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June July 2003 - excerpts from the editorial
Complex Koblenz
by Carl Kuntze
Ehrenbreitstein overlooks Koblenz at a point where the Rhine meets the Moselle Rivers. The Romans called it Confluents, and staked the first outpost, one of several guarding the approaches to what
would become Central Germany. While Koblenz does not have as strong an association with the Romantic Road as Rothenburg, Trier, Nordlingen, or Augsburg, the settlement testified to Roman omnipresence in Germany.
Among the legendary giants that led the panoply of historical figures that trod its banks was Julius Caesar, who conquered what was then known as Gaul. Others were Vercingetorix, Charlemagne,
Tilly, Wallenstein, Wilhelm I, Frederick the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Bismarck, Moltke, Fosh, and Hindenberg, who commanded the great waterway at one time or another. The Rhine was vital not only for military
reasons, but also as a maritime trade routine.
The Rhine commences as an Alpine torrential stream fed by the melted waters of snow and glaciers collected at Grisons, Switzerland, from tributaries named Vorder, Mittel, and Hinter Rhine (Upper,
Middle Rhine). The water spills over, and then plunges through cavernous gorges and channels, occasionally exploding into cataracts at some obstructions. It slices for 820 miles through Austria, Lichtenstein,
France, Germany, and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea.
The breadth and character of the land along its banks were sculpted by the rushing waters as they pierced through bold precipices, crashed down chains of ridges forcing veins to bleed across the
surface of the land. Diverted into irrigation ditches, they would provide nourishment to agricultural fields that fed endemic populations in this region, particularly the vineyards which produced the famous
Winningen wines. An annual wine festival commemorates this with the crowning of the Wine Queen, and the proclamation of the Wine Witch, a ten-day festival, when wine, not water flows from the historical
Weinhex-Brunnen Fountain offering free libation to celebrants.
A short distance north is the city of Koblenz. From the promontory where it perches, the Ehrenbreitstein rises 387 feet (188 meters) to offer a sweeping panorama of the city, and the Rhine and
Moselle Rivers. Over the skeletal structure the Romans left behind, an elaborate fortress would spring up to be enlarged and strengthened by subsequent tenants, conquerors like the Franks, the French, and the
Prussians. A fortified castle in the 10th century, it was then expanded into a baroque fortress by the Archbishops of Trier over the period of 200 years from the 16th century until they were satisfied with its defensive capabilities. However, it could not resist Napoleon’s troops, who held it briefly in 1801, razing it when they retreated.
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Enchanted Blaubeuren
by Michaela Edelhäuser
Every traveler finds little gems now and then. These are usually the small towns that are barely represented by a faint dot on the map. I found such a gem recently. Tucked away in a narrow valley
of Baden-Württemberg is Blaubeuren, the so-called "Pearl of the Schwäbisch Alb." Located just west of Ulm, its monastery was founded circa 1085, and the first written record of Blaubeuren appears in
1267. Its spectacularly preserved town center is a study in medieval architecture and, although its characteristic beautiful half-timbered structures are reason enough to explore Blaubeuren, the centerpiece of
the city revolves around a spectacular spring called the "Blautopf" or "Blue Pot." The enduring mystery of this karst spring, which remains to this day largely unexplored, has made it the
setting for the "Legend of the Beautiful Lau."
Blaubeuren's landscape is referred to as having "karst" topography which is a type of landscape that exhibits a number of characteristics such as underground stream systems, dry valley
floors, vast networks of caves with various limestone formations, and a thin layer of topsoil over rocky lower layers. While this description may speak only to those who have an interest in geology, it is an
important factor in the formation of the Blautopf. The city's surrounding hillsides are made of brittle and highly porous limestone. Instead of rainwater collecting in rivers and streams, the water seeps into
the limestone and then collects in a vast system of caves. The Blautopf is the result of water finding a path from this system of caves to the surface. At 69 feet, it is one of the biggest and deepest springs in
Germany. Depending on the season and amount of rainfall, between 82 gallons and an impressive 8,450 gallons of water per second pour over the edge of the pot. The stream that originates at this spring is the
Blau, which lends its name not only to Blaubeuren, but also to the valley it runs through – Blautal or "Blue Valley."
