Lutheran churches sponsor 'Old time Radio Music' concert in Superior park

Off in the distance, the popping of fireworks could be heard as the beginnings of the July 4 celebrations. It was Sunday, the last day of June this year, a relatively cool, overcast day for the "Old Time Radio Musicians" reenactment concert held at the bandshell in Superior City Park. The concert began at 5:30 p.m. and continued for about an hour. The band members and singers are all from area Lutheran churches. The St. Paul location in Hardy, that came up with the idea to have the concert in the park. Other Lutheran church members collaborated to make it possible. The band members and singers were: Nancy Hinrich, Sue, "Dynamics," Werner, Janet Nielsen, Jack Roegner, William Roegner and Jim Germer.

A pre-recorded song played from a recording device while the group worked on connecting musical instruments and microphones to electrical power. The group had arrived early to get plugged in to electricity, do sound checks and tune their guitars, but there wasn't any power until 5:25 p.m. They played the song "Oh Happy Day" from a device until technical challenges were resolved.

The vocalists and musicians opened the concert with the highly-regarded "Amazing Grace." The crowd consisted of 20 adults and one toddler. Seating was a little challenging as well. There was one picnic table set up on the basketball court near the bandstand and the rest were folding chairs brought by each individual. Charles and Eleanor Stiles sat at the picnic table enjoying the music. Jack Roegner, publicly congratulated the couple on their 70th wedding anniversary, which they had celebrated the day before. During the song "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," singers would lean from side-to-side and encouraged the crowd to imitate the movement gesture. However, not many followed suit. Perhaps it was knowing their fold-up, sports chairs may not withstand leaning.

Kate Wilt, with her daughter Sevi age 19 months, were relaxing on a blanket and delighting in the music as well. Sevi sat facing her mother. The two held hands and Sevi would rock back-and-forth to the perfect timing of, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and to the verse "He's got the tiny little baby in His hands." The rest of the crowd quietly sang along to some of the songs while bright sunlight peered out from behind the clouds blinding their view of the musical group.

There is a fun fact about how Sue Werner got the nickname "Dynamics." Janet Nielsen shared the story with a small group. It was a men only singing group called, "The Pope's Men." It was named after a man's last name, not to confuse anyone with the Catholic Pope. A need arose to have someone fill in, so Janet sang with them once. Later, another singer was in demand and Sue joined in. They were surprised at how well she could belt out a song and the nickname was born; Sue "Dynamics." The group became "The Pope's Men and a Sister."

At the conclusion of the concert, they sung "Bind Us Together." Jack Roegner thanked everyone for attending and made the announcement that they look forward to repeating this event again the last Sunday of July and August. The purpose of the event is as an "outreach to the community and to have fun on a Sunday evening," said Roegner.