A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume II, Part 56

Author: Urquhart, Frank J. (Frank John), 1865- 4n; Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, N.Y. ; Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1136


USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume II > Part 56


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On March 19th the school society met at 239 Washington street, adopted a constitution and organized as "Schulverein." The elected executive committee consisted of F. Anneke, president; . J. Widmer, treasurer; H. Schoppe, secretary, and P. Nenninger, C. Huber, F. Umbscheiden, Dr. F. Ill, school trustees. The upper floor of the so-called church on Green street was rented for school purposes at a rental of $100. There were seats for about 100 children, divided into two classes. Mr. Anneke outlined the first programme. According to this, there were to be two classes, one for children from 5 to 8 years of age, and the other for older pupils. Mr. G. Schuck was entrusted with the younger children and Mr. J. Jauer appointed as principal and was given charge of the advanced class. Each was to have a salary of $400 per year. The programme for the upper class was quite extensive and included, for instance, algebra, geometry, free-hand and linear drawing.


The date of the opening of the school is not definitely fixed, but appears to have taken place on Monday, April 21, 1856.


In 1861, owing, no doubt, to the unsettled conditions created by the Civil War, the attendance fell off to such an extent and the small tuition fee was paid so irregularly, that the Fourth class was dissolved and its teacher, Mr. Mussehl, retired. The pay of the remaining three was reduced to $300. In addition to the financial difficulties there were many other annoyances. Several attempts were made, for instance, to burn down the schoolhouse.


The year 1871 marked a new era in the history of the institution. Dr. A. Douai became principal and the kindergarten was organized -- the first one in Newark and the second in the State of New Jersey. The number of pupils rose to more than 400. In July, 1874, Mr. Hermann Schuricht succeeded Mr. Doual. He continued in the principalship until September, 1878, when he removed to Boston. Mr. von der Heide advanced to his


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place. By untiring zeal he succeeded in building up the attendance which had decreased by two hundred and brought it to the three hundred mark.


The institution is justly proud of the many boys and girls it sent to the High School, especially as quite a number of them distinguished them- selves, more than a dozen of them being recognized as among Newark's foremost physicians, teachers and business men.


On April 22, 1902, the foundation was laid for the new building on Coe's place. Various reasons conspired in reducing the number of pupils, and when the new school opened only sixty answered the roll call. The executive committee finally decided upon a complete re-organization of the teaching body. Mr. C. Schmidt was selected as principal in July, 1907, and set to work at once to reconstruct and re-vitalize the school. His efforts were crowned with success. The number of pupils increased with every month. The discipline was improved and the pupils made marked progress. The hope of the friends of the academy is that it may flourish for many years to come and contribute to the preservation of all that is best in German character and tradition.


BEACON STREET SCHOOL.


The first meeting of the formation of the school society of what was then the Sixth Ward was held at Seiferth's, on Belmont avenue, where the present Krueger Auditorium is located, in the fall of 1858. There were present Messrs. Anneke, Dr. F. Ill, A. Spiess, Miesel, Ruettinger, Lipsinger and J. Seiferth. A small room was hired on Boston street. Here twelve children gathered under the tutelage of Mr. Karl Petermann, who was chosen as the first teacher. In January, 1859, the school was transferred to Beacon street. The building lot had been selected by a women's auxiliary formed in 1859. In February of the same year, a manual school was opened, which has formed an important part of the institution ever since.


The first officers of the women's auxiliary. were Mrs. Lenzenberg, president; Mrs. F. Ill, treasurer, and Mrs. Spies, secretary. For many years the mothers were aided in their endeavors by their daughters. These organized on September 19th, 1880, as the Young Ladies' Association of the Beacon Street School. Besides promoting mutual friendship and social intercourse and recreation, they pursued in co-operation with the mothers the noble aim of preserving and furthering the German language and German instruction. The association continued for twenty-seven years, dissolving in 1907.


The growth of the school was very encouraging. A second class was added in 1859 and the third in 1863. In order to accommodate the pupils, a second story was added to the building, and later, a third, in order to provide room for a kindergarten and the fourth class. In 1886 and 1887, the school reached the highest point of popularity with a regular attendance of upward of four hundred pupils. After that a decline set in, till in 1907 the society was compelled to sell the property and erect a new school, in a section inhabited more largely by Germans, on 397-403 Fairmount avenue.


