USA > Texas > History of the German element in Texas from 1820-1850, and historical sketches of the German Texas singers' league and Houston turnverein from 1853-1913, 1st ed > Part 12
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The following singing societies took part in this Saenger- fest : Salamander and Mendelsohn Societies from Galves- ton, director, H. Wilkens; Beethoven and Mendelsohn So- cieties of San Antonio, director, C. Beck; Maennerchor from Austin, director, Walter Tips; Frohsinn from Dallas, director, Chas. Manner; vocal section of Giddings Turn- verein, director, A. Krueger: Liederkranz of Victoria, di- rector, H. E. Pursch, and the two Houston Singing So- cieties, Liederkranz, director G. Duvernoy, and Saenger- bund, director, G. C. Zeuss. A chorus of mixed voices was also organized that sang in two of the concerts.
To the official musical program a matinee concert was added by the music committee and this proved so success- ful that henceforth all Saengerfests offered three concerts to the music loving people of Texas. This addition of a third concert was necessary, as the Saengerbund constantly received new additions to its membership, having now twenty-two singing societies enrolled on its roster. The three concerts of the fifteenth Saengerfest were given before crowded houses on April 28th and 29th, followed on Thurs- day, April 30th, by a Volksfest at Volksfest Park, and on Friday, May Ist, by a Military Day, with a promenade con- cert and competing infantry drills, in which companies from Galveston, Brenham and Austin participated. This amuse- ment and entertainment was provided free of charge for everybody and the Saengerfest proved a gratifying success throughout. Prof. Duvernoy the "Festdirigent" was pre- sented by the Saengerfest directorate with a fine gold watch in proper recognition of his valuable and efficient services, while Messrs. Zeuss and Juenger also received official rec- ognition for their artistic work in decorating Municipal Hall.
The sixteenth Saengerfest was held at San Antonio in April, 1887. the seventeenth at Austin in ISS9, and the eighteenth at Galveston in April, 1891. In 1890 the Gal- veston Salamander singing society and the delegations of
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singing clubs of Houston and San Antonio had gone to New Orleans to participate in the Saengerfest of the North American Saengerbund, that was celebrated at the Crescent City, which visit was returned in 1891 by the New Orleans Quartette Club, under the leadership of Professor Hanno Deiler. The Texas Saengerbund then thought a union of the Louisiana singing societies with the Texas organization probable, but the project did not progress beyond the above mentioned two visits. The New Orleans Society, an old and honored member of the North American Saengerbund, did not wish to sever its connection with this organization, and thus the idea of forming a greater Southern German Singers' League was dropped. This is not to be deplored. The Texas State organization of German singers is strong enough in itself and would lose much of its originality if joined with singing societies of other states.
The nineteenth Saengerfest was held in May, 1893. at Dallas, and the twentieth on May 8th, 9th and Ioth, 1894, at Houston.
The Twentieth Saengerfest at Houston, 1894.
The arrangements for the twentieth Saengerfest were intrusted to a general committee made up of delegates of all German lodges and societies and two representatives of the city council, Messrs. Jules Hirsch and John Lyons. Cap- tain F. A. Reichardt was elected President, Moritz Tiling, General Secretary, and M. Kattmann, Treasurer, while to Mr. A. Moser was entrusted the arduous task of raising the necessary funds to defray the expenses of the festival. Nine- tren German and three American societies participated in the concerts. These latter were the Musical Union, a mixed chorus of Austin, the Quartette Society of Galveston, and the Houston Quartette Club. Professor Oscar Felden, di- rector of the Houston Saengerbund, was elected musical director of the Saengerfest and Frank Herb, director of the orchestra. As soloists, Miss Clara Landsberg and Mrs.
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Bella McLeod-Smith of Houston, Miss Marguerite Fischer of Brenham, Mr. G. P. Warner of Austin, Mr. C. H. Muel- ler of San Antonio and Mr. W. H. Kirkland of Houston divided applause and honors among themselves. On Thurs- day, the third day of the Saengerfest, a Volksfest, in Volks- fest Park, was arranged, preceded by a grand parade of civic and military organizations through the principal streets of the city.
