Belleville drum and bugle corps are gone but not forgotten with new downtown memorial
The three Belleville drum and bugle corps are long gone but certainly not forgotten.
Every sweaty mile marching the streets of Belleville and other more distant towns, every sack lunch or night on a gym floor in another state were ripe for discussion on an Aug. 25 Saturday as the three groups from Belleville — the Black Knights, the Bellettes and the Gabrielettes — held an afternoon reunion at Creehan’s Irish Pub.
But before that, on Saturday morning, more than 200 people gathered downtown to dedicate a memorial to the marching groups. The memorial has been 16 months and much fundraising in the making. It cost more than $7,000.
The Black Knights Alumni Association — spearheaded by Craig Brethauer — came up with the idea, talked city officials into the idea and produced three round bronze plaques and a larger plaque giving the histories of the groups courtesy of Voss Pattern Co. The memorial is set in concrete on the northeast corner of the Belleville Memorial square — courtesy of Brethauer, who also is a concrete mason.
Alumni from the groups came from all over the country for the events, Brethauer said.
“They’re here from California, North Carolina, Texas and other states,”he said. “It’s been a long journey (for the project), but it is good to see it finally done.”
Breathauer said he didn’t know anything about music or playing a horn, but Black Knight leaders taught him. He fondly remembers long, hot bus rides to distant places ranging from Colorado to the East Coast to Texas.
It wouldn’t be an official unveiling unless there were politicians. Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory and O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach conducted the ceremony with kudos to Belleville Ward 7 Alderman Phil Elmore for his help navigating the intricate approval needed from the city.
Roach served as master of ceremonies and revealed a connection with all three groups.
“I, myself, was a member of the Black Knights,” he said. “My sister was with the Bellettes and my wife was with the Gabrielettes.”
He spoke fondly of the many friends and associations he made through the marching events. Throughout the group gathered to listen were alumni wearing old corps hats, shirts and satisfied grins.
A group of alumni combined to play some of the groups’ old music and sounded pretty good.
Many families had more than one member in the groups and spoke highly of the qualities kids learned such as discipline, respect and hard work. Pretty much everybody said there were memories they would never forget.
The Belleville Historical Society will also have a display of the marching groups’ memorabilia in it Mid Century Modern Museum at 6 Oak Knoll Place on West Main Street.
History of the groups
The Black Knights were a boys only group founded in 1952. In 1973 they went co-ed and disbanded after the 1989 season. The Bellettes were an all girls group founded in 1937. The Gabrielettes were also all girls and were founded in 1959.
All three groups won more trophies and championships than I can list including national championships. Everyone lamented the lack of a Belleville group today and there was talk — as there always is — of trying to revive the Black Knights.
