The Cotterill Sisters were the famous concert trio from the 1920s through the early 1950s whose home address was 619 E. F St. in Iron Mountain and whose work took them to leading cities of the United States and abroad.

The trio was composed of Miss Besse, pianist; Miss Florence, violinist and an accomplished vocalist; and Miss Alice, who played traps (drums), the marimba and did dramatic reading.

The three girls were daughters of David and Sarah Angeline (McIntyre) Cotterill.

Their mother, Sarah Angeline McIntyre, was born in September 1870 in Kenosha, Wis., a daughter of Thomas and Bridget (McNamara) McIntyre.

The Cotterill Sisters – Besse, Florence and Alice – were a famous musical group with roots in Iron Mountain.

According to Sarah’s obituary, after her father’s death, her mother, Bridget, married James McNamara, and the family moved shortly thereafter to Quinnesec, where the McNamaras conducted the first hotel in that community. According to the obituary account there was no railroad or highway to Iron Mountain at that time, and the journey was made by ox-team. The railroad reached Quinnesec in late October 1877, and Iron Mountain’s railroad depot opened in mid-July 1880. If the story is accurate, the MacNamara’s would have arrived in Quinnesec between late 1877 and 1880.

Later Sarah went to Escanaba to live with her grandmother, Mrs. Lambert Brown. She attended St. Joseph’s convent there. After completing her studies, she was employed, for a time by the Escanaba Press.

Sarah then obtained work at The Current in the Norway, published by James B. Knight, and resided with the Knight family. The Current began publication Feb. 7, 1885. Knight began his tenure as editor and manager of the newspaper in the fall of 1885, and purchased the newspaper from A.C. Cook, the original publisher and proprietor, in September 1886.

David Cotterill of Iron Mountain married Sarah Angeline McIntyre on Dec. 21, 1889, in Florence, Wis., as recorded in Sarah’s obituary.

Their oldest daughter, Besse E., was born Sept. 11, 1891, in Iron Mountain, then a part of Menominee County.

In the 1892 Iron Mountain city directory David Cotterill, an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, lived at 1201 Vulcan St.t, and his brother, Frank Cotterill, a fireman on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, boarded at David’s home.

Florence Mary, David and Sarah’s second daughter, was born Aug. 24, 1894, in Iron Mountain.

By 1896 the David Cotterill family was living in Chicago.

Alice Margaret Cotterill, David and Sarah’s third and youngest daughter, was born Dec. 14, 1900, according to her obituary, but on the 1900 U.S. Federal Census she was listed as 3 years old and born in November 1897 in Chicago.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, the David Cottrill (sic — Cotterill) family was listed as living in Precinct 17 of Chicago Ward 13, Cook County, Illinois.

David Cotterill died Oct. 1, 1907, in Chicago. He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Escanaba.

Apparently the Cotterill sisters continued their education in Chicago for some time, attending parochial schools there.

At some point, Besse attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, Neb. She also graduated from the Chicago Musical College and later the Otis Art School of Los Angeles, Calif..

At Chicago she also took a post graduate course as the youngest pupil of Emil Liebling (1851-1914), a German-American pianist and composer, who was then the only living pupil of Franz Liszt (1811-1886). Besse played a duet with Emil Liebling at Kimball Hall on May17, 1909.

Florence graduated from Chicago’s John Marshall High School, which had opened in 1895. Florence started her musical education at the Chicago Musical College as a violinist and vocalist, under the tutelage of Frank Winter.

Alice also studied music, art and elocution in Chicago.

Following completion of study at Chicago Musical College, Florence went to Omaha, Neb., where she was associated with the Community Chatauqua program.

The popularity of the Chautauqua movement can be attributed in part to the social and geographic isolation of American farming and ranching communities. People in such areas would naturally be hungry for education, culture and entertainment.

Sarah (McIntyre) Cotterill married Jeremiah “Jerry” McLean, a well-known conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in 1918.

The Cotterill Sisters began their musical career as young women in O’Neill, Neb., scoring a distinct success in their first public appearance. They began making appearances throughout Nebraska and accepted an engagement with the Redpath Chatauqua Circuit in New York, playing principal cities along the East Coast. Returning to Spread Eagle, during the summer, they performed in Chicago and at leading California hotels.

An article in the Feb. 14, 1920, edition of Iron Mountain’s The Daily tribune Gazette, under the headline “COTTERILL SISTERS OF THIS CITY SCORE GREAT SUCCESSES IN CALIFORNIA”, noted:

“Word has been received at this office from the Cotterill Sisters of this city, famous musicians, who are now at Los Angeles, California, stating that they recently returned to Los Angeles from the famous Mission Inn at Riverside, California, where they have been giving programs, in Spanish costumes, in the Spanish open-court dining room for ten days.

