Elbel's Music Store served the South Bend community from the middle of the 19th century until 1970 as a family firm. Louis Elbel was one of six brothers who worked in the store. After attending the 1898 Michigan - Chicago game, Elbel was inspired to write Michigan's famed fight song "The Victors." The song was first performed the following April by John Philip Sousa and his band. Sousa called the song "as nearly perfect a bit of composing as anything of the kind can be."