Hoffmann Double Anniversary Celebration, 1894

HOFFMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 5/15/2005 at 19:24:20

I translated the following article from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published on 28 September 1894. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

A Double Anniversary Celebration

As we reported in the last edition of this paper, Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Hoffmann celebrated their golden anniversary in Hillsdale [Roselle] on 25 September. But it may not be known to some readers that John A. Hoffmann of Mt. Carmel and his wife celebrated their silver anniversary in the parental home on the same day. It was, therefore, a very rare and joyous celebration—a golden and silver anniversary of parents and children. Our readers can well imagine that this double holiday was appropriately celebrated, since the anniversary couples are well-known and popular throughout the whole county.

Early in the morning, the joyful day was heralded with cannon shots. The day broke somewhat cloudy, but the sky soon cleared and promised a beautiful day. The guests arrived quite early in order to attend the solemn High Mass in the local Catholic Church. The procession to the church formed about 9:00 a.m. and was led by two girls dressed in white. Then followed all the grandchildren of the golden-anniversary couple, and then came the anniversary couple with their witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Theod. Vogt. This comprised the first part of the procession. Then followed the silver-anniversary couple with their witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Matt. Banscher, then the children of the golden-anniversary couple, and at the end came the friends and relatives. Mr. Christ Hausmann led the parade, and it must be said that it was quite a beautiful sight and added to the festive mood.

After the procession had entered the church and those present had taken their seats, Rev. Father Frey appeared at the altar and gave a fitting and heart-stirring speech, in which he especially noted that this was quite a rare occasion and was only granted to few people. He pointed out that the elderly and respected couple had now been together for 50 years in joy and sorrow, and through God’s love, they had been given six children, three of whom already await their parents at God’s throne. The still-living children are the support of their parents, and on their golden anniversary, they have the happiness to kneel at the altar with them, and with their son John and his wife as a silver-anniversary couple. He further urged the Christian couples to live in peace and harmony, to bear their fate and sorrows together, and pointed out the old, respected couple as an example, and in conclusion admonished the children always to be obedient to their parents. The sermon made the deepest impression on the listeners and many an eye was filled with tears. Then the Rev. Father blessed old Mr. Hoffmann and his wife, and son John and his wife, whereupon the solemn High Mass was celebrated.

After the church service, the procession departed in the same order as it had arrived. They went to the residence of the golden-anniversary couple, where a magnificent holiday feast awaited the guests. Old “Papa Hoffmann” and the grandmother, as well as John and his wife, insisted upon celebrating the beautiful occasion in grand style. Therefore, invitations had been issued to friends, relatives and acquaintances, and everyone appeared to honor and wish happiness to both anniversary couples. The house resembled a beehive. Every room was occupied, and the men sat outdoors and passed the time splendidly with all sorts of refreshments. In addition to the people from Hillsdale, we noticed people from Eden, Pleasant Valley, Washington, Arcadia, Wheatland, and Kniest Townships. From Carroll were Messrs. Krause, Berger, Hombach, Florencourt, Hungerford, Kennebeck, Wiederhold, Stendike, Baumhover and A. Becker. Also, Rev. Father Frey, who otherwise stays far away from weddings, attended this double anniversary celebration as an honored guest. The hospitality was grand, surpassing all expectations, and the last guests did not depart to rest until 11:00 in the evening. The number of gifts in gold and silver is too large to be fully listed here. However, we wish to mention one original gift that was made in Kniest Land, near Breda. Namely, for each old Mr. Hoffmann and his wife, a pair of wooden shoes was made and beautifully gilded. The old anniversary couple was quite proud of them and walked about during the afternoon among the guests in the garden, which naturally caused general merriment.

The celebration will long be remembered by all the guests. In conclusion, we herewith once again extend our deepest congratulations to the golden- and silver-anniversary couples.