Saumsville Band
Files
Title
Saumsville Band
Subject
Pifer, William Ford Sr. (1915-1977)
Plauger, Earl (1918-1978)
Music ensembles - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Copp, Ernest (1915-1983)
Cavanaugh, Paul W. Sr. (1916-2019)
Description
Group of four musicians identified as the "Saumsville Band."
The musicians are:
William Ford Pifer Jr. (with guitar, standing left)
Paul Cavanaugh (with guitar, standing right)
Ernest Copp (with banjo, seated left)
Earl Plauger(with fiddle, seated right)
All graduated from Toms Brook High School.
The musicians are:
William Ford Pifer Jr. (with guitar, standing left)
Paul Cavanaugh (with guitar, standing right)
Ernest Copp (with banjo, seated left)
Earl Plauger(with fiddle, seated right)
All graduated from Toms Brook High School.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
ca. 1935
Contributor
Identified in 2002 by James E. Morrison Sr. who knew Earl Plauger and was a friend of William Ford Pifer's son, William Ford Pifer III. He noted Ford's son could pass for a twin of his father.
Identities of the other two individuals were printed on page 195 of the book "A Pictorial History of Shenandoah County) by John H. Adamson.
Identification of the band and confirmation of William Ford Pifer Sr.'s identification provided by Doris Ann George in 2026 via Facebook. William was her father.
Confirmation of Earl Plauger's identification and the fact the four attended Toms Brook High School provided by Mary Lou Thompson in 2026 via Facebook. She was Earl Plauger's sister in law.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Relation
Earl Raymond Plauger's marriage certificate to Annie (Lineweaver) Plauger is pictured in Morrison Studio Collection image 027122.
Identifier
003690
Original Format
Glass Negative
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “Saumsville Band,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed February 23, 2026, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/31025.
Comments