At several of the preceding Saengerfests soloists and orchestras from Northern cities were engaged, but the di- rectorate of the twentieth Saengerfest had decided, and very properly decided, that in a Texas Saengerfest, Texas mu- sicians and Texas soloists should be engaged exclusively, and consequently only Texas musicians played in the or- chestra and home talent sang the solos and sang them well and with artistic finish. Times and conditions of course have changed since then and the arrangements for a Saen- gerfest now require a much more complicated musical ap- paratus than twenty-one years ago. With the requirements of greater orchestras and eminent soloists, the budget has materially increased, and while the total expenses for the Saengerfest in 1894 were less than two thousand dollars, the estimated cost of this year's Saengerfest is eight thou- saand five hundred dollars.
The twenty-first Saengerfest was held in April, 1896, in San Antonio, the twenty-second at Galveston in May, 1898, the twenty-third at Austin in May, 1900, where Mr. G. F. Sauter was elected chairman of the executive commit- tec (Bundespresident ), and the next in Houston in May, 1902.
The Twenty-fourth Saengerfest at Houston, 1902.
The year 1902 did not begin very auspiciously for a festi- val, the arrangements of which required the procuring of a fund of several thousand dollars, which had to be furn- ished by a comparative small number of public spirited and
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broad minded merchants and citizens. The entire country had just passed through a long and severe financial and in- dustrial crisis that had deeply affected all branches of trade and commerce.
Money was very scarce and the duty of the finance com- mittee was far from being a pleasant one. But the Saenger- fest had to be celebrated and the necessary fund to be raised. The directors of the Saengerfest were fortunate enough to interest Messrs. H. B. Rice, B. F. Bonner and Captain F. A. Reichardt in the matter and these gentlemen proved to be a very able and efficient finance committee. The officers of the Fest were Dr. K. N. Miller, President, WVm. A. Reichardt, First Vice-President, Dr. H. A. Engel- hardt, Second Vice-President, F. Wallrab, Recording Sec- retary, Win. Freckmann. Corresponding Secretary, and Maurice Kattmann, Treasurer. These officers were ably assisted by Messrs. J. H. Lilienthal, V. Juenger, Ernst Bau- mann, L. E. Christiansen, and Wm. Olschewske, who acted as chairmen of the different sub-committees, while Mr. C. C. Lieb was elected director of the mass-choruses ( Fest- dirigent) and Professor E. Lindenberg director of the or- chestra. Only two concerts were given at the Auditorium, the matinee concert having been dispensed with, and as an innovation several of the mass-choruses were directed by the leaders (Ehrendirigenten) of different participating singing societies. The soloists of the Saengerfest were Miss Carrie Bridewell, contralto, from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and Miss Irma Lieb, pianist, who played with marked ability the difficult "Capriccio Brilliante" Op. 22, by Mendelsohn, with string quintette accompaniment.
The three singing societies of San Antonio, the Beethoy- en Maennerchor, Deutscher Maennerchor and Liederkranz, and the Frohsinn from Dallas were the first societies to ar- rive, coming on Sunday evening. and being followed on Monday morning by the singing clubs from Austin. Tay- lor, Brenham, La Grange, Bellville and Galveston. They
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were all met at the different railroad depots by members of the reception committee with brass bands and escorted to Turner Hall, where on Monday night the Saengerfest was officially opened by a banquet with following concert, during which the different singing societies sang their choicest solo songs.
The next four Saengerfests were held in Dallas ( 1904), San Antonio (1906), Galveston (1908), Austin (19II),
Twenty-ninth Saengerfest at Houston, 1913.
This year twenty-one singing societies will meet in Houston for the celebration of the twenty-ninth Saenger- fest, at which the diamond jubilee of the State Saengerbund will be fittingly observed. As this year marks the centen- nial of the great uprising of the German nation against Na- poleon's rule and the beginning of the wars of liberation, it would not seem to be amiss if the memory of these stir- ring times would be also observed in some manner by the coming Saengerfest.
The Texas German Saengerbund can look back with pride on its long career of sixty years, and its missionary work in the field of music and song is universally acknowl- edged. It will add constantly new recruits to its ranks until it is represented in every city and town throughout the wide domains of our imperial State.
"Herbei zum Kampf des Liedes! Herbei Ihr. Jung und Alt. Wem immer ward gegeben des Sanges Allgewalt.
Gar eine kraft'ge Waffe. allsiegend ist das Lied,
Es kampft fur Recht und Wahrheit, im Streite nimmer mud.'"