Among the frequently changing teachers, Mr. Ochs held the record of longest service, to wit, thirty-five years. Principal Arnold Voget left the school, in 1891, after fifteen years of service, to accept a responsible post in the Newark public school system. His successor in the principalship was Mr. Carl Heller, who, at the conclusion of sixteen years' work, became superintendent of the City Home at Verona. He was followed by Mr. Maenner, who in turn was succeeded by Mr. Schmidt, by Mr. Frahn, and then by Mr. Otto Erdland, the present principal of this useful institution.


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TWELFTH WARD GERMAN-ENGLISH SCHOOL.


On November 24, 1858, a number of citizens of German nativity resid- ing in what was then the Fifth and Tenth wards, got together and decided "to establish a German school, free of all religious bias and conducted in the same spirit as the other German-English schools in this city." The work was begun with hope and courage, and continued with dogged persistence. George Lorenz presided and August Rabke acted as secretary. A fortnight later an organization was formed, and called the German-English School of the Fifth and Tenth Wards. On December 16 the first officers were elected: Louis Herold, president; August Rabke, secretary; George Lorenz, treas- urer; P. Wiedenmayer, J. Uffert, R. Jahn and P. H. Butz, school trustees. These men were well known and popular in German circles, and the enter- prise started under the most favorable auspices.


Mr. Lorenz offered land for a building; money was collected, and, on February 21, 1859, the school was opened in a building on Hamburg place and Paterson street. Mr. von Halem was the first teacher. Meanwhile the work of erecting a special school building was pushed forward rapidly and possession was taken on July 4 of the same year.


After the society was incorporated the number of pupils increased steadily, and the undertaking was in a flourishing condition. When the Civil War broke out, it was decided to remit the tuition fees of all children whose fathers had joined the army. As the number of these children was not small, this concession made itself felt quite uncomfortably, but the work went on nevertheless, and the progress was gratifying. The salaries paid to the teachers were exceedingly modest and varied, between $6.00 and $8 a week; rising in August, 1864, to $10 a week.


In June, 1866, a new building was agreed upon. It was located at the corner of Elizabeth and Niagara streets, and was dedicated in December, 1867. It cost $7,260. With the completion of the building and the formation of a woman's auxiliary, began a new chapter in the history of the school. The heavy debt resting upon the enterprise compelled the strictest economy. Fortunately the large attendance soon overcame the difficulty. In the spring of 1873 Miss Gerlach, a most efficient and amiable lady, was engaged to teach English. The next year a kindergarten was added and placed under the direction of Miss Reptin.


The celebration of the silver anniversary of the school in 1883 was largely attended, and yielded a handsome financial success, enabling the society to pay off the mortgage and save something for better equipment. Appreciative friends helped on the good work with gifts of various amounts. Mrs. Anna Greiner, long since departed from this life, left $2,000 to the school. Mr. Carl Rohrig distinguished himself by ever helpful, disinterested, untiring devotion to the good of the cause. The school has enjoyed at all times the fullest support of the Women's and Young Ladies' Society, work- ing in hearty accord with the school trustees and the principal. Under the whole-hearted and efficient direction of Mr. Eugene Rahm, the school has prospered, not only in educational, but financial direction as well.


The first school building, as mentioned above, stood at the corner of Hamburg place and Paterson street, about twenty-five feet distant from the present school. The second larger building, erected in 1867 on the corner of Elizabeth and Niagara streets, was acquired in 1907 by a celluloid factory for $20,000. The school society thereupon purchased a lot at the corner of Paterson and Alyea streets for $3,600, and built upon it a modern schoolhouse at a cost of close upon $13,000. The dedication took place on


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September 8, 1907, and on the second day thereafter the school began work in its new home.


The list of presidents of the society includes the following names: Messrs. Louis Herold, Tobias Wiedenmayer, H. Spies, C. Klemm, F. Kleinknecht, J. Windecker, Joseph Hensler, Naujocks, R. Hensler, J. Keer, J. Hauser, N. Danielson, John Burkhardt and Herman Stahnten.


