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
1911
01 20 A large crowd attended the annual ball of
the Plattdeutscher Verein
at Turner Opera House last Saturday evening and
all report having had an excellent time. 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
1983
Max
L Noffz, 1907-1983; 55-year member, served as
secretary, treasurer and house chairman, awarded a life membership
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