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Mr. Martin’s Guitars
by Glenna Dunning
“I’ve been playing Martin guitars since I could walk,” Gene Autry once said, “even before I started out in show
business.” The singing cowboy’s admiration for the legendary Martin line of guitars has been expressed as well by other famous American entertainers like Woody Guthrie, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Eric
Clapton … even Mark Twain! What is especially interesting is that the Martin Guitar Company is not only the oldest continuously operating instrument maker in the United States, but may also be the oldest
American company still owned and operated by the same family, the legacy of a German immigrant who came to America in 1833.
Christian Frederick Martin, born January 31, 1796, in the small German town of Markneukirchen in Saxony, grew up in an area famous
for its violin and guitar makers. His father, Johann, a cabinetmaker who built the packing boxes used by violin makers to ship their violins, also built guitars of his own, an interest and vocation that he
passed on to his son.
At age 15, young Martin traveled to Vienna where he became an apprentice to Johann Stauffer, one of Europe’s most important guitar makers. Quickly gaining experience, he rose to the
position of foreman at Stauffer’s shop and, when he returned to Germany in 1826, he possessed not only extensive knowledge but also a determination to produce his own line of guitars.
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Siegfried and Roy
by Jessica Walbert
Mesmerized, children and adults alike stare at the spectacle on the stage in front of them. The stage is full of individuals
dressed in elaborate costumes while moving in perfect step with one another. Beautiful white tigers walk across the stage with their owners, displaying the unique relationship between the men and the animals. An
enormous elephant is closed into a gigantic box, yet moments later the box is opened to reveal only the man that was once sitting upon the back of the elephant. Two heroes attempt to triumph over the evilness of
a huge steel dragon and villianess.
Through the combination of magic, nature, choreography, and drama, the audience is taken on a fantastic journey between the battle of good and evil. Becoming so involved in the magic that is
taking place on stage, the audience almost forgets that they are only spectators of Siegfried and Roy, the Magicians of the Century, at the Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Behind the illusions of Siegfried and Roy’s show are the stories of two young boys, both big dreamers, living in postwar Germany. In different parts of the country, unaware of the other’s
existence, both boys grew up in desperate situations full of emotional turmoil and poverty, causing them to cling to their childhood fantasies that would eventually unite them.
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The Scent of First Love
by Chris Woolgrove
When people think of Germany they think of the October Fest, Berlin, the Rhine, the ultra modern and sophisticated cities of Frankfurt and Düsseldorf or maybe the pretty town of Koblenz – but
do they think of the jewels of history and fun that are now accessible in the East? The time warp in which the East was locked for 50 years now works to the benefit of those seeking an area where the tourist is
not yet ripped off and is, in fact, genuinely welcomed!
Sangerhausen is a town of 27,000 people nestling on the edge of the southwest Harz region in middle Germany. The natural beauty of this mountain region combines with a trail 100 kilometers long of
60 historical houses, monuments, and castles of which Sangerhausen is at the center. This is known as the Romanik Strasse and hides thousands of secrets ready to be unlocked by the traveler in search of what the
locals call “the real Germany.” The proliferation of Romanesque architecture is equaled only by the Rhineland. It is the land of Martin Luther and his legacy is apparent throughout.
Sangerhausen – first officially mentioned in 991 in a document signed by Kaiser Otto III – boasts the world famous Europa Rosarium. It is a Mecca for rose lovers from all over the world
appearing in the Guinness Book of Records with the accolade of the world’s largest collection of rose varieties. Over 7,500 varieties of cultivated and wild roses can be found in a compact space of just 13 acres. Some 300 plus varieties are completely unique to Sangerhausen! Open from May to October, the Rosarium annually attracts over 130,000 visitors.
