Storied Baton and Drum Corps enjoyed a 14 year hayday starting in 1969
From the CVHS, pictured are “The Debs”
There will be a new exhibit in the Canisteo Valley Room of the McCarthy House , 5 East Avenue, Arkport, highlighting the Desperado Debs Baton and Drum Corps, a very popular, hardworking group, active from 1969-1983. The Corps involved hundreds of 4-21 year olds from the upper and lower Canisteo Valley and the Allegany County Cluster.
DESPERADO DEBS DAY will be celebrated Sunday afternoon, September 27, 1pm-4pm. Debs’ Alumni, including Linda Castrovillo, founder and corps director, along with her husband Gene Castrovillo, will visit the Canisteo Valley Historical Society’s exhibits including the Debs’ featured exhibit.
The public is invited to view the exhibit, meet alumni and at 1:30 pm, attend a “stand-still” sectional exhibition by a representative group of Debs Alumni in front of the McCarthy House. The exhibition will be followed by an opportunity for young people and adults to pair with alumni and have fun trying twirling, corps activity, and/or marching.
Desperado Debs Baton & Drum Corps organized under the vision and direction of Linda Castrovillo and Gene Castrovillo, both associated with Alfred University. In fall 1969, The Desperado Debs organized with young people aged 4 and older with NO prior corps experience. Twirlers, color guard and percussionists were recruited to learn their craft with their first street performance in Hornell on Memorial Day 1970 and their first indoor competition in 1970.
During the next 14 years, the Corps won many competitions and championships from New York to Florida to the Midwest and eastern Canada. They won EIGHT National Baton Twirling Association National Championships plus numerous sectional, team, captain and individual awards. At the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, they competed in the NBTA National Championships, America’s Youth on Parade (AYOP). The Corps were undefeated NBTA NY State Champions and NY-Penn Parade Champions. From 1980-1983 the Debs remained undefeated in the NY-Penn Parade Circuit and competed in Bi-State and NY-Penn Winter Guard Circuits. Their motto over the years was “Youth with a Purpose”.
The Debs were a self-sponsoring fund raising corps. Used school buses, purchased or donated, were converted to Debs’ passenger and equipment buses. Debs’ success resulted from community and city support; hard work by members, parents, and dedicated staff including bus drivers, chaperones, seamstresses, repair persons, and fund raising chairs. Among alumni of the group, the consensus is that their Corp experience developed lifelong skills of responsibility, commitment, teamwork, learning how to win and lose, and having fun.
