Huntington, WV, Newspaper – February 9, 1969
Written by Charles Collett
Submitted by: Robert Kingrey
The baptismal gown worn by Robert John Weidemeyer at his baptism in 1887, at Ashland, Ky., is still in the family, and has been in use through the 81 years of its existence. That fact is important, because the gown that has been in use through the years was the topic of interest in a column written by Johnny Jones, who is one of the leading scribes in Ohio, where his family resided and it might be stated that this area still furnishes the background for many of his stories.
The first wearer of the baptismal garment featured in his column was the late Bob Weidemeyer, who was the leader of an orchestra that led the Midwestern and eastern field of entertainment during the active years of Bob Weidemeyer, who married an Ironton girl, Ethel McCarthy. She is now a resident of Columbus and called the attention of Johnny Jones to the baptismal gown.
By the way, Ethel Weidemeyer is the sister of the late Ironton newspaper great, Charles McCarthy and Harold McCarthy, one of the N & W Railway Company’s most talented and successful local officials. We are proud of the fact that we were neighbors of the McCarthys down on Lawrence Street and recall with pleasure many associations and discussions.
Ethel was united in marriage to Robert J. Weidemeyer on October 7, 1910. The only daughter, now Mrs. Roberta Proctor, is a North Carolina resident. She was baptized in the same dress her father wore. The dress was next used in 1936 and 1938 for her two children, Jeanine and Delores. The younger, Delores married and has used the same dress for her four children. The last time was Sunday, December 8, 1968, when Elizabeth Elaine Marshall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marshall, was baptized at Christ the King in Columbus.
The dress has been used in baptismal services by four generations, eight children in all, and now is 81 years old. The first one was a boy and the other seven were all girls.
For years Weidemeyer Orchestra was booked out of Huntington, W. Va. And New York, with the name, changed to Weede-Meyer. The orchestra was a special favorite of military schools, sharing honors throughout the eastern, southern, and central portions of the United States.
Everyone in the Tri-State region was proud of the Weidemeyer orchestra, and we recall “Bob,” the leader, along with Earl Murdock, George Strother, Ed Russell, Tod Mayne, and Jack Yates. There were probably others whom we do not recall, at this time, but that wonderful music we remember every time we hear any orchestra of these modern days.
There was a sweetness and allure to the Weidemeyer performances, that made the group favorites of the college groups, military schools, and important engagements they played before many of the nation’s great. There are many relatives of the leader and the members of the orchestra in Ironton and throughout the region. All consider their hometown orchestra the greatest and will remember them to the end of time…
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