In 1939, under Rector, Harold B. Adams, a boy choir was formed with leadership from Bernard B. Stone, choirmaster, and John Vincer.
The choir began with just nine boys: Alva Cochran, Billy Atha, Billy Miller, Billy Thomas, Jimmy Harless, Raymond Anspach, Tommy Dingman, Tommy Northway, and Tommy Williamson, and they first sang on December 15, 1939.
At the beginning, all of the boys were sopranos and none of them could read music. By the following May, ten more boys had joined. During the winter of 1942, the choir's popularity had grown to the point that not only were there tryouts, but an apprentice class was organized to train and prepare boys to join the choir.
The following spring the choir performed their first operetta, 'O Susanna' with all the parts performed by boys. The boys loved the performance so much that they continued with Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore" in 1943 and 1944, "Pirates of Penzance" in the spring 1947, and "Tulip Time" in the fall of 1947.
The choir gave a number of performances throughout the state as well as singing weekly for services. They continued until 1955 during which over 200 boys had passed through the organization. For a more detailed history of the St. John's Boy Choir, click here. If you have been in Mt. Pleasant for any length of time, you'll recognize more than a few names.
A recording of the choir is here.