“These musical artists appeared before the Los Angeles Rotary club early in November and played for the Optimist club on Jan. 10 at their big Americanization meeting. They were also engaged for the special New Year’s dinner and ball given in honor of the Harvard and Oregon football teams by the Tournament of Roses committee at the Maryland hotel at Pasadena, California.

“The Rotary club of Los Angeles in speaking of the talented Cotterill Sisters said: ‘No finer musical organization has come before the Rotary club of Los Angeles for many a day.’

“This excellent musical organization has scored pronounced successes wherever they have appeared and are known far and wide for the great concerts they give. Iron Mountain and all of Cloverland are proud of them.”

Another article, in the March 11, 1920, edition of Iron Mountain’s The Daily tribune Gazette, under the headline “COTTERILL SISTERS, THIS CITY, TO MAKE TRIP AROUND THE WORLD”, reported:

“The Cotterill Sisters of this city, the popular young musicians, who filled many concert engagements in California this winter, write that they expect to leave soon on a trip around the world. They will go from San Francisco to points in Japan and China and then thru Europe and back to America.

“Los Angeles papers have given the Cotterill Sisters considerable and most favorable publicity.

“On their way out to the coast these talented musicians stopped in the larger cities and played before Rotary clubs.”

Under the headline “SISTERS PLAYING IN GOLDEN STATE: Iron Mountain Well Advertised in California, Says Miss Cotterill,” in the May 27, 1922 edition of The Iron Mountain News, the following article appeared:

“The Cotterill Sisters, internationally known musicians, whose home is in Iron Mountain, are at present filling a contract at the Hotel Maryland, Pasadena, Calif., according to word received here today from Miss Bessie (sic – Besse) Cotterill. Incidentally, she added, Iron Mountain is receiving a large amount of publicity in California papers so that the city is becoming well known.

“Part of Miss Cotterill’s letter follows:

“‘We are playing a concert each evening in the salon and on Saturday evenings for dancing parties held in the Garden Court, where the guests dance on a splendid outdoor floor. Our orchestra is augmented on dance evenings by Eugene Conklin, saxophonist, and Roy Butin, banjoist of (RCA) Victor record fame.

“‘During our sojourn in Pasadena we are living in one of the Maryland bungalows. William McAdoo, (former secretary of the treasury and director general of railroads) and his wife and two little girls are our neighbors, having the next bungalow.

“‘We will return to Long Beach the latter part of June to fill a summer engagement — the seaside for the summer is wonderful.

“‘We always boost Iron Mountain and the papers mention it very often – so it is well advertised in California.'”

The following article appeared in the Dec. 14, 1922, edition of The Iron Mountain News under the headline “Fame Fails To Dim Cotterill Sisters’ Love For Home Town: They’re Always Known as Being From Iron Mountain or Cloverland”:

“To entertain the highest, even royalty, to meet the highest, to be on intimate terms with them — that is the almost daily experience of the Misses Florence, Bess (sic – Besse) and Alice Cotterill, known nationally as the Cotterill sisters, musicians of wide spread fame.

“But the ability to meet on equal terms those who direct the destinies of nations, who have fortunes in their grasp or who are regarded as the pre-eminent leaders in their particular line, can be accomplished by daily contact with these personages and then it ceases to be an accomplishment. However, if at the same time there exists a strong love for the old home town, old home ties and old friends who have never appeared in the limelight, then that is something to be proud of.

“That is what has been accomplished by the Cotterills. Unaffected by the prominent position they occupy and by the virtual tons and tons of publicity showered upon them, they retain a feeling of love for Iron Mountain and Cloverland that is still unimpaired.

…

“Iron Mountain is not unappreciative of the Cotterills. In fact, the Rotary club, at its meeting Tuesday, appointed a committee to draw up a resolution of appreciation and send it to the sisters. This committee, composed of M.J. Fox, M.E. Richards and Tom Gander, did its work yesterday and today the resolution, accompanied by a large box of candy and a larger bouquet of flowers, will be presented to the trio.

“Tonight the Cotterills, who have been visiting their mother, Mrs. J. McLean, will leave for Pasadena, Calif., where they will fill a winter engagement at the Hotel Raymond. They will conclude this contract in May and then intend to go to Hawaii. Next summer they will return to Iron Mountain.

…

“The Cotterills, each one of whom is an accomplished musician, have played in the east and the west. Last season they were at Pasadena and have played at all the principal cities in California. Governors, princes and movie stars have listened to and praised their music and California would like to claim the trio as its own. Charles Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks are to them ‘Charlie’ and ‘Doug’, they say how-do-you-do to this governor or that business monarch. And with equal cordiality the salutation is returned.

“The hotel to which the Cotterills are going is not a cheap affair. Oh, no. It has scores of small cottages in connection which rent for the small sum of $7,500 a season, the season being four months long. The sisters will have one of these cottages — but it is included in their contract

“In playing for dances the sisters have two extra musicians and the orchestra is known as the “All Star Five.” This season they hope to organize a girls’ orchestra of 10 or 15 pieces, probably the first of its size in the country.

