The first official Mummers New Year’s Day parade was held January 1, 1901 in Philadelphia, PA. The Hegeman String Band was formed on November 2nd 1920, when Ernest A. Hegeman, a music store owner, broke away from his former band. The band is the 4th or 5th oldest Mummers Band. Thanks to the Great Depression in 1930, Ernest Hegeman disbanded Hegeman because he didn’t have enough money to put on a show. Three years later, Ernest and Al Fink cut a deal to bring Hegeman back, so they could compete in the parade and the band continues today.