By Vicki Rowland, Contributing Writer

For over seven decades northeast Iowans have enjoyed the rich tenor, lead, bass and baritone harmonious sounds of men who love to sing. But now, after 75 years, they feel it is time to say “goodbye.” The Elkader based Keystone Chorus will give a final performance on Saturday, Feb. 28. The event, which is called a “Parade,” will be a “free” farewell and thank you gift to the public and those who have supported them through the years. All who have ever participated in any way, past or present, are invited to join the group.

The group’s origins go back to the fall of 1950 when a group of five Elkader men met at the Alpine Inn restaurant to sing “the old songs” in barbershop harmony. These five men included Robert Grau, Martin Penneton, John Dahl, Bill Ryan and John Miller. They were overheard by a man from Cedar Rapids who asked to join them. He was Neal Swenson, a salesman, and during the evening he made a pitch to the group about an organization called the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, or SPEBSQSA, for short. Local chapters of SPEBSQSA were as common as baseball teams in communities across America in the 1950s, and the men decided to form the Elkader Barbershop Chorus. They received their charter membership into SPEBSQSA on March 22, 1951. Seventeen other men joined the group and they performed their first Barbershop Chorus Parade on Nov. 14, 1952.  

Little did this group dream that their organization would enjoy 75 years of camaraderie and lasting friendships. Through the years, over 150 men have been involved. Most have sung with the chorus for several decades. There is one living original member, Kenny Lemka of Elkader, who was 16 when he first joined the chorus. The youngest performer the group can recall is George Meyer, son of Ron Meyer, a well-recognized member of the group. George was just a boy of 10 or 12 when he sang in the front row with the chorus. The oldest member still performing with the group today is Everett Blobaum, age 93. There have even been a couple of ladies joining in over the years. Currently, Gina Dahlstrom-Osburn is a member. 

All together, there were people of various professions who came from all over northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. The group decided they needed a new name to reflect the many communities involved, so in 1965 a contest was held to select a new name for the organization. Leann Rugland, now Watson, was the winner of the $10 prize for her entry: Keystone Chorus. The runner-up entry was The Keystone Chorus, and ironically they now refer to themselves as The Keystone Chorus.

Originally, the men met every Monday night for practice and held a performance at the Elkader Opera House in the fall called the Barbershop Parade. Due to the popularity of the shows, a spring dinner show was added many years later at Johnson’s Supper Club in Elkader. After COVID-19, the practice schedule changed to two Monday nights per month. An award winning, world class, guest barbershop quartet was always featured with the parade, along with an event after the performance called an “after-glow,” which involved more singing and socializing. 

Directors have been steadfast. Current director Chuck Lammers, a retired vocal music teacher, said he would direct for a year; he’s been at it since 1982. 

Over the years, the chorus and quartets have sung at many church services and public events throughout northeast Iowa. Many contributions from these sing-outs have been donated to local school music departments.

But all good things must come to an end, and the Keystone Chorus has decided to hold a “thank you and farewell gift parade” free for the public on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m., at the Elkader Opera House at 207 N. Main St. There will be general seating with no reserved seating. An award winning guest quartet, The Newfangled Four, will also be performing in the show.  

Then there will be an After-Glow at Johnson’s Restaurant where socializing and more singing will take place. In addition to The Newfangled Four, all local quartets, past or present, are welcome to participate. This will take place in the main dining room at Johnson’s, where the buffet will be free to chorus participants. The buffet will be available to other guests who would like to attend at their own expense.

In working with the group to plan for this special event, long-time active member Tom Chandler wrote, “We’ve had a great 75 years and plan to wrap up singing some wonderful barbershop chords. Join us for an afternoon and evening of nostalgia and fun.”

This article originally ran in The Union newspaper.