Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-16
WASHINGTON SAENGERBUND
This Popular Organization Opens It's New
Club House
History of the Club-A Large and Eff
ncient Musical Club with
Social Features.

The representative Germans Of the city.
with their wives and sweethearts. partici.
pated in the formal opening of the new
club house Of the Washington Saengerbund
last night and went home with the mem
cries of very pleasant time.
A short while ago the society, which has
grown from a struggling membership to
vast proportions, conceived the idea OF
owning club house Committees were ap-
pointed and last night the ample quarters
at 3l4 c street were thrown open for in
spection. From cellar to attic the house is
complete and the decorations harmonious
and elaborate
In the reception parlors the guests listen
ed to popular music while upstairs huge
refreshment table loaded with good things
tempted the hungry. There was no effort
at formality. Every one present felt at
home and wandered over the house at
pleasure.
Later in the evening President John
Waldman delivered an address of welcome
In German. 1t was a bright effort and
sparkled with good things. Frank Claudy.
the poet laureate of the society. read an
original poem and other members of the
society made short addresses.
The Club.
The history of this well-known organixa-
ton VIII prove interesting. On the 10th OF
April, 1851. musical society was formed
in this city, known as the Washington
Saengerbund. The society was dedicated to
song and music. Other societies had been
formed with this object, but after a varied
existence had disappeared. The Saenger-
bund. however, continued to flourish, and
today is the Oldest German organization
in the District
Like all German singing societies. the
Saengerbund recognized in its infancy that
social features must be combined with the
higher purpose-the culture OF song. The
regular concerts alternated with balls.
theatrical entertainments, masquerades and
carntvals in the winter and excursions and
picnics during the summer. During the
forty-three years Of its existence the week.
ly rehearsals have never been discontinued.
The roster of the society today contains the
names OF nearly all the German-American
citizens OF the District. The membership
at present consists of twelve honorary MEM
bers ffty-two singers and AS7 passive men,
bers.
The musical growth Of the SaenRerbund
has been marvellous.
Since the night Of April 20. 1851, when
Charles Walter, the first musical director
led their first choral attempt. the associa-
ton has added over 300 compositions to its
repertoire. and these songs have been pre-
scented at concerts and other public occa-
sions over 655 times.
Small as was the organixa ton in 1852 it
entered competitive contest with the
larger societies that attended the New York
singing festival in that year, and although
II brought home no prize 1t gained consid-
cradle experience. In Baltimore in 1869 1t
captured the first prize a piano valued at
81 600. under the leadership Of Carl Richter.
and at the singing festival at Newark In
1891, under the leadership of William Wal
decker, captured third prize.
The fortieth anniversary Of the society
was recently celebrated, and the Germans
in the city combined and presented 1t with
marble statues of the six most famous
German composers.
The officers of the Saengerbund are as
follows: John Waidman, president; William
berens, vice president; William F. Meyers
secretary; Louis Faber, treasurer, and
William Waldecker musical director:
Those Present.
Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs
Carl Xander. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Gran,
Mr.. and Mrs. l. Semen, Mr.. and Mrs. A.
E. Burklein, Mr.. and Mrs. F. ]. RAINFALL.
MIR. and Mrs. Thomas Sampson, Miss An
ME Fox Of Norfolk. Mr.. and Mrs. J. G.
BartheL Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Hinke, Mr..
and Mrs Hartstein. Mr.. and Mrs. r. Poni-
kau. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Donch. Mr.. and
Mrs. Gustav Hartig. Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Karr, Mr., and Mrs.
Louis Faber, Mr.. and Mrs. Rev. Gustav
Faccius, Mr.C. Jacobsen. Miss Clara Donch,
DR.. and Mrs Ruebsam. Miss Lizzie Whit
nall, Mrs. Chatterton, Mr.. and Mrs. A.
Lerch. Mr.. and Mrs Schminke. Mr. and
Mrs. Carl Dentellis, Mr. and Mrs verhoff,
Mr. ard Mrs. Altschuh. Louis Hartig. H.
Kronheimer Mr.. and Mrs. H. Bauer. Mr..
and Mrs. w. F. Lutz, MIR. and Mrs H.
Schneider. Mr.. and Mrs. s. ]. Block, Mr..
and Mrs. VIM. Withaft, Mr. and Mrs Chas.
Dismer. Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. F. Meyers, Mr..
and Mrs. Edward Abner. Mrs. Gref, Mr..
q ~
Kleppish, Miss Minnie Daukmeyer, Miss
Mamie Gieser. Mr.. and Mrs. A. Rettig.
Mr.. Paul Schulz and lady. Mr.. and Mrs.
H. Craemer. Mr.. and Mrs. H. Wagner, Mr..
and Mrs. Fritz Reuter-. Mr.. and Mrs Frank
Madigan. Miss e. Willige. Miss Nettie Bar
thel.