life in Taunton.

Richard was soon able to secure land on the local manor and began construction of a small home utilizing both his carpentry skills and the oak timbers from the woods alongside the River Tone. He quickly came to the conclusion that life alone was less than satisfying; he required someone to commune with, a partner in life—really, someone to help with the chores of the day. He thought long, hard, and often on this subject, and it soon became his primary object of concern. He mulled over many names and personalities, but always there was some obstacle or facet that caused considerable concern and ruled out the thought of further investigation or pursuit.

One day while repairing the outbuilding of a neighbor, using tools that he had inherited from his father to square a timber, a task made most difficult by the knots in this particular piece of oak, he heard a sweet sound—the melodic tones of a woman’s voice in song, the notes floating gently to him, as gentle as a butterfly flitting between the blossoms of a rosebush. Richard stopped his work and slowly walked in the direction of this soft and vibrant sound. Soon he spotted the source, a young lassie, years younger than he at first glance, but the sound was magnetic. It attracted him and pleased him greatly. Who was she? he wondered. Where had she been all this time? Then it came to him—he did recall her and knew that she was young, in her early teens, he thought—yes! Her name was Eleanor, but Eleanor what? Damn, I wish I could recall, he thought. Was it Jeffreys? Smyth? Oh damn, why can’t I remember a simple thing like her surname? He had to meet her, but how?

The memory of how he finally met Eleanor is lost to history but meet her he did, and soon, Richard and Eleanor were wed. They lived, loved, and had two children in the town of Taunton, close to the banks of the River Tone. The firstborn was John and then came the sweet daughter, Eleanor, named after her mother. Richard worked and lived hard, and shortly after the birth of Eleanor and prior to John’s fifth birthday, Richard passed from this earth in 1613 at the age of fifty-two. John and Eleanor spent the first year or so of life afterward under the care of their mother and distant relatives in Taunton. Subsequently, the family moved to Chard, where the children and mother spent the remainder their youth. These were mostly difficult economic times, and the family was under constant threat of the plague, which was prevalent in that part of England during their early lives. They were sustained by the love of their mother and the knowledge of the love of God and their church family.

ELDER JOHN STRONG

1609–1699

CHARD, LONDON; AND PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND; 1609–1630

LIFE WAS NOT EASY FOR JOHN WITH THE PASSING OF HIS FATHER WHEN he was just four and his sister still an infant. There was not much time left for anything but the struggle for survival constantly waged by his mother. They did not remain long in Taunton after Richard’s passing; the move to Chard was required to maintain some sort of economic security and to keep the three together as a family. Economic life centered on the wool industry that was prominent