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German American Destinations
Anaheim, CA
California’s Home by the River
by Christina Peterson
Anaheim boasts tourist attractions of all sorts – Disneyland, the Anaheim convention center, the Arrowhead Pond, a 19,200-seat
sport and entertainment venue, three professional sports teams, and the Grove, another entertainment venue. In addition, this southern California County averages a temperature of 53 degrees in the winter and 72
degrees in the summer, making it an ideal vacation destination year round. And, amidst all the hubbub of tourism, a German heritage is winning its fight to survive.
Originally settled as a wine producing area by the German immigrants to the Los Angeles area in 1857, the site was chosen because of its close proximity to the Santa Ana River, which could be used
for irrigation. The river became so important that the town was named after it – Anaheim translates to “home by the river.”
German immigrants purchased the land from Juan Pacifico Ontiveras, who was granted the land by the Mexican governor Juan B. Alvarado, for exactly $2.00 an acre. The vineyards were purchased
cooperatively by shareholders who were mainly writers, musicians, and artists.
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Bethlehem, PA’s Historic District
by Myra Saturen
“It’s like living in a story!” my out of town friend said as we strolled down Church Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where 18th century Germanic-style “eyebrow” arches and herringbone
pattern doors lend an Old World aura to sturdy stone houses.
Bethlehem’s Historic District does indeed tell a remarkable tale – of Moravian settlers who created a unique communal society
in Bethlehem in 1741. Its Germanic-style buildings have been home, school, or museum for people ever since, making these dwellings one of the largest collections of 18th century buildings still in continuous use
in the United States.
The Moravians trace their beliefs to the teachings of John Hus, a 15th century religious reformer from the present Czech Republic. After enduring three centuries of religious persecution, this idealistic group found a benefactor in a Saxon nobleman and Lutheran minister, Ludwig Von Zinzendorf. Count von Zinzendorf sheltered the Moravians at his estate at Berthelsdorf, where he built a community called Herrnhut (The Lord’s Watch). He helped the Moravians launch a presence in America – first in Savannah, Georgia, then Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and, finally, in Bethlehem in 1741. On Christmas Eve, 1741, Zinzendorf christened the settlement with its fitting name.
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New Ulm, MN
Come Visit Germany, Come to Minnesota
By Dorothea S. Michelman
It is really no surprise to see so many signs beckoning "Come Visit Germany, Come Visit Minnesota" during a recent visit to Minnesota. From Fachwerk (half-timber) to Fasching
(the South German version of Mardi Gras), New Ulm, Minnesota, founded in 1854, is no doubt the "Star" among the many German communities here. A year-round festival and cultural events calendar, German
architecture, an abundance of culinary delights, a German beer brewery, and a winery with tours, tastings, and festivals entertain visitors to this delightful area in the Minnesota River Valley just 90 minutes
southwest of Minneapolis by car.
Of course, there are many German communities in Minnesota and, interestingly, there are many more Germans living in Minnesota than there are Scandinavians. However, it is New Ulm that
can lay claim to being the most typical German city transplant to America.
The tranquil rural surroundings, its fields, and hillsides so reminded the Wuerttembergers, who settled there in 1854, of the beautiful region surrounding the city of Ulm in southern
Germany, that they named their new settlement New Ulm.
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Fredericksburg, TX
A German Oasis in Hill Country
by Mark Slider
In the middle of the grand and seemingly boundless state of Texas lies a true gem – a piece of land with a unique topography and heritage that is deeply German. This is the heart of Texas Hill
Country and home of Fredericksburg – a bustling town of some 9,000 plus people who treasure their German ancestry. Fredericksburg is not about themed architecture designed to lure tourists. To the contrary,
the German heritage of Fredericksburg flows naturally through the region much like the nearby Pedernales River that enriches this part of central Texas.
