Nelson Dances in the 1950's

By Dudley Laufman

Dudley Laufman, calling in Nelson, NH during the summer of 1998

In the 40s, 50s, and early 60s the Nelson dances were an earthy event. Every Saturday in the summer, occasionally in the fall, winter, and spring. The dancers were of a mixed bag...loggers, farmers, factory workers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and in the summer, summer folk. Computers were not big then, so there were no programers dancing. Many, if not most, did not have college degrees. Children attended and were well behaved... could do all the dances.

There were several callers. Ralph Page of course. He grew up in Nelson. Moved away to Keene and onto other gigs. There was Happy Hale from Bernardston, MA. He was a half-caste (Afro-American) singing caller, whom Page fashioned himself after. There was Shorty Durant from Richmond, NH. He was 5', always wore a brown coat with black shirt and yellow tie. Sang all his calls including Hull's Victory. Larry Pickett the mayor of Keene, sounded just like Page. There was Donny Barker, and then myself. Bronny Shonk did some prompting. Jack Perron took over there for many years...then Mary Desrosier, top notch. I have lost track of the current crop. Lots of musicians, but Harvey Tolman is regular and first drawer.

There were several groupings of musicians. Hale used some musicians from Greenfield, MA. Shorty went with Goodnow's Orchestra from Winchendon. MA. Clarinet, banjo, drum and piano. Funky. Page, Pickett, Barker and myself used some local boys...Newt "the Flute" Tolman (Harvey's uncle), also played E-flat sax. His brother Fran the woodcut artist, did piano, and Al "Quig" Quigley was fiddle. He lived next door to the town hall where the library is now attached to the town hall. Great fiddler. Fine landscape painter. And frame maker.

I had a third band I used. Dick Richardson from Marlboro, fiddle, his son Jr. on the bass, and either John Trombly (of "Johnny's move"), Marlboro, piano, or Linwood "Thirdeen" Paine, Westmoreland, guitar or piano.

First dance was always Lady Walpole's Reel to Fireman's Reel in A. Quig had a medley (the only medley ) that he used for that dance, which included Wake Up Susan) This was the only improper dance done then, and there was no thing as "hands four". (There were no gypsies or haze either). Then there would be a set of squares...Red River Valley, Life on the Ocean Wave. Short break for a scoot to the car for a drink, then back for Morning Star, (a contra in case you didn't know), to Haste To The wedding or Rakes of Mallow. If Tolman, Tolman and Quigley were not hired, the Tolman entourage would all arrive from Tolman Pond about this time, cheery from their cocktail/dinner party. Fran would either play piano for one number, or demand that we do Morning Star again. Pushy, but good natured. All the men were dressed in their white ice cream suits and the ladies in long dresses. Elegant. Newt didn't dance so he would sit in. One week he would come in a white suit, purple shirt, black tie and barefoot. Next week he would be in old denim shirt and overalls with battery acid holes eaten in them, with a brand new pair of Abercrombie-Fitch shoes.

By this time it was intermission, time to car trot. First dance after the break was the Money Musk. What a show. Everyone danced it. Everyone loved it. Then there was Petronella sometimes, although I do not remember doing it regularly. The women would hike their long skirts up around their knees to avoid snags, and gracefully turn around. Just beautiful. And only the active couples dancing, inactives watching, waiting their turn.

Hull's Victory was next, and then a final square...Golden Slippers, Hinky Dinky, and Darling Nellie. We stopped at midnight. Everyone stayed to the end. The 10:30 exodus syndrome that plagues todays dances was unheard of.

The dances were not taught or walked through. Summer folks got tossed off the deep end.

The dance 10/13/01 came pretty close to the way it used to be. I do not remember the Chorus Jig as one of the dances, but we did it anyways. Harvey was true to New Hampshire, using name tunes for the Money Musk etc. Only merged into Cape Breton tunes on the quadrilles. Renn Tolman, Newt's son, did a little step dancing as did Frankie Tolman. Francie Upton hiked her skirts up and did Petronella the old way. It was a sight to behold. It was a wonderful night.

Dudley Laufman - Canterbury

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