NEWARK STREET GERMAN-ENGLISH SCHOOL.


The oldest German-English school in Newark closed its doors in June, 1907. Its beginning dated from 1854, when it opened at 263 Orange street as "German Children's School of the Seventh Ward." Among the founders were Messrs. J. Kreitler, F. Kolb, J. Emme, Bernhard Rist, Philip Ruet- tiger, C. Winter, Franz Habich, J. Saunier and Gustav Hedding. That the school met the real need of the neighborhood was evident by the rapidly growing attendance, which soon necessitated the hiring of larger quarters on Nesbitt street. A short time afterwards another change was made, and the basement of Keptler's Hotel, on Newark street, served for some time as a schoolhouse. The institution was under the direction of a skilful teacher, Mr. George Grob, whose pay amounted to the munificent sum of $2.50 a week.


In 1856 the membership included, in addition to the founders, the following gentlemen: F. Hueller, J. Schaefer, F. Baechlin, C. Koch, G. Steitz, P. Walter, W. Brunner, J. Aul, J. Feitz, E. Geishmer, F. Herboth, M. Schnitzer, W. Wangner, A. Keptler, F. Reheis and E. Appel.


In 1859 a building plot was purchased on Newark street for $400, and later there was erected upon it the building known as the "Newark Street German-English School." Adjoining property was purchased soon after, and the building enlarged considerably.


After the Green Street School had organized the first kindergarten at Newark in 1871, the Newark Street School soon followed its laudable example, as did. all the other schools; and this new feature, together with a good teaching body, among whom were Messrs. Beckenthal and Wieck, who won for the school not only friends but pupils. The height of popularity was reached during the seventies. Later there were frequent changes of teachers, and in spite of the devoted help of the Women's Society and an endowment of $2,000 given by Mrs. Greiner, the school lost steadily in attendance. At last, in 1907, the property was sold to the Horticultural Society, and the school closed forever, after fifty-three years of active work. At the same time, the equally old school of the venerable Rev. Mr. Guenther ended its career, as also the youngest of the German foundations-the Tenth Ward School.


TENTH WARD GERMAN-ENGLISH SCHOOL.


The Tenth Ward German-English School is now also among the things that "have been." Lack of authentic information renders it difficult to describe the beginning of it. Three teachers endeavored successively to establish a school. Only after a number of citizens took the matter in hand, the undertaking assumed a definite form-that was in 1884. Among the founders were Messrs. M. Ruhl, J. Gauch, J. Soliveau, O. Riche, G. Klinghammer, Martin J. Schick, A. Roemmele, H. Galluba, P. H. Mager, J. Stobaeus, F. Schmidt, H. Scheer and others. The presidents of the school were Messrs. Hilmar, J. Galluba, A. Mueller, F. Scheer, Martin Schick, B. Seidler, Solliveau, Roemmele and L. Helm.


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Teacher Wohlrabe taught a number of children for a month in Marlot's Hall. Then the society rented two rooms at 88 Garden street, which had been used by a local public school. During the summer season there were in attendance forty-eight pupils, many of whom disappeared when the public schools resumed work in the fall. When Teacher Louis Heyd undertook the management of the school, in December, there was an enrollment of only twenty-five. Within a year the number rose to one hundred, and Miss Philippine Heyd and Miss Clara Gsantner were engaged as additional teachers. As the rooms were no longer able to hold the increasing number of pupils, the society erected a building at 73-77 Nichols street, and one hundred and thirty-five pupils enrolled after the opening. In the nineties the number exceeded two hundred. The kindergarten, founded in 1887, contributed considerably to this result.


After the zenith had been reached, a steady decline set in. Mr. Heyd left the school in 1905 and Teacher Weickum succeeded him. The building was sold, and the society paid rent where it formerly held the ownership. At the close of June, 1907, the German-English School of the Tenth Ward was closed. The balance in the treasury of the society was distributed among the German schools and benevolent institutions of the city.