Fredericksburg was established in 1849, against a number of odds, by Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach (or John O. Meusebach as he
called himself on this side of the Atlantic) and 120 German colonists. By the time they reached what would be Fredericksburg, they had been faced with bogus land deals, broken promises, hunger, and malaria. In
addition, the land they were promised as part of the Fisher-Miller land grant was deep in the heart of Comanche territory. They initially arrived in New Braunfels, Texas, which was overflowing with German
settlers. Finding little in the way of lodging and food, Meusebach trekked further inland and purchased 10,000 acres of Hill Country that became Fredericksburg. Meusebach’s legacy is the peace treaty he
negotiated with the Comanche nation – a treaty that still stands today.
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Chicago, IL
German Heritage in Chicago
by Frederick Karst
Streets named Goethe and Schiller remind Chicago visitors they are in a city with German roots. These streets are in an up-scale
part of the Near North Side near Lincoln Park.
Descendants of the pioneers who spoke German in 19th and early 20th century Chicago are spread over a wide area. Thirty per cent of the population of the greater Chicago region is of German descent. You can savor this heritage as you mingle with a crowd at the German American Fest in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Food booths offer a choice of a Bratwurst or Thüringer on a roll, with an option of a plate that includes Kartoffel Salat or
Sauerkraut. Other choices are pretzels and cake.
Two kinds of cake seem especially attractive – one a plum Kaffeekuchen and another with a custard-like filling and a topping
that looks like almonds. The young woman at the counter is not sure what it is called.
“Bienenstich,” answers an older woman beside her. “That means bee sting. The filling is made with honey; it is very
sweet.”
German immigrants vied with the Irish in the early years of Chicago settlement, then were ahead until the time of World War I.
Germans and Irish came together in fighting city laws that discouraged drinking on Sunday.
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Long Grove, IL
German Past to Multicultural Present
by Alf B. Meier
Certain places seem to have a way of encouraging inhabitants to strive for success, no matter what the obstacles. One such
location is Long Grove, Illinois.
Long before the name Long Grove ever came about, the area was the crossing point of two important migration paths for Native
Americans. One might be curious if the point had a name in those days, but, sadly, none is recorded.
It is alleged Long Grove was named by George Ruth, who arrived there with his family from Pennsylvania, following the Westward Trail. Buffalo Creek, the area's meandering stream, formed a
"long grove" with the trees, thereby giving Ruth inspiration for the name.
As the trails evolved into a bustling crossroads, they were given proper names – Dundee Road and Half-Day Road. (Why Half-Day?
A wagon leaving from that point, you see, took half a day to reach Chicago.)
After the Ruth family homesteaded 160 acres of prairie land surrounding the crossroads (the approximate area of the village center today), other settlers followed. By the 1840s, all surrounding
land had been claimed. About the same time, another family was journeying to the New World from the Alsace-Loraine region of France/Germany. It is not known if their actual destination was Illinois, but we do
know they were scouts sent by their hometown of Mutterscholz.
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Hermann, MO
Memories of Germany
by Dorothea S. Michelman
Just 80 miles west of St. Louis lies the small town of Hermann, named in honor of Germany’s national hero (Arminius in Latin), who vanquished three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D.
With a backdrop reminiscent of the Rhine River region, Hermann began life in 1836 as a joint-stock company on 11,000 acres of land purchased by the Deutsche Ansiedlungs-Gesellschaft zu
Philadelphia (German Settlement Society of Philadelphia). Society members, horrified to see the loss of German heritage and traditions among their countrymen in the United States, dreamed of a self-supporting
colony where their culture would flourish in the New World, a kind of “German Athens of the West.” Drawn by advertising throughout the eastern United States and Germany, the first 17 colonists (including
eight children) arrived one year later, only to discover that the grand new city of Hermann consisted of two simple log cabins – already occupied – in an unwelcoming wilderness, with lack of food and a harsh
winter threatening both their settlement and very survival.
