There are few things more constant in Monroe County over the past several decades than the appearance of Pearl Hirsch and her accordion at a community function.

Hirsch, 84, of rural Waterloo, has been playing the instrument since she was 12. That’s when her father purchased a used Italian-made model from Ludwig Music Co. in St. Louis for $350.

She had taken piano lessons from Viola Rueck for a few years prior to taking on this new instrument at such a young age. Paul Schuette of Red Bud offered six accordion lessons to get her started.

“And 72 years later, I’m busier than ever with my playing,” Hirsch said.

And is she ever. Hirsch is a regular on the local senior center circuit, performing with her accordion or sometimes on a house piano, as well as at other community functions such as the outdoor spring and fall festivals in Maeystown and other special events.

Some of her performances are volunteered, while others are paid. But it’s definitely not about the money for Pearl.

“I love to see the people’s smiling faces when I play,” she said. “It brings me joy. I probably get more out of it than they do.”

Hirsch, a Voelker from home, graduated from Waterloo High School in 1949 and was valedictorian of her class. She played baritone in the Waterloo Municipal Band for a few years around that time before putting music on the back burner a bit while raising six children with husband Adolph on the family farm.

Hirsch served as the organist at St. Peter United Church of Christ in Burksville for 45 years, carrying on a local family legacy that her great-grandfather had started. He was the first organist at St. John UCC in Maeystown.

“My mom taught us that if you are blessed with musical ability, you should share it,” Hirsch said. “I don’t know much about the technicality of it, but God gave me the gift of ear for music. I think that takes over for me in the end.”

In the 1960s, Hirsch started playing for residents at Monroe County Nursing Home, and has continued that tradition at the current county senior care facility, Oak Hill, where she still performs two or three times per month.

She also played at Canterbury Manor for 45 years before that nursing home closed.

At Monroe County Nursing Home, Hirsch played as part of the Rainbow Trio with Melba Schnellbecher and Cletus Hoffmann. At Canterbury Manor, Hirsch performed both solo and with fellow musicians Dorothy Wilkening and Hoffmann.

Hirsch started performing at Waterloo Senior Center when she was in her 50s, as the youngest member of the Over the Hill Band.

Other members of the Over the Hill Band that Hirsch had the pleasure of playing with included Gilbert Pape on guitar, Teddy Hoffmann and Leona Wetzler on “stomp fiddle,” Leona Blowers on kazoo, Florence “Speedy” Mechler on tambourine, as well as Evelyn Mroz.

Now 30 years later, Hirsch is sometimes joined by Joyce Kalmer on the harmonica while playing the monthly birthday party at the center.

“She always has a smile on her face, a song in her heart, and a kind word for everyone she meets,” Waterloo Senior Center Director Kim Elizalde said. “You can see the joy she brings to so many people when she plays their favorite songs. It brings back memories of times gone by.

You don’t get many volunteers like Pearl who are so dedicated and selfless. She is a real gem!”

In her more than 70 years of playing, some of the favorite songs she has performed on the accordion include “You Are My Sunshine,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and of course, “Beer Barrel Polka.”

Hirsch continued to play that original Italian-made accordion regularly up until about five years ago, opting for a lighter weight, petite Hohner model. Her husband passed away six years ago, so the hardest part about playing out these days is carrying the large instrument around.

“Many times there are people to help me, so that is a huge boost,” she said. “I so love the sound of the Italian one better, but this one is a lot easier to get around.”

Hirsch has even dealt with the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome over the past 20 years or so, but even that won’t prevent her from sharing the gift of music she’s been offering all this time.

“As long as God lets me land my fingers on the right keys, I’m just going to keep on playing,” she said.

Play on, Pearl. Play on.