Evening star., 1934-12-09

the writer the thought TO combine business
with pleasure. and when he returned home he
got IN touch with his ever -obliging friend,
William c. Zimmerman, in order to locate some
one who could add an early picture or two.
Mr.. Zimmerman kindly suggested Adoaph
Schneider, president Of the D. Ballauf Manu-
featuring Co. Of this city, who was unusually
courteous, and put several good pictures At his
disposal.
Mr. Schneider is q high type German, who
came to this country when l6 years Of age and
has not only made good. but has become .
valuable American citizen as well. =. father.
In the old country, was q doctor, and the son
had opportunities not afforded the rank and
file. The passenger list given him at the time
he set sail shows he was the only one Of his
party who crossed the ocean with first cabin
accommodations.
[ IE FIRST went to Baltimore, but soon
found employment In Washington, where
he has resided for more than half century.
and soon after coming here became member
Of the Saengerbund. His card, identifying him
as Q member, shows he was admitted as such
on April 6, 1884. Fred Carl, father Of the
Call Carl" brothers, was then secretary OF
that organization and F. Clandy was president.
Mr. Schneider also served as secretary, and
later for q number Of years, as a member OF
the board Of directors. and his familiarity with
the membership. gained over long period.
made it possible for him to identify nearly all
of those appearing in the group pictures. While
talking the old days over with Mr.. Schneider,
the writer also met his good wife, who was as
keenly interested in the Saengerbund as il
she had been an active member, and, as mat
ter Of record, did take part in some OF their
entertainments and helped them bring back
trophies to the District.
The Washington Saengerbund was organized
in the old German Hall that stood for many
years at COG Eleventh street northwest. Its
record was one worthy of the traditions OF
the District, and to repeat what The Star said
in 1891, at the time of its fortieth anniversary,
would be just as fitting now as it ever was. It
vas this:
- = musical society which has clung to
existence with a persistency thoroughly char
acteristic of the nation whence the Washing
ton Saengerbund derived its membership. Other
societies that had dedicated themselves to vocal
endeavor have come and gone, and in their
places new ones have sprung up. but the Wash
ington Saengerbund flourishes to an extent not
known in its previous history"
Its first director Charles Walter and the
other officers of the association were: George
Bremen, president; Herman Blau secretary, and
Anton Eberly, treasurer. The active members
were Fred Schmidt, L. Streb A. Kiesecker G.
ElnOu, y. hOeDel, VelQC, august Dell.
hausen, F. Hausam, Andrew Gross and A. L.
Meiners
The early meetings of the society were held
in the various homes of the members, which
included some of the more prominent German
American citizens of Washington. In 1876 the
organization moved to Dismers Hall. 708 K
street northwest, over the restaurant of Charles
Dismer, one of its members whose crabs beer
and lamp" stew will be recalled by many, and
here it remained until it moved to 314
street northwest in the Municipal Center,
where it remained until the building was re-
moved.
THERE were three classes of members-active,
honorary and passive. The first class at
tended to the singing, the second achieved its
position by the performance of some signal
service in connection with the bund, and the
third had the privilege Of annually subscribing
for q season concert ticket During the first
40 years the organization had on its rolls $50