However, survive they did and, while Hermann may not have achieved the grandeur envisioned by the Society, its founders designed a Market Street 10 feet wider than Philadelphia’s own (in wishful
anticipation of a metropolis which would far outshine its model) with sturdy red-brick buildings along streets venerating such German luminaries as Schiller, Goethe, and Gutenberg.
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Stowe, VT
New England Treasure
by James E. Held
After his Soviet expulsion, Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn found the beauty of Vermont eased his exile. The writer’s presence near Middlebury College created a vibrant Russian colony, but
a generation earlier, Austrian refugees fleeing Hitler found similar sanctuary in the town of Stowe and, amid the magnificent Green Mountains, they have since put down deep roots. Along Mountain Road, winding
north from the beautiful town center, shops, inns, and restaurants bear such names as the Innsbruck Inn, the Edelweiss, Siebeness Inn, Stowehof, Alpenrose, and the Trapp Family Lodge. Carved wooden trim, steeply
pitched roofs, and red geraniums blooming under windows framed by decorative shutters, offer a touch of Tyrol, but they only hint at the significance of these immigrants who inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein's Sound of Music and established the American sport of skiing.
Since Colonial times, Yankee yeomen tilled this splendid valley, but as rail and road connections developed, tourists arrived, and among the most famous were
the traveling von Trapps. This musical family fled Austria after the Nazi annexation and developed a successful stage career in America. When they wearied of their nomadic life, Maria wrote in her autobiography
that the Vermont “…countryside reminded us of Austria,” and, at the end of a 1939 holiday, the Trapps purchased a homestead she named “Cor Unum, One Heart.” Austrian settlers became a new era of
pioneers that would transform what her son Johannes calls, “...a small and insular farming village.” He explains that, “when we arrived there was no Catholic Church, so mass was celebrated in the Town Hall
basement. Stowe’s economy was also in decline, but the local Yankees were really good people who were very gracious to us.” Soon, Maria felt their land was, “...too beautiful to keep to ourselves,” and,
after incarnations as a working farm and music camp, the Trapps saw opportunity in the Austrian tradition of inn keeping.
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June/July 2003 Calendar
June 2003
Jessup, MD
June 1: German Society of Maryland Annual Picnic. Blob’s Park. For reservations call Art Nieberding 410-893-9542.
Kingston, NY
June 6-8: Sangerfest 2003. Contact the Kingston Naennerchor & Damenchor Inc. at 845-338-3763. Join for a weekend of song and Gemutlichkeit.
Pittsburgh, PA
June 7: Penn Brewery 9th Annual Pennsylvania Microbrewery Fest. Live entertainment, food, and beer. For information see www.pennbrew.com or call 412-237-9402.
Long Island, NY
June 7-8: Bavarian Heritage Festival. Located at Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square. German food, and Bavarian folk dancing. For more info call
516-354-3131.
Cincinnati, OH
June 8: The 108th German Day of Greater Cincinnati. For additional info call the German-American Citizens league of Greater Cincinnati 513-385-3554
or www.gacl.org.
Fort Wayne, IN
June 11-14: German Fest. For more information contact Jutta Hornbeck 219-436-4064.
Frankenmuth, MI
June 12-15: 45th Annual Bavarian Festival. Heritage Park. Bavarian music, food, and entertainment. For more information 517-652-8155.
Salunga, PA
June 13-14: Lancaster Liederkranz German Sommerfest. Lancaster Liederkranz Grounds. Pig roast, German food, drink, song, and dance. For more information call
717-898-8451 or go to www.lancasterliederkranz.com.
Leavenworth, WA
June 17-21: International Accordion Celebration. For info see www.leavenworth.org or call the Chamber of Commerce at 509-548-5807.
Columbus, OH
June 19-21: Palatines to America, 2003 National Conference. Ramada Plaza Hotel on Sinclair Rd. Palatines to America is a national genealogical society
dedicated to researching our German speaking ancestery. Conference features many different speakers. For more information see http://www.palam.org/conf/2003.htm
San Antonio, TX
June 20: Gartenkonzert. At the Beethoven Halle Und Garten. Beer, food, great music, and dance. Featuring the Beethoven concert band. For more
information call 210-222-1521.
