Saint Matthews All – Girl Band

Celebrating St. Matthew’s Church 175th Anniversary

Looking Back

St. Matthew’s All-Girl Band
It Was So Very Special

By Jack Coll

As I flipped through the yellowed pages of time, highlighting the history and
accomplishments of the church and school, my finger stopped flipping when I came
across a St. Matthew School program from nearly eight decades ago, in 1947.

On August 11, 1947, the Rev. George L. Murphy was appointed administrator of St.
Matthew’s Parish, and he set in motion the plans for organizing an “All Girl Band.”
Following the Christmas holidays, Rev. Murphy engaged Joseph Colantonio of
Roxborough, who was a professor of music at Roman Catholic High School. The All-
Girl Band was the school’s first of its kind when it formed in the fall of 1948.
In 1948, Conshohocken, along with the rest of the country, was enjoying the post-
World War II era. “Give em’ Hell,” Harry Truman was President of the United States.
The borough of Conshohocken employed thousands of men and women in the steel
plants and textile mills, and families throughout the borough rejoiced when it was

announced that the minimum wage was raised to 70 cents per hour to take effect in
1950.
In 1948, Harvard Law School began admitting women, although tuition at Harvard
University was raised from $400. Per year to $600. Per year. In Conshohocken, a
brand-new home on the avenues cost just over $7,000, while a new 1948 Chevrolet at
E. F. Moore’s cost nearly $1,400. But gas prices were on the rise at 17 cents per gallon,
and the average income for the working family was $2,900 a year.

The 60-piece all-girls band, dressed in blue and white marching uniforms, was made
up of seventh graders through the junior class of the high school. A number of girls on
that first marching band included Barbara Jaroz, Lucy Matteo, Joan McFadden, Dolores
Zimmer, Ann Wolper, Elicabeth Carr, Eleanor Strycharz, Marjorie Mellon, Eleanor
O’Brien, Agnes Coyne, Mary Daly, Margaret Gavin, Joan Hannum, Marie Leahy,
Geraldine McMonagle, Alice O’Connor, Kathleen O’Connor, Joan Powers, Ruth Gavin,
Anne Jones, Jane Pischock, Barbara Dempsey, Josephine Zadroga, Helene Brady,
Dorothy Moser, Elizabeth Burns, Joan Opelski, and Cathrine O’Connor just to name a
few.
After members for the various departments, majorettes, color guard, twirlers, and
musicians were selected, funds to purchase instruments and uniforms were raised
through church fundraisers.
The St. Matthew’s All-Girl Band made its debut at the opening football game of the
1948 season and continued to do so for more than fifteen years. The band was a big hit
throughout the Philadelphia region, appearing in Memorial Day Parades, making

appearances at Temple Stadium, and marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the
Parkway in Philadelphia.
Shortly after the beginning of the 1951-52 school year, Sister Alpheus was appointed
moderator of the band to supervise the attendance at rehearsals, the care of
instruments, and the distribution of music. Following Sister Alpheus’ transfer to the role
of Superior at Bethlehem, Sister Gertrude Bernadette became the moderator.
Throughout the time of the band’s organization, Mrs. Matthew O’Connor had been
invaluable in caring for the uniforms. Long hours were spent before and after each
performance by O’Connor and co-workers, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Stemple, and Mrs.
Sally.
For nearly twenty years, the highlight of the All-Girl Band was the Thanksgiving Day
Football Game, where both the Conshohocken High School Band and St. Matthew’s
High School All-Girl Band would march up Fayette Street from their schools and into the
Community Field (A-Field), where they would perform before the game and at halftime
of the game.
It was indeed a very special time in the parish’s long and rich history.

Today, there are six known living members of the band. They are Kathy Maher
McCarthy (clarinet), Pat Timbario John (trombone), Ann Kriebel Love (trombone), Judy
Boman Minnick (trumpet), Ann Maher Callaghan (saxophone), and Pat Gallagher
Givinsh.

The band’s first appearance
was on Sunday, September 19,
1948, at the newly refurbished
“A- Field”. The St. Matthew’s
“Mirrors” defeated Coaldale
Catholic 25-0.

Special Thank you to Charles Kelly for working with us here at Conshystuff to share a bit of the history of Saint Matthew’s Church.