Central Ohio family keeps Coshocton Canal Festival calliope, parade tradition alive
Myron Duffield, of Gahanna, plays the calliope during the 2012 Coshocton Canal Festival Parade Saturday afternoon down Main Street.
from: coshoctontribune.com
Holly Richards, Staff Writer
Aug. 12, 2012
COSHOCTON -- With rich tones evocative of sounds from a circus or showboat, Myron Duffield sat at a calliope and cranked out entertaining tunes.
"I try to fit the music to the event," he said. "If I see kids along the route, I'll play some Disney tunes. Or if I see military, I'll play a patriotic song. It's a unique sound, and this is a great deal of satisfaction. It gets the kids clapping and dancing."
Duffield is trying to get his grandson into learning the ropes of calliope playing.
"I'll stick to my drums," Josh Duffield said with a laugh.
The Duffield family -- Myron and his wife, June, of Gahanna; Myron's son, Jeff, and his wife, Lorna, and son, Josh, of Westerville -- has been a part of the calliope business for years. It's a tradition that's been carried on within the family for 40 years, a perfect fit for the Canal Festival.
The Canal Festival with its parades, pageantry and entertainment has become a time-honored summer draw for the area, bringing people from far and wide to Coshocton.
Myron Duffield, of Gahanna, plays the calliope during the 2012 Coshocton Canal Festival Parade Saturday afternoon down Main Street.
from: coshoctontribune.com
Holly Richards, Staff Writer
Aug. 12, 2012
COSHOCTON -- With rich tones evocative of sounds from a circus or showboat, Myron Duffield sat at a calliope and cranked out entertaining tunes.
"I try to fit the music to the event," he said. "If I see kids along the route, I'll play some Disney tunes. Or if I see military, I'll play a patriotic song. It's a unique sound, and this is a great deal of satisfaction. It gets the kids clapping and dancing."
Duffield is trying to get his grandson into learning the ropes of calliope playing.
"I'll stick to my drums," Josh Duffield said with a laugh.
The Duffield family -- Myron and his wife, June, of Gahanna; Myron's son, Jeff, and his wife, Lorna, and son, Josh, of Westerville -- has been a part of the calliope business for years. It's a tradition that's been carried on within the family for 40 years, a perfect fit for the Canal Festival.
The Canal Festival with its parades, pageantry and entertainment has become a time-honored summer draw for the area, bringing people from far and wide to Coshocton.
On Saturday, the Duffield family made one of their regular visits to feature the traveling instrument in the Grand Parade. Myron and June lived in the area for several years, featuring the calliope for its first time in Coshocton at the 1973 Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival.
"We've done this parade about 15 times," Myron said. "We've been all over, covering a quarter-million miles and more than 1,000 parades, but this one's always fun to do. The locals get to know you."
Lorna said while Myron is focused on playing the instrument, many parade patrons lining the streets will wave and shout "thank you."
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http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20120812/NEWS01/208120305/Central-Ohio-family-keeps-Coshocton-Canal-Festival-calliope-parade-tradition-alive?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage
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