This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Plattdeutscher Verein
115 S Second
1882 Organized
1907
Watertown Daily Times, 04 22 1907
Society
Organized Here 25 Years Ago
Members
of the Plattdeutscher Verein
and
Families Enjoy Social Time
They
Banquet and Dance
The
Plattdeutscher Verein (Low German Club) of Watertown, Wisconsin, was founded in
1882 with a twofold mission: “fraternalism and the perpetuation of the German
language, especially the Plattdeutscher tongue.” The regional, cultural, and linguistic
diversity of German-speaking immigrants to the U.S. was reflected in the
plethora of “Vereine” (clubs, societies, associations) they founded. The German- American “Vereinswesen” (club
culture) not only represented an example of direct cultural transfer but also a
means through which the transition from the Old Country to the New could be
eased. Though many of these clubs did
not last beyond the first generation, some still exist today, including
Watertown’s Plattdeutscher Verein.[ http://mki.wisc.edu/HGIA/About/6.htm
]
__________________________________________________________________
Members
of Watertown Plattdeutscher Verein and their lady friends, wives and daughters,
made merry Saturday evening at a banquet and ball given by the society in honor
of the 25th anniversary of the organization of the society. The
festivities were held at the Turner and the Weber-Stube orchestra enlivened the
occasion with a specially prepared program, while Mrs. William Rohde and Mrs.
Charles Zickert attended to the banquet for the society and all enjoyed
thoroughly the good things for the inner man placed before them. The
ballroom decorations were of especially fine scheme and thoroughly in keeping
with the occasion which marks an important epoch in the history of this local
association. Every one enjoyed themselves thoroughly from the time the
first strains of music broke on the ear until the tones of "Home, Sweet
Home" warned the merrymakers that it was time to leave.
The
organization was effected in May, 1882 with a membership of 27. Its total
membership at the present time is 334. Its first officers were:
President, John C. Halliger; vice president, Louis W. Krueger; secretary, Otto
Linde; treasurer, A. Zickert. Mr. Linde and Mr. Zickert are still alive,
the former residing in Milwaukee, and the latter in Fond du Lac. The
organization's present officers are: President, Ferdinand A. Krueger;
vice president, Carl Stiemke; secretary, J. J. Brusenbach; treasurer, William
Riebe; finance committee, Valentine West, Henry Winkler, William Schultz.
The
organization has a twofold object, that of fraternalism and the perpetuation of
the German language, especially the Plattsdeutscher tongue. Its
constitution requires that members shall be able to read and speak the German
language. Its fraternal feature is confined to a death benefit only, the
heirs of the deceased receiving the sum of one dollar from each member.
The
present secretary of the society, John H. Brusenbach, has been its secretary
for the last sixteen years, a fact which speaks well for the manner in which he
cares for the success of the organization.
1908
07 24 John J. Brusenbach represented the society at the German-American convention in Milwaukee WG
1910
03 25 Officers
elected at annual meeting WG
1956
02 14 The Plattdeutscher Verein celebrated at its clubhouse in Watertown, the
occasion marking the burning of its mortgage which made possible its remodeling
program, which began some five years ago.
Lester Teich, vice president of the verein and master of ceremonies,
opened the program. Raymond Franz,
president of the verein, gave a talk on the acquiring of
the club building in 1941, its use and purposes as a home of the verein. Also the realization of the organization on
the remodeling program in 1950 was stressed, making it a building representing
the verein's home. This was accomplished
by hard work, put in by the membership of both the verein and the
auxiliary.
1958
01 31 The Plattdeutscher Bar will open formally this
evening. It is located in the Plattdeutscher Club at South Second and Market
Streets and will be in operation daily.
The Plattdeutscher Verein, which will operate it, recently took over the
license of the former Wolf Corner Tavern located at 119 North Third Street and
has transferred it to the Plattdeutscher Club.
WDT
1958
03 24 Election of officers
1984
09 29 The membership of
Plattdeutscher Verein has voted to purchase two buildings on South Second
Street which have been owned by the Wayne R. Jagow family. The properties, located north of the
Plattdeutscher facility at 115 South Second Street, will be used for future
expansion. The properties, located at
107-109-111 South Second Street, are the location of New Life Bookstore which
has an apartment upstairs, and the former JC Penney Catalog store. The catalog building has been rented to Video
Country of Burlington on a five-year lease.
Leasing will continue until plans are made for future expansion of the
Plattdeutscher building. WDT
2007
03 03 Society Organized Here 125 Years Ago
One of
Watertown's oldest organizations, Plattdeutscher Verein, turns 125 this year.
In
1882 a group of men in Watertown gathered together and formed, “De Plattdeutscher Verein von Watertown.” Although the name of the group is German and the
first constitution of the group was written in German, membership was, and
still is, open to those of many other heritages including Irish, Dutch and
Norwegians. Until 1933 the organization
was German oriented and all business was conducted in German.
Link
to Daily Times article
[WHS_005_545 ]
Cross
References:
115 S
Second had been location of Geschke Hardware
