Improvements sought for Toronto band camp

IMPROVEMENTS SOUGHT — The Toronto High School Band Parents are working to raise funds to help the Toronto Band Fathers make improvements to the summer campground used by the band for many years.
— Warren scott

TORONTO — Parents of members of the Toronto High School Band who remember playing in the band themselves and summer days spent practicing and spending time with their peers have been working to raise funds to help the Toronto Band Fathers improve the site where that happened.

John Hartline, president of the Toronto Band Fathers, recalls when there were no cabins at the camp, which occupies about 143 acres off of township Road 285B.

“They used to actually sleep in tents and bathe in the creek,” said Hartline, who has worked with a small number of other men to maintain the camp site, a former farm purchased for the band’s use at least 60 years ago.

“We have put more than $300,000 into the band camp,” he said, noting improvements in recent years have included replacing broken windows in the camp’s six cabins with sturdy plexiglass and installing new doors, soffit and fascia for all of them.

Hartline said the group added a covered deck with picnic tables at the rear of the former barn that was converted years ago for the camp’s use.

On its second floor is a kitchen and small dining area, while restrooms and several showers occupy the lower, concrete floor.

Hartline said about $10,000 and a lot of volunteer labor went into the barn at the time.

In more recent years, boards from the old high school’s gym floor were applied to its upper floor, which he said consists of 10 inches of oak, while a refrigerator from the old school was installed in the kitchen.

Hartline said while the group received royalties from the leasing of mineral rights to natural gas drillers, they have dropped to nothing because of declining production, while the cost for insurance for the property has more than doubled.

He said in addition to about $2,800 paid by the Toronto Band Parents, the Band Fathers have received yearly donations from three local businesses and money from the Pittsburgh Vintage Scooter Club, a group that meets there once a year.

Hartline said those funds and about $30,000 generated from logging at the site were reinvested into the property, but the Band Fathers also have provided their own money and volunteer labor to maintain it.

“Every penny that comes through here is put back into the camp,” he said.

Hartline said he joined the organization about 20 years ago.

“I graduated from Toronto (High School) and I was giving back,” he said, adding most of the Band Fathers are alumni or had children who attended the school.

Hartline pointed to a grassy lot at the rear of the property that has been lined to resemble a regulation football field and lighted so the band is able to practice its halftime shows at night.

“Those kids work hard, but they love it out here,” he said.

Kirk George, a band director at the high school for 31 years, said while the camp could be described as rustic, it’s the best at which he’s worked in his many years in music education.

Now retired, George and his wife, Sally, have been involved with efforts by the Toronto Band Parents to raise money for improvements there.

He said they include a new roof for one of the cabins, sealing the foundations for all of the cabins, replacing appliances in the kitchen and having all of the wiring inspected.

George said with the possible exception of an electrical contractor, plans call for volunteer labor to be used.

“We won’t be hiring contractors. We will be doing all of the work ourselves,” he said.

George said it won’t be the first time the Band Parents have contributed funds for the property.

“There have been a lot of improvements from both groups through the years,” he said, adding, “Our whole focus is not to take charge of the band camp at all. It’s to improve the facilities the band students use.”

George said response to the group’s fundraising campaign has been positive.

“We are doing well but we still need more to do what needs to be done,” he said.

George said many supporters have been former Toronto High School band members.

“I get letters from the alumni. I heard from people at the Toronto Art Festival (where the Band Parents had a booth) who said, we can’t let the band camp go. This is a place our kids need to go. These were their words,” he said.

“We would like alumni who know what that camp means to make a donation,” said George, who added all contributions are appreciated.

Monetary donations for the effort may be made through Venmo at the georgecamp account established by the Toronto Committee for Revitalization.

Checks may be made to the Toronto Band Parents, with band camp in the memo line, and sent to the Toronto Band Parents care of Kirk George, 6 Lookout Drive, Toronto, OH 43964.

“All donations will go to the Toronto band camp,” said George.