Meeker County's Music Man

For over four decades, a significant portion of the musical landscape of Litchfield was overseen by one man, Ole A Olson, also known as Professor Olson or “Music” Olson.

Ole A Olson, 1886

Olson was born in 1855 in Sweden and came to Minnesota with his family at a young age. He and his wife, Karna, moved to Litchfield in the 1880s. Olson helped start over a dozen bands, including the Litchfield Cornet Band which formed in 1885 with Olson as its director.

The band would become well-known in the area and beyond. They played regular concerts in town, and made appearances at many events in Litchfield and beyond. There was no end to the events they appeared at – baseball games, political rallies, picnics, or even the train station to welcome visiting VIPs.

One of the band’s longer contracts was at the Minnesota State Fair in 1913. For the six days of the fair, the band gave three performances. In the morning, they could be found at the music stand on Machinery Hill, in the afternoon they were at the Horticultural Building, and in the evening they performed on the Plaza or Grandstand.

Litchfield Band at the Minnesota State Fair in 1913. Olson is just to the right of center, holding his director's baton.

The band members didn’t have an easy time at the fair. The temperatures were extremely high with several days in the high nineties. Plus, nearly every member was sick for a day or two. The band blamed the change in drinking water.

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, the band performed well. On the fair’s final day as the band received their payment, they were complimented on the “quality of their music and their punctuality and deportment.” Litchfield wasn’t the only band at the fair, and they were praised for performing music that was different from the other bands.

Aside from the community bands, Olson was also part of many choirs and an accomplished organist. He was among the organizers for Litchfield’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church where he played the organ. But he also played the organ for the First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Catholic Church choir.

Music wasn’t just Olson’s passion, it was also his business. For decades he operated a successful music store, selling all kinds of instruments and giving instrumental and vocal lessons. In the first twenty months of business, he sold over one hundred organs. To help expand his business offerings, he also sold sewing machines.

Olson would continue to lead the Litchfield band until 1930 when he announced his retirement. This ended his forty-four-year stint of leadership, although he continued to play in the band for another few years.

Following his retirement, Litchfield celebrated Olson and his career with a large banquet. Over one hundred people came to honor Olson and gifted him with $388, $50 of which he turned around and donated to the band.

Olson remained in Litchfield after his retirement. When he died in 1937 at the age of 82, the local newspapers mourned the loss of one of Litchfield’s “most colorful figures” and “most highly respected citizens.”