As executive officers (Bundesbeamte) for the period be- tween the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth Saengerfest, Messrs. A. Hellberg, president, Paul Dietzschold, treasurer, and Vinecnt Juenger, secretary, had been elected at Austin. For the purpose of keeping up a constant interest in the coming Saengerfest, the executive committee published a quarterly magazine (Saenger-Zeitung), which was ably
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.
edited by Mr. C. C. Lieb, each number containing much valuable and interesting information for singers and music- loving people generally.
The musical attractions for the twenty-ninth Saengerfest will not only equal, but in some respects surpass, any of the previous celebrations, as the following list will demonstrate :
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, 55 men, under the leadership of Max Zach.
Mme. Marie Rappold, prima donna soprano of the Metro- politan Opera Company of New York.
Carl Schlegel. baritone, of Berlin and New York.
Twenty-one German male singing societies, choruses of various Texas cities.
Combined chorus of the Choral Club, the Treble Clef Club and the Quartette Club of Houston, under the joint leadership of Hn T. Huffmaster and Julien Paul Blitz.
Three hundred Houston school children in German chorus and 5000 of them in "America" (matinee only).
The selections of the mass-choruses made by Mr. C. C. Lieb are almost exclusively songs by American composers. two of whom are citizens of Texas-Dr. Hans Harthan of Austin, Texas, and Prof. Frank Renard of Sherman, Texas. The others are Carl Fique. Richard Vossley, Max Mueh- lert, Dr. Elsenheimer, Carl Kapp. P. Engelskirchen, E. Kempermann, J. Schmidt, A. Buechse. Dr. Felix Jaeger. Theodore Hemberger. J. Mendelsohn. E. Reyl. Otto Wick. Louis Koemmenich, David Melamet and Arthur Claassen. The latter will also lead the chorus songs of the 21 German societies participating in the concerts. the Festhehörde having been fortunate to engage his services for this pur- pose. Arthur Claassen of Brooklyn, N. Y .. is a musician of international fame and unparalleled reputation as a di- rector of singing societies. Thus the musical success of the coming celebration is a foregone conclusion.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
THE HOUSTON TURNVEREIN FROM 1854-1913
HISTORY OF HOUSTON TURNVEREIN FROM 1854-1913.
In the field of education America owes the kindergarten and manual training to Germany, in social life the singing societies and turner organizations, the progenitors of our athletic clubs.
The former have brightened and enlivened the glum- ness of the schoolroom, the latter have infused bright cheer, congeniality and good fellowship into men, while also large- ly contributing to a healthy development of the body.
Among all the clubs and social organizations in our great State, the Houston Turnverein is the only society with the proud distinction of having existed uninteruptedly for near- ly three score of years. In Houston the Turnverein has al- ways occupied a prominent position and leading part in the social life of the Magnolia City. Having been organized on the lofty principles of patriotism, physical and mental development and good fellowship. the Houston Turnverein by having unalterably adhered to these fundamental rules, has steadily marched forward and upward until today, and can look back with pride on a continuous career of untarn- ished honor and well deserved success.
The Houston Turnverein was organized on Sunday, Jan- uary 14, 1854. In the forenoon of that day there assembled in the house of Mr. Peter Gabel on Preston Avenue, be- tween San Jacinto and Caroline Streets, ten young Ger- mans, true sous of their native country, yet loyal to the principles of American freedom, for the purpose of forming a society, the main object of which should be the physical and mental training of its members, as well as the advance- ment of social and literary entertainments for their friends.
The original articles of agreement between the members
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organizing the Verein with their signatures to the same, are as follows :--
"We, the undersigned, met this day for the purpose of organizing a Turnverein for the practice of brotherly love and the promotion of physical and mental exercises and studies. With this view before us, we have founded the Houston Turnverein under the solemn promise to labor with never failing energy and persistency for its welfare and prosperity.
(Signed)
"W. F. Heitmann, "Robert Voigt,
"F. Reimann, "E. B. H. Schneider, "E. Marschall,
"A. Sabbath,
"Louis Pless,
"E. Schuerer, "J. Thorade, "L. Schreihagen.
"Houston, Texas, January 14, 1854."
As the general platform of the Turnverein, the following was adopted, viz. :--
"This society indorses those ideas and principles that originate from a natural and consequently only correct view of life, and therefore, oppose any usurpation of rights and privileges that are not in accord with true liberal princi- ples."
