Carroll's New Germania Turnverein, 1894

BEITER, BECKER, HESS, RICHMANN, LUDWIG, SELZER, FLORENCOURT

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/3/2006 at 00:51:24

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 8 June 1894. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

The Germania Turnverein

The merger of Carroll’s two large German clubs, the Germania Verein [Germania Club] and the Turnverein [Gymnastics Club] was completed Wednesday evening in the Germania Club’s premises. The previous week, the Turnverein had already held a vote which was in favor of this merger. The Germania Verein held its general meeting on Wednesday evening, and when it came to a vote on the merger, out of about 50 members, there was only one opposed. President Beiter quickly named a committee, consisting of George Selzer, Chas. Ludwig, and Ed. Richmann, which went to the Gymnastics Hall where the Turnverein was gathered, and delivered the message that the merger was also a done deal with the Germania Verein, and that they had come to escort the Turnverein to the Germania Verein.

At nine o’clock sharp, the strongly represented Turnverein appeared at the Germania Verein’s clubhouse, preceded by the star spangled banner and two flag officers, and was given a standing reception by the Germania Verein. Mr. Beiter bid the dapper gymnasts a hearty welcome, and a thundering “three cheers” broke out from the Germania Verein, and then the Singing Section joined in singing.

When things calmed down and all the members had again taken their seats, Mr. Beiter was elected Chairman pro tem and A. Becker was elected Secretary pro tem. Then they proceeded to the actual election of the executive body, with the following result: Nick. Beiter, President; Frank Florencourt, Vice President; A. Becker, Protocol Secretary; Ed. Richmann, Finance Secretary; John P. Hess, Treasurer. The election of the other officials was put off until the next week due to the late hour, and the meeting adjourned.

Then all the members freely expressed their happiness over the joining of both clubs into one large club, and joking, singing, and recitals alternated in cheerful sequence until the clock warned that it was time to go home.

Thus, the fine work of fraternization was completed and, to the honor of both former clubs, it must be said that each member happily accepted the idea, assisted the merger in every way, and worked until it was completed. And it was a good beginning, because the first meeting could not have been more pleasant, because the old president of the Germania Verein, Mr. Beiter, was elected unanimously in the informal ballot, and whereupon the informal ballot was enthusiastically made formal by acclamation. And Mr. Florencourt, Mr. Becker, and Mr. Richmann were elected in the same manner. And so we would like to hope that the Germania Turnverein will proceed unanimously in everything, as a shining example to all citizens, and that the members hereafter strive to preserve and further harmony, friendship, and fraternity.