"Hybo" Allen One of City’s Great Musicians Dies
Frank “Hybo” Allen is dead.
Grass Valley’s most unusual character in a half century, and the city’s only Negro resident for scores of years, passed away at the Nevada County Hospital at 11:30 o’clock last night.
Few had any better prerogative to spend their last years in the county’s hospital and home than “Hybo” Allen and few had made more contributions to their home city based on their status of life.
Green Band Member
“Hypo” Allen’s primary characteristic was music. He had the ability to play any musical instrument and generally did. His music accomplishments ranged from guitar strumming in local taverns to membership in the Harry Green band. Allen played a top trumpet for the band at the time they won the state contest in Sacramento at the turn of the century.
Allen was born in Grass Valley. His mother passed away at the time of his birth and his father, who was a general teamster in this area, died a few years later. The young boy was reared by a Boston Ravine family. He early indicated a love for music and was generally an agreeable and affable man.
Allen’s longest period of employment at one vocation was probably that of shoe shiner and he set up his chair and equipment at various locations in the city over several decades. He was also available for odd jobs and janitorial services.
Allen knew long periods of temperance when he embraced religion and hewed closely to the line.
With Ike Sanks
But it was in music that he achieved his greatest distinction. In early years he was an associate of Ike Sanks in playing at receptions, programs, going-away parties and taverns. He also organized a small two and three piece orchestra for dancing at local parties.
Allen played for years with the former Harry Green Band and later with successor Grass Valley bands. He also played with the Salvation Army band in prior years.
In his early 20’s when the business section put on a sports festival to dispel the gloom of dull times, Allen had a major share in the Main Street Maniacs and Mill Street Canaries series of ball games. This is not the place to tell the story of those conflicts, the daily parades through the business section and the fate of the big bat, but the Main Street Maniacs organized a band with “Hybo” as leader.
This band played throughout the sports festivals and remained organized for several years to take part in other local celebrations and the Fourth of July. That was a time when Grass Valley could provide more than one band.
No Kin Survive
Frank Allen died without any kin. Of two sisters who were reared with him, the last passed away in Sacramento several years ago.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Myers Grass Valley Mortuary. It is believed that the Salvation Army will be in charge of the rites.
* He was aged 74 years.
Frank “Hybo” Allen is dead.
Grass Valley’s most unusual character in a half century, and the city’s only Negro resident for scores of years, passed away at the Nevada County Hospital at 11:30 o’clock last night.
Few had any better prerogative to spend their last years in the county’s hospital and home than “Hybo” Allen and few had made more contributions to their home city based on their status of life.
Green Band Member
“Hypo” Allen’s primary characteristic was music. He had the ability to play any musical instrument and generally did. His music accomplishments ranged from guitar strumming in local taverns to membership in the Harry Green band. Allen played a top trumpet for the band at the time they won the state contest in Sacramento at the turn of the century.
Allen was born in Grass Valley. His mother passed away at the time of his birth and his father, who was a general teamster in this area, died a few years later. The young boy was reared by a Boston Ravine family. He early indicated a love for music and was generally an agreeable and affable man.
Allen’s longest period of employment at one vocation was probably that of shoe shiner and he set up his chair and equipment at various locations in the city over several decades. He was also available for odd jobs and janitorial services.
Allen knew long periods of temperance when he embraced religion and hewed closely to the line.
With Ike Sanks
But it was in music that he achieved his greatest distinction. In early years he was an associate of Ike Sanks in playing at receptions, programs, going-away parties and taverns. He also organized a small two and three piece orchestra for dancing at local parties.
Allen played for years with the former Harry Green Band and later with successor Grass Valley bands. He also played with the Salvation Army band in prior years.
In his early 20’s when the business section put on a sports festival to dispel the gloom of dull times, Allen had a major share in the Main Street Maniacs and Mill Street Canaries series of ball games. This is not the place to tell the story of those conflicts, the daily parades through the business section and the fate of the big bat, but the Main Street Maniacs organized a band with “Hybo” as leader.
This band played throughout the sports festivals and remained organized for several years to take part in other local celebrations and the Fourth of July. That was a time when Grass Valley could provide more than one band.
No Kin Survive
Frank Allen died without any kin. Of two sisters who were reared with him, the last passed away in Sacramento several years ago.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Myers Grass Valley Mortuary. It is believed that the Salvation Army will be in charge of the rites.
* He was aged 74 years.