Thus the birth of the Houston Turnverein was effected and announced to the public. All of its founders are now gone to the far beyond, the last one to leave us having been the old, but still young, Captain E. B. H. Schneider, who died in 1903, and who, although 73 years of age, stood to his post as physical instructor of the Turnverein up to a few months prior to his death. In recognition of his long and efficient services, the Turnverein honored the deceased
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by an official funeral from the hall, where his body lay in state for one day.
The newly organized Turnverein at once took steps to become a factor in the public life of the city. Its members formed at once the first volunteer fire company of the city, and served as such at many fires from 1854 to 1860. The first evidence of their services was at a fire on the 20th of May, 1854, when the Bracken House burned down. In this connection the following note explains itself: Houston, May 21, 1854 .- To the Houston Turners: I send you two dozen bottles of ale and porter, which you will please accept as a small token of my appreciation of your services at the fire, and to the city. (Signed) N. Fuller, Mayor.
The membership grew rapidly, being over 50 in 1856, at the end of which year the Turnverein bought its first piece of property, a lot on Caroline Street, between Prairie and Texas Avenues, parts of lots 7 and 8, with a small house on it as an assembly hall. Over half a century has passed since then, but if the shades of the founders of the Turnverein now look down upon the site, where they first installed the happiest club life in Houston, they must rejoice at the grati- fying result of their labors and smile benignly on those who now reap so richly of their early sowing.
In 1859 members of the Turnverein organized a military company, known as the Turner Rifles, bought their own uni- forms and equipment, and by diligent drill soon became quite efficient soldiers. On several occasions the services of the Turner Rifles were required by the city, and among other duties they guarded for three days the city jail, where in March, 1860, the dangerous desperado and murderer, Kuykendall, was confined. On the night after the Turners had been relieved by a citizens' guard, Kuykendall broke jail and disappeared.
More Property Purchased.
In 1860 the Turnverein bought the two corner lots on
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Prairie Avenue and Caroline Streets, adjoining their first bought property, and there built the first Turner Hall, which was dedicated to its use on February 5, 1861, at the seventh anniversary celebration. Dark clouds had at that time risen and threateningly gathered on the political hori- zon of the United States, and the country was on the verge of the gigantic and disastrous struggle between the North and South, over the principles of State sovereignty and slav- ery, destined to tear asunder the whole country for four years. If each side had thoroughly understood the other, probably no war would have occurred. But, not understand- ing each other, "one side," as Lincoln once said, "would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish."
Thus the dedication of the new Turner Hall was cele- brated under gloomy forebodings, and the tenseness of the political situation was marked by the draping of the United States flag, which formed part of the decorations, in mourn- ing. In this dedicatory address, Mr. Otto Haun referring to the existing political conditions, and the patriotism of the Turners, spoke the following interesting words :
"Whatever the near future may bring, whenever Texas is going to call her citizens to arms for the protection of the most sacred goods of the people, then the Turners will be among the first to answer that call, and true to their motto, 'Bahn frei' (clear track), will boldly break into the ranks of the enemy."
The Turners as Confederate Soldiers.
A few months later, Texas had joined the secession, the call for volunteers was issued, and the Turnverein raised the first volunteer company in Houston, with E. B. H. Schneider as captain, and most of the officers and men were members of this society. This company was stationed in Galveston and was the first under fire on Texas soil at old South Battery on Galveston Island. When the steamer
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. Bayou City captured the Harriet Lane in Galveston Harbor, Captain Schneider was dangerously wounded by an acci- dental explosion of a gun, losing permanently the eyesight of his left eye. The old company flag and an unexploded shell from a Federal man-of-war, are still kept as honored war relics in Turner Hall. In 1862 when Whaul's Texas Legion was organized, the majority of the remaining Turn- ers joined it, and were either elected officers or non-com- missioned officers in the following three companies, viz. : O. Nathusius, infantry company, Robert Voigt's company, and H. Wickland's infantry company. These three com- panies at once joined the Texas Legion, marched to the scene of war and remained in the field until after the sur- render of Vicksburg, on July 7, 1863, when they with the other 29,000 prisoners of war were paroled and permitted to return to Texas, the best way they could. They had re- ceived their baptism of fire in the battle of Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862, in which Turner Frank Kosse was killed and several others wounded. On January 14. 1863, the members of the Turnverein belonging to these three companies were lying in camp near Grenada, Miss., after General Van Horn's retreat behind the Tallahachie River. All agreed that the anniversary of the Verein should be celebrated, and consequently a general meeting was called in a tent, speeches full of vigor and patriotism delivered, and the ninth anniversary of the Turnverein was there and then celebrated as only Turners and Confederate soldiers ir the field could do. Present on this memorable occasion were: O. Nathusius, R. Voigt, L. Wickland, L. Tipen- dick, H. Behrmann, F. A. Michels. Louis Harde, P. Schwan- der, C. Warnecke, C. Drescher, J. B. Conrad, G. Loeffler, E. Schurer, Louis Kosse and others. None of the partici- pants of this celebration are any more among us, the last three who departed to the great unknown beyond being F. A. Michels, who died in 1904; Louis Harde, whose death occurred on April 21, 1908, and who was bonored by an
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official funeral from the hall, and Louis Kosse, who an- swered the call of the grim reaper on August 2, 1910.
