Delaware County Musketeers

On April 18, 1932, the VFW Post 979 of Upper Darby formally organized a junior drum and bugle corps.

Like so many other corps, the Archer-Epler Junior drum and bugle corps had its humble beginning during the dark days of the "Great Depression". Almost all corps of that period were associated either with veterans’ organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion (AL). Most of the Philadelphia-area were "neighborhood" groups and represented a meaningful outlet for youthful energies in an era before formal activities like Little League had yet been organized. In the cases of poorer communities’, drum and bugle corps often provided one of the few ways a child could travel to distant towns and cities.

Although a community-based drum and bugle corps like its contemporaries, the Archer-Epler corps achieved some of its early successes because of several innovations and traditions initiated by
the corps. First, the corps was fortunate to acquire the services of Walter A. Fuller, a talented young horn instructor and a recent graduate of West Chester State Teachers College, who along with Arthur "Scotty" Chappell in the Boston-area became one of the most distinguished instructors. Walt combined his knowledge of music and superb teaching ability to produce one of the gifted horn lines of the pre-war period.

Among the innovations for which he was responsible were the introduction of valve bugles to the Philadelphia-area and perhaps the first use of classical music ("The Unfinished Symphony") by any drum and bugle corps. With Walt Fuller began the Archer-Epler tradition of inspiring musical programs, which was carried on by Lee Wolf in the 1950's and more recently by Ray Fallon. This tradition led to top-flight horn lines with numerous individual national champions and represented a mutual admiration between instructor and player as well as an appreciation for the desire of drum corps fans to be entertained.

The Archer-Epler junior corps was also able to gain the membership and later instruction of a similarly gifted drummer, Bill Reamer, another charter inductee into the Archer-Epler Hall of Fame. In addition to instructing "Archie" and being primarily responsible for introducing rudimental drumming to the Philadelphia area, Bill was noted for his production of outstanding students, including such noted drummers as Jack Cory, Don Mihok, and Dick Filkens. Among the corps Bill taught were the Howard C. McCall Post of Philadelphia and the Audubon Bon-Bons, the world's first all-girl drum and bugle corps formed by Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Bernert.

Perhaps the most unique Archer-Epler tradition that began with the junior corps was the loyalty and dedication to the organization shown by its membership and management. This is best illustrated by the lengthy service given to Archer-Epler by several of its Hall of Fame inductees: Dan Goettel, Thomas and Anna Ward, Earl and Mary (Lamb) Ziegenfuss. These individuals and their families continued their support and interest in the various Archer-Epler corps throughout their lives. Most importantly, these same individuals were also active in twice re-forming Archer-Epler first after World War II and again in 1974. In 1981 Walter A. Fuller was present to accept his induction into the Archer-Epler Hall of Fame.

Dan Goettel was an original playing member of the junior corps and later played an instrumental role in organizing the senior corps. He also participated in the formation of Drum Corps Associates (DCA). Danny served the corps for years as either director or business manager, 'Thomas and Anna Ward, along with Colonel Walsh arid George Ritchie, were the "backbone" behind the parents organization that administered the junior corps. Mrs. Ward's book ("By Words Possessed"), in particular, contains a most humorous description of the trials and tribulations associated with pre-war junior corps and remain one of the few references to drum and bugle corps in serious literature.

She was also the lyricist for the first Archer-Epler song (an original by Walt Fuller, nicknamed "Romance" ' which became the most often played number in the history of drum and bugle corps). The final inductees of the pre-war period, Earl and Mary Ziegenfuss, both joined the junior corps in the late 1930’s. Despite the duties of raising a family they stayed active in the corps and still found time to distinguish themselves in community service, particularly in the American Legion.

From its first contest in Allentown, in the 1933 PA VFW state championships, the Archer-Epler junior corps went on to become one of the most successful and innovative corps of the second pre-war period. Over the next few years, the corps participated in several local, state and regional contest, when in 1937, they cracked the “Top 3” elite in state competition, placing 2^nd, capturing not only the 1938 state convention but also were crowned the VFW National champions. In 1939, the corps participated in the World Fair and repeated as the 1940 state champions before placing 3^rd in the VFW state championships and won the 1941 VFW Nationals for a second time.

They were the first corps to hold a summer camp. Because of rather rigid rules in those days, for example, cadence and inspection were mandatory captions, competition was especially keen and some fine rivalries developed among the many Philadelphia-area corps, most notably "Archie’s" contests with the Upper Darby American Legion Post 214 and Osmond Post. Nonetheless, Archer-Epler dominated contests in the area and pioneered in the musical and marching fields up until the conditions of World II forced the corps to go inactive in 1942.

After a 47-year absence from the junior activity, the Archer-Epler Junior Musketeers were reorganized in the spring of 1989. They entered the field of competition the following season as members of the 1990 Drum Corps New York circuit, placing 3^rd in the “Class C” division. Over the next two years, the Junior Musketeers became members of the Garden State Circuit (GSC), finishing 4^th in the 1991 championships
and also participated in the Drum Corps East “Class A/A60” preliminary round, where they placed in 11^th position. In 1992, the corps returned to the field as the Delco, short for Delaware County Musketeers, expanding regionally and creating a new image and uniform. That year, they were crowned the 1992 GSC “Division III” champions.

The Delco Musketeers left the Archer-Epler organization in October of 1992 and became known as Illusion of Delaware County.

Bill Yves - Archer-Epler Musketeers historian; Paul Legault (DCX)

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