"Hybo" Allen One of City’s Great Musicians Dies
Frank “Hybo” Allen is dead.
Grass Valley’s most unusual character in a half century, and the city’s only Negro resident for scores of years, passed away at the Nevada County Hospital at 11:30 o’clock last night.
Few had any better prerogative to spend their last years in the county’s hospital and home than “Hybo” Allen and few had made more contributions to their home city based on their status of life.
Green Band Member
“Hypo” Allen’s primary characteristic was music. He had the ability to play any musical instrument and generally did. His music accomplishments ranged from guitar strumming in local taverns to membership in the Harry Green band. Allen played a top trumpet for the band at the time they won the state contest in Sacramento at the turn of the century.
Allen was born in Grass Valley. His mother passed away at the time of his birth and his father, who was a general teamster in this area, died a few years later. The young boy was reared by a Boston Ravine family. He early indicated a love for music and was generally an agreeable and affable man.
Allen’s longest period of employment at one vocation was probably that of shoe shiner and he set up his chair and equipment at various locations in the city over several decades. He was also available for odd jobs and janitorial services.
Allen knew long periods of temperance when he embraced religion and hewed closely to the line.
With Ike Sanks
But it was in music that he achieved his greatest distinction. In early years he was an associate of Ike Sanks in playing at receptions, programs, going-away parties and taverns. He also organized a small two and three piece orchestra for dancing at local parties.
Allen played for years with the former Harry Green Band and later with successor Grass Valley bands. He also played with the Salvation Army band in prior years.
In his early 20’s when the business section put on a sports festival to dispel the gloom of dull times, Allen had a major share in the Main Street Maniacs and Mill Street Canaries series of ball games. This is not the place to tell the story of those conflicts, the daily parades through the business section and the fate of the big bat, but the Main Street Maniacs organized a band with “Hybo” as leader.
This band played throughout the sports festivals and remained organized for several years to take part in other local celebrations and the Fourth of July. That was a time when Grass Valley could provide more than one band.
No Kin Survive
Frank Allen died without any kin. Of two sisters who were reared with him, the last passed away in Sacramento several years ago.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Myers Grass Valley Mortuary. It is believed that the Salvation Army will be in charge of the rites.
* He was aged 74 years.
Frank “Hybo” Allen is dead.
Grass Valley’s most unusual character in a half century, and the city’s only Negro resident for scores of years, passed away at the Nevada County Hospital at 11:30 o’clock last night.
Few had any better prerogative to spend their last years in the county’s hospital and home than “Hybo” Allen and few had made more contributions to their home city based on their status of life.
Green Band Member
“Hypo” Allen’s primary characteristic was music. He had the ability to play any musical instrument and generally did. His music accomplishments ranged from guitar strumming in local taverns to membership in the Harry Green band. Allen played a top trumpet for the band at the time they won the state contest in Sacramento at the turn of the century.
Allen was born in Grass Valley. His mother passed away at the time of his birth and his father, who was a general teamster in this area, died a few years later. The young boy was reared by a Boston Ravine family. He early indicated a love for music and was generally an agreeable and affable man.
Allen’s longest period of employment at one vocation was probably that of shoe shiner and he set up his chair and equipment at various locations in the city over several decades. He was also available for odd jobs and janitorial services.
Allen knew long periods of temperance when he embraced religion and hewed closely to the line.
With Ike Sanks
But it was in music that he achieved his greatest distinction. In early years he was an associate of Ike Sanks in playing at receptions, programs, going-away parties and taverns. He also organized a small two and three piece orchestra for dancing at local parties.
Allen played for years with the former Harry Green Band and later with successor Grass Valley bands. He also played with the Salvation Army band in prior years.
In his early 20’s when the business section put on a sports festival to dispel the gloom of dull times, Allen had a major share in the Main Street Maniacs and Mill Street Canaries series of ball games. This is not the place to tell the story of those conflicts, the daily parades through the business section and the fate of the big bat, but the Main Street Maniacs organized a band with “Hybo” as leader.
This band played throughout the sports festivals and remained organized for several years to take part in other local celebrations and the Fourth of July. That was a time when Grass Valley could provide more than one band.
No Kin Survive
Frank Allen died without any kin. Of two sisters who were reared with him, the last passed away in Sacramento several years ago.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Myers Grass Valley Mortuary. It is believed that the Salvation Army will be in charge of the rites.
* He was aged 74 years.
Gravesite Details
Original temporary metal marker deteriorated. Broken glass, no writing. See photo caption.
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