Jasper Grays to give concert in Pella
The Pella Public Library is sponsoring a concert by the Jasper Grays Civil War Singers, a group of Newton men who perform music of the 1861-65 era in period dress.
They will appear at the library, located at 603 Main St., on Thursday evening, March 11, at 7 p.m. The concert is open to the public at no admission charge. The group last appeared in Pella at Vriendschap Village some years ago.
The Jasper Grays perform a variety of music from the Civil War years, including patriotic songs, songs about the soldiering life, battlefield deaths, domestic scenes, emancipation songs, hymn tunes, etc. Members of the group are Barry Hurto, keyboard and vocals; John Keller, fiddle and vocals; and vocalists Gary Kopsa and Larry Hurto. They tell something of the origin of the various selections they sing.
The historical Jasper Grays were the first company to leave Jasper County for the war, on July 9, 1861. It is thought they wore gray uniforms (even though they were a Northern unit) probably in emulation of the cadets of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. (Uniformity of dress in the opposing armies was not established until 1862, the first full year of the war.) The Jasper Grays were mustered into service as Co. B, 5th Iowa Infantry.