Harmony, PA
June 21: Historic Harmony House Tour. Self-guided tour of historic buildings begins at Harmony Museum. For info call 724-452-7341.
Cole Camp, MO
June 21: Cole Camp Saengerfest. German music festival. For more information email heimat@iland.net.
Aberdeen, SD
June 21-22: OZ Festival/The Dakota Heritage. Wylie Park. German food and German heritage speakers. For info see www.aberdeenozfest.org or call 605-626-3310.
Germantown, WI
June 29: Pommerntag. German Festival at Mequon Park celebrating their Pomeranian heritage. Sponsored by the Pommershcer Verein Freistadt. For info
call 262-376-7641 or email mailto:pommern@execpc.com.
Kutztown, PA
June 28-July 6: Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival. Kutztown Fairgrounds. For more info call1-888-674-6136 /610-683-1597 or see www.kutztownfestival.com.
Baltimore, MD
: Deutsche Geselligkeit Spring Fest. At the Baltimore County game
& fish association grounds. German food, imported beer, and great music. Contact Rolf Englehardt 410-491-0845.
July 2003
Columbus, OH
July 3: Bratwurst Festival. Fireworks display in Germania’a Biergarten. German music. For more information , call 614-461-8095.
Leavenworth, WA
July 3-August 31: Summer Theatre. This summer includes The Sound of Music. For more info see www.leavenworth.org or call the Chamber of Commerce at 509-548-5807.
Sheboygan County, WI
July 6-7: Johnsonville Sausage Fest & Pretzel Bender. German music and food. For details call 920-893-3054 or visit www.sheboygan.org.
New Ulm, MN
July 11-13 & 18-20: 29th Annual Heritage Fest. Ethnic food, European performers, arts, and crafts exhibit. For more information call
507-354-8850 or email hfest@newulmtel.net.
Cairo, NY
July 12-13 & 19-20: The Original German Alps Festival 2003. Oktoberfest in July-bands, food, and beer at the Bavarian Manor Country Inn and Restaurant. For
info call 518-622-3261 or email bavarian@mhonline.net.
Long Island, NY
July 12-13: Plattduetsche German American Festival. Located at Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square. German food, drink, and entertainment. For
more info call 516-354-3131.
San Antonio, TX
July 18: Gartenkonzert. Beethoven Halle Und Garten. Beer, food, great music, and dance. Featuring the Beethoven concert band. For more
information call 210-222-1521.
Fredericksburg, TX
July 18-19: Night in Old Fredericksburg. Includes German food, drink, song, and dance. Like an Oktoberfest in July. For more information call
830-997-6523 or go to www.fredericksburg-texas.com.
Walla Walla, WA
July 18-20: 10th annual weekend folk dance-folklore workshop of the North American Federation of German Folk Dance Groups. Hosted by the Blue
Mountain Deutsche Tänzer of Walla Walla. For more information call 509-529-2253; 509-332-5625; or 860-875-3559.
New Leipzig, ND
June 21: German Festival Street Fair. Crafts and German food. For more info call 701-584-3053 or email schock@westriv.com.
Plymouth, WI
July 24: German Night. At Plymouth’s City Park. Live German music, concessions and beer garden. For additional info call 920-893-0079 or check out www.plymouthwisconsin.com .
Milwaukee, WI
July 25-27: German fest. Maier Festival Park. 23rd anniversary, celebrating German music, dance, cuisine, and culture. For more info call 414-464-9444.
Dover, NJ
June/July Oktoberfest. Located in Germania Park. German food, drink and entertainment. For more information call 973-328-9693
Marcy, NY
July 30th Annual Bavarian Festival. At Utica Maennerchor. Music and entertainment from Germany and German foods. Contact 315-735-5882 for
more information.
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