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It was not uncommon for communities to have their own bands in the early 1900s. Such is the case for Bluffton. Will Triplett took this photo of the "Bluffton Merchants Band" around 1900.

The meaning is not entirely clear: whether the merchants sponsored the band or the merchants were members of the band. Although he did not identify the musicians, several copies of this photo has circulated in family collections. It is possible that one of those photos has names written on the back. The Icon is interested in identifying as many musicians as possible.

Here's what the photographer wrote in his own notes about the photo: Photo of 13 musicians; one snare drum, one bass drum and 11 brass instruments. The musicians on the left most side of the photo are very dark.

Reprinted 1990 by Tish Triplett; from the collection of Roger Triplett