RETRO ROME – July 4, 1969. The brand new bandshell gets broken in. Approximately 3,000 persons sitting on lawn chairs, in their cars or on the turf turned out for the Rome Civic Band’s opening concert of the summer season. “ Patriotic songs appropriately dominated the Independence Day program. But there was a pleasing touch of show tunes from Carousel.” Mayor Valentine presided over the bandshell dedication – noting that it was built at a very low cost to the taxpayers, thanks to several donations of materials by several Rome firms. The bandshell was taken down in 2013.