Deutsches Haus

Monatsblatt
December

Deutsche Gesellschaft estab. 1847 -- Deutsches Haus inc. 1928

Deutsches Haus Opens Holidays With
Family Christmas Party

Lisa Hollis

The Deutsches Haus kicks off the 2001 holiday season with the annual family Christmas party on Sunday, December 9^th at 4 p.m. The event will include an array of delicious homemade foods, entertainment, and a visit by a certain white-bearded gentleman dressed in red.

The cost for the event is $5 per person in advance, and reservations are requested. Admission at the door is $8 per person. Families are welcome to make a contribution beyond the admission charge to help underwrite the cost of the festivities.

Parents are reminded to bring a small gift valued at $10 or less to place under the tree for each of their children under age 12, and to mark the gift with the child’s name.

Reservations may be made by sending the family’s name, number of adults and children attending and a check to Janice Daughdrill at 4919 Cernay Street, New Orleans, LA 70129, or by dropping them off to the Haus steward. You may also call Janice at (504) 254-1964 or Margaret Ingram at (504) 486-6841

Tom Shinn, Deutsches Haus President

I thank everyone who took the time to volunteer for Oktoberfest 2001. This was one of our most successful festivals ever. The membership will see the fruits of this success over the next few months as improvements to the Haus are performed.

There were volunteers that I would like to personnally cite as performing above and beyond that which was expected. First, I thank Jeff Graff, Hubert Vahrenhorst, Joe Stephany, Tommy Mertz and James Tregler for their many hours, ensuring that the Haus was physically ready for the event and maintaining its readiness throughout Oktoberfest.

Secondly, I cite the following volunteers for their loyal service in preparing the menu items that we offered during Oktoberfest. We had many, many compliments on our menu and how superb everything tasted. I thank Ursula Jackson (Wednesday Kitchen Captain) and Bill & Brigitte Gunn (Thursday Kitchen Captains) for their service heading up the food prep for those two nights each week. Additionally, I thank John & Mary Ann Bangs, Robert Froboese, Joan & Jim Hughes, Buddy Hill, Ingrid & Walter Schleh, Phyllis & George Lesage, Marietta Herr, Herbert Hille (Sauerbraten Man), Juanita Landau, Al & Joy Seeger, Hans Heinemann, Jason Bourgeois, Maryann & C. J. Smith, Henry Shoer, Ernest & Lila Beyer and Sweetie Pie Kuntz for their many weekly hours spent in the kitchen helping to prepare the menu items we served during Oktoberfest.

Lastly, I thank the Friday evening engineers (Norris Fant, Charles Welding, Arthur Patron, Julian Roy, Richie Cleveland, Jack Quinn and Elwin Hoffmann) for the automatic potato peeler that they donated to the Haus. This peeler dramatically cut down prep time.

Haus President
Tom Shinn

Volunteer Party

The Deutsches Haus would like to thank all of the people who volunteered to make this Oktoberfest our most successful yet. We will do this by having a Volunteer Party on Saturday, December 29, 2001 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at the Haus. Anyone who worked at the Pre- or Post- Oktoberfest work parties or during Oktoberfest is invited.

The library continues to flourish with three New Orleans newspapers, two out of town German Subscriptions and a number of publications that were received from Germany free of charge. A very active member of the Haus, Richard Tusch, has donated two wall clocks, one for the reading room and the other in the Hall.

Colonel Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret)

Reminder
2002 dues must be paid before 12/31/01 in order to vote in January 2002.
Mail or drop off your dues at the Haus
Attention Membership Chair Michon Shinn. Dues are $40.

Danke Vielmals:

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Willkommen Our New Members

Uta Zimmermann

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Anyone who’s been to the Deutsches Haus bar should recognize this familiar face. The infamous boar’s head has looked over the bar for years, but where did he come from? What’s his name? One of the stories is that he came from a tavern in the late Anna hometown in Germany. If anyone can shed some more light on this pig’s pedigree, please let us know by e-mailing the Monatsblatt staff at deutscheshaus@home.com or leaving us a message at the Haus in care of the editor, Tommy Mertz

Making It Happen For the Deutsches Haus

Lisa Hollis

This is the first in a series of occasional profiles on the many organizations, which make up the Deutsches Haus. The Ladies’ Auxiliary was chosen as the first profile subject because of their long-standing commitment and service to the Haus.

"Our goal is to do whatever is needed for the Haus, to help out wherever we can," commented 2001 president Margaret Ingram, describing the objective of the Ladies’ Auxiliary over the past seventy-two years. With twenty-seven ladies present, the Ladies’ Auxiliary was established on June 9, 1929. Since then, the auxiliary has been a primary source of support, both financial and otherwise, for the Deutsches Haus.

Ingram explained that the auxiliary was founded because originally ladies could not belong to the Haus, and so the auxiliary was formed "to do what the men couldn’t do." Today, approximately twenty members continue the mission of the auxiliary, which includes such projects as the dessert booth at Oktoberfest (a major fundraiser), providing funds to serve food at the monthly work parties, and contributing numerous items and services to the Haus, such as a stove for the kitchen and pots, pans and utensils. Recently, the Ladies’ Auxiliary purchased one hundred folding chairs, two new cash registers, and the motor for the new electric security gate in the kitchen. Ingram notes that "I don’t think we’ve ever said ‘no’ to the Haus."

While the name of the organization is "Ladies’ Auxiliary," the membership does include one gentleman, Hans-Georg Heinemann. Hans joined the membership in exchange for his preparation of special holiday punch each year.

The officers for 2001 include president Margaret Ingram, first vice-president Juanita Landau, second vice-president Ursula Jackson, secretary Anita McKlinski, and treasurer Juanita Daughdrill. Ingram