For years there had been a movement in progress to gain a place for the German language, as a branch of instruction in the public schools-a move- ment which almost reached its goal, but which soon slackened and finally dwindled into nothing. The German language is now taught in high schools and in the evening classes of such schools, but there does not seem to be the smallest space left for it in the grammar schools. Few people, perhaps, know or remember that in former years the teaching of the German language was actually included in the school curriculum, but it has been gradually crowded out. At the end of the sixties of the last century the Newark Germans agitated very strongly for the introduction of the German language in the public schools, and with some result, for at a special meeting of the school committee on Wesnesday evening, July 7, 1869, a sub-committee reported that it had given full attention to this important question, and that it would recommend the introduction of German as a trial, on account of the large German element in that city. At first it should be taught in the boys' divisions of the grammar schools, in both sections of class A, which means they would begin with the lower section during the first year, and then continue the study in the second year, in the higher classes. In September, 1869, German instruction was wholly individual in some classes of the grammar schools. The friends of this innovation, however, from the begin -. ning doubted its success, because the time allowed was too short, but it was hoped that the study of German within a short time, perhaps with the beginning of the new school year, should be made part of the universal course of studies in the public schools, or, at least, in the grammar schools. The principals of the different grammar schools supported the teaching of the German language, and one of them even planned to make German one of the principal subjects, so that the female teachers would be able to give preparatory instruction in this branch, in the primary schools. The first teacher of German in public schools was Henry M. Panli, who had formerly taught at the Twelfth Ward School and also one winter previously, the English branch for Germans in one of the evening schools. The salary attached to the newly created position was to be $1,000. But, after all, the plans fell through and nothing was done.


The first effort for official recognition of their language by the Germans took place in the summer of the year 1853. At a meeting held in July, five


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hundred inhabitants of German descent signed a petition to the City Council for the publication of all city ordinances in the German language. This petition was duly received by the City Council, whose committee reported in favor of publishing these documents in the German language-but there the matter dropped and nothing further was done concerning it. At the end of the year 1853 the City Council was again requested, at a second meeting of German citizens, to give a decision in this matter, but when this was again in vain, they besieged the City Council in February, 1854, with a new memorandum, in which certain arguments were set forth by the petitioners that are of great interest to this day. It was said in this petition, among other points: "That as most of the German immigrants who came here as adults and who were thrown on their own resources, had neither time nor the occasion to completely master the English language, or even to read it fluently, it was deemed necessary that all laws and ordinances of this country should also be published in the German language as well as in English, so that people could conform to such."


This was so clear an argument that no reasonable objections could be made to it. Several states, as well as a large number of cities of the Union, which have a large immigrant population fully understanding the necessity, acted accordingly; and so it is, that in various states all public documents of importance and all universal laws are published in English and German, and in some states also in French and Spanish. There is hardly a city with a German population which is able to publish a German newspaper that does not publish the city ordinances in the German language.


Meanwhile another petition had reached the City Council, in which per- sons who did not favor the "strangely liberal" tone of the "Newark paper" and its editor, Fritz Anneke, had taken a decided position against the demand of the Germans, and had declared, among other things, that the passage of such an ordinance would be a deviation from all previous pro- ceedings, and would be disadvantageous. The confidence with which the German petitioners had hoped that the City Council would grant their "first and fair" desire, was not to be realized, and this petition shared the fate of the others, namely, it was put on the table and remained there for good. Not until much later was their wish granted. Although it was cus- tomary even at that time in many cities of the Union to issue official announcements in two or three German papers, this privilege was denied to the large German population in Newark, and it was Mr. Benedict Prieth and the "Freie Zeitung" who were able to gain it.


During the last few years efforts have been made to create an interest in the study of the German language by an organization which had its origin in Germany, but which has also gained a large number of members. in this country.