“The Cotterills are also known as the ‘Rotary Girls.’ During previous trips to the coast they have stopped off at various cities and entertained the Rotary clubs, hence this sobriquet. The Iron Mountain organization is their ‘home’ club.

“Iron Mountain had several opportunities during the summer of hearing the sisters and well appreciates their ability. In addition to the piano, violin, xylophone and other instruments, they amuse with songs and recitations. They have received several flattering offers to go on big time vaudeville circuits but have so far refused them, preferring to stay off the stage.

“They have attained a reputation for being refined, neat and well appearing, presenting programs that please the most fastidious. They intend to maintain this standard for their organization as well as keep after their names the words Iron Mountain and Cloverland!”

Under the headline “RADIO PUBLICITY RECEIVED BY CITY: Cotterills Continue to Advertise Iron Mountain On Coast,” in the Sept. 25, 1924, edition of The Iron Mountain News, the following article appeared:

“Although Iron Mountain does not possess a broadcasting station, it nevertheless has become known to a large portion of radioland through the efforts of the Cotterill sisters, the trio of musicians whose home is here and who have gained considerable renown on the West Coast.

“The sisters, Bess (sic – Besse), Florence and Alice, are now spending their annual vacation in Iron Mountain, visiting their mother who resides here. They will return next month to Los Angeles.

“Several radio programs have been given by the trio and their home town, Iron Mountain, has been mentioned by the announcer in introducing the various numbers. The sisters advertise themselves as being from ‘Cloverland,’ a reproduction of a three-leaf clover with a picture of one of them in each of the leaves being a trade mark.

…

“The Cotterill Sisters are going to Chicago to fulfill a professional engagement but will be back at the Mary Louise (Hotel) in November.”

Between engagements, over a period of years, the Cotterill Sisters returned regularly to Iron Mountain.

Sarah (McIntyre) Cotterill McLean lived with her three daughters following the death of her husband, Jeremiah “Jerry” McLean, in November 1930. She accompanied the Cotterill Sisters on their engagements in popular resort centers.

The Cotterill Sisters opened the Novelty Nook Studio in Iron Mountain in 1931. The studio was a combination of gift shop that dealt in imported art wares, gifts and interior decorations and a studio where Miss Besse, assisted by her sisters, taught all forms of art craft work. Miss Besse studied sculpturing at Otis Art Institution in Los Angeles under the well-known California pastel artist, Harry Linder; and other branches of art including oils, tapestries, water colors, pottery, at Chicago Art Institute.

The Cotterill Sisters spent several seasons in California’s leading hotels, including Raymond Hotel and the Hotel Maryland in Pasadena, California, the Coronado Beach Hotel, Coronado Beach, California, and exclusive hotels in Palm Beach, Florida, and in Bermuda.

The popular trio toured the United States for many years, playing concert music at exclusive hotels and winter and summer resorts. Famous for their concert and after-dinner music, the Cotterill sisters played long engagements at hotels and resorts in Florida, New Jersey, New York, California, Bermuda, Arizona and other states. Most of their winter engagements were in Florida.

On April 9, 1945, Sarah McLean, mother of the Cotterill Sisters, died suddenly at Mount Dora, Lake County, Florida.

Mrs. McLean had not been ill, and death came suddenly in the morning hours, according to her daughters, who were with her in the cottage they occupied at the resort center. The family was packed and ready to leave Florida for Iron Mountain at the time of her death.

The demand for their services increased steadily throughout their career, and they traveled throughout the United States and Europe, seeing new places, meeting new people and building an outstanding reputation.

On Sept. 21, 1954, Besse Cotterill, who had been ailing for the previous year, died at the Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain.

Florence and Alice retired from playing professionally after Besse’s death and continued residing in their home at 619 E. F St.

Florence was employed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iron Mountain, retiring in 1966. She died on Aug. 8, 1972, following an illness of the previous year.

“My Thoughts In Rhyme,” a booklet of Alice’s poetry, was published in 1975 as a joint effort by the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Rotary Club and the Menominee Range Historical Foundation. Earlier proceeds from the sale of her poems over the years went to the Rotarians.

Alice died on Nov. 20, 1986, in the Hyland Nursing Home following a long illness.

All three Cotterill sisters were buried on the family plot in Lakeview Cemetery in Escanaba.

Read the rest of this 34-page story on the Dickinson County Library’s website (www.dcl-lib.org) which includes 27 photographs from the Cotterill collection, five photographs showing some of the resort hotels in which they performed, complete newspaper accounts excerpted from local newspapers and beyond and a history of the Cotterill family with 20 additional family photographs, tombstones and other memorabilia.

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