Revival of Social Life at Turner Hall After the War.
After the Turner companies had returned to Texas and disbanded, Turner Hall, sadly neglected during the long ab- sence of most of the members of the Verein, was again made cozy and comfortable by willing hands, and the pres- ence of the lively spirits that had created the organization, soon brought back its prominence as a social factor.
In 1866 the Turnverein organized a German-English school, with two competent and able teachers, and an at- tendance that spoke well for the future of the institution, but in the yellow fever epidemic, which raged in Houston in 1857, the principal of the school, Professor Krittner, died, and his assistant fled from the State. The directors of the Turnverein did not succeed in engaging new and competent teachers for the reopening of the school in the succeeding winter, and thus these unfortunate happenings destroyed the well-meant and otherwise probably successful undertaking, with comparatively great pecuniary loss to the Turnverein.
Under the auspices of the Turnverein, the first Volksfest in Texas was celebrated in 1869 with pronounced success. Mr. Ernest Schmidt was president of the celebration, in which many other German societies from other Texas towns participated. From that time until 1897 the German Volks- fest was annually celebrated in Houston, being for years the most prominent public festival in which the population of the entire city, rich and poor, high and humble, equally joined.
On the 18th of March, 1870, the Turners unfortunately lost their hall by fire, but immediately set to work to collect funds for the erection of a new and larger hall, the corner- stone of which was laid with appropriate ceremonies in March, 1871, and which is the hall now used as a ballroom.
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. The new hall was provided with a large stage, and many an entertaining comedy was played on it by its members, their wives and daughters. who possessed histrionic talent. Messrs. R. Grunewald, E. Leonhardt, J. Bankowski and E. Blaffer were in succession stage directors, and even the rendition of light operas was not too high for their ambi- tion. Before crowded houses and enthusiastic audiences most creditable performances of "Preciosa" and "Tann- haeuser" (parody) were given. A singing society was also formed, which, under the able directorship of Professor G. Duvernoy for many years contributed to the enjoyment and delight of the Turnverein and its friends. This singing society, the "Mannerchor," was the first singing society from Houston, participating in a State Saengerfest, in 1885.
On February 24, 1875, some of the younger members of the Turnverein seceded, and together with the sons of some of the older members, started the "Jahn Turnverein," of which Captain Schneider became physical instructor, while Theodore Miller instructed the Turners of the old Verein. but on August 4, 1877, this offspring of the parental root rejoined its older brother, which occasion was duly cele- brated with an appropriate concert, summer nights festival and ball. In the same year the "Texanische Turnerbund" was organized at San Antonio, the Houston Turnverein re- ceiving the honor of holding the general offices for the first year. Consequently, the first "Bundes Turnfest" was cele- brated in Houston in the spring of 1878, a great festival, in which all the associated societies throughout the State, from Galveston, Brenham, Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels and Fredericksburg participated.
In June 1877 the Turnverein sustained a great loss in the death of its former president, Mr. Gustave Loeffler, who had presided over the destinies of the Verein for eighteen years and who had been the leading spirit in all German en- terprises of Houston for years. For several years Loeffler had also been commissioner of immigration for the State
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of Texas, and a member of the Twelfth Legislature. His death occurred at San Antonio, whither he had gone in hopes to regain his shattered health, on June 4th; the body was brought to Houston. He was accorded an official burial and at the grave, Mr. Louis Harde held the eulogy, ending with the following impressive words: "He was a true friend to his friends, a brother to the Germans of Texas, a brave champion of their rights, and a combatant of truth. His motto was 'Bahn frei für Wahrheit Licht und Auf- klärung' (clear track for truth, enlightening and progress). Let us keep this motto forever sacred."
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