The Newark branch of the General German Literary Society (All- gemeiner Deutscher Sprachverein, Zweigverein, Newark, N. J.) was organized by Robert Mezger, of the Barringer High School, on November 13, 1907. The first officers of the society were Robert Mezger, president; Karl Kniep, secretary, and Carl Hartdegen, treasurer. Founded for the purpose of pro- moting the use of pure German and the knowledge of German literature, the society has become an important cultural center in the life of the com- munity, uniting the best representatives of the German element and many native Americans who have acquired a knowledge of German and an interest in German cultural ideals. The list of eminent Germanists from both sides of the Atlantic who have addressed the association is proof of the seriously intellectual character of its meetings, and the free and easy "Gemuetlich-


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keit" which has always characterized the musical and dramatic entertain- ments proves that its members are delightfully social. Free courses in German conversation are offered to its members, and book prizes are awarded every year to the most proficient students of the German depart- inents of the city high schools. The present officers of the society are Spaulding Frazer, president; F. C. Dehmel, secretary; Paul Sala, treasurer, and Robert Mezger, chairman of the Committee on Lectures and Entertain- ments. The meetings of the society are held at the Free Public Library and sometimes in Stetter's Hall.


CHAPTER XVI.


GERMAN SONG AND MUSIC IN NEWARK.


THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SINGING SOCIETY-THE TWO GREAT SINGER ORGANIZATIONS-THE SAENGERFEST OF THE NORTHEASTERN SINGERS FEDERATION-THE TWO FESTIVALS HELD IN NEWARK-MAJOR CARL LENTZ -THE GREAT VICTORY OF THE NEWARK UNITED SINGERS AT BALTIMORE- CHILDREN'S CHORUSES AND SINGING FESTIVALS-ERECTION OF THE STATUE OF MENDELSSOHN IN BRANCH BROOK PARK-THE HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SINGING SOCIETIES OF NEWARK.


German song and German music have formed the bridge over which an understanding of the genius of the German people has passed into the American mind. To carry, by means of song, the inexhaustible wealth of the ideal creativeness of the German spirit into American life has always been the highest aim of German men's choral societies in this country. The German-American population was not only very prominent in the establisli- ment of orchestral and oratorio societies, but still more so in the formation of singing societies, male choruses, which devoted themselves to the cultiva- tion of the German "Volkslied" (folk song). The oldest German singing society is the Maennerchor of Philadelphia, which was organized December 15, 1835. Its first leader, Philip Mathias Wolsiefer, organized the Balti- more "Liederkranz" in December, 1836, after his removal to that city: Later, in 1844, were organized "Die Deutsche Liedertafel," in Philadelphia; "Der Deutsche Liederkranz," in New York in 1847, and many more. The Baltimore Liederkranz visited Philadelphia in March 13, 1857, and the Maonnerchor of that city paid a return visit to Baltimore on May 28. These are to be regarded as the first Saengerfest (song festivals) in the musical history of our country. With the increase of German immigration greater numbers of these singing societies were formed, the purposes of which were always both musical and social. The desire for a closer union between the singing societies of different localities was but natural, and found its expression at the Cincinnati Sangerfest in 1847, where the singers of the western states organized the "North Amerikanisch Sangerbund," while the eastern societies organized in the year following in Philadelphia the "Allgemeiner Deutscher Sangerbund von Nord Amerika," which name was changed in 1868 to Nordoestliche Sangerbund (Northeastern Singers' Federation ).


This great organization decided to arrange a singing festival every two years, and later every three years-last year the twenty-third festival of this kind was hold in Philadelphia. These musical festivals, which are also held by the western organization, have become important events. The general public is admitted to the prize concerts, which are remarkable not alone for


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the number of the participants, but, likewise, for the high grade of vocal music which is rendered. There are several classes of contests, and as many prizes-the one esteemed most highly being the Kaiserpreis, consisting of an artistic silver statuette of a Minnesinger, presented by the German emperor to the chorus which gives the best rendering of a song composed for the occasion. The influence of these musical festivals extends beyond the German element; triennial musical pilgrimages have assumed such proportions as to make a profound impression upon the whole population.


These festivals have been held twice in Newark, and both were great snecesses. The sixteenth song festival was held in Newark from the third to the seventh of July, 1891. Thanks to the energetic, clear-sighted direc- tion of Major Carl Lentz, this festival surpassed all its predecessors. Not less than 129 societies from thirty cities with over 4,000 singers took part in this festival. The name of the local singing society here, as well as of the city of Newark, was borne to all parts of the country, for every guest poured forth the most enthusiastic enconiums on the enjoyable days which he had passed here. And all this was the work of one man, of the president of the festival, Carl Lentz. The receipts and expenses were about even, and amounted each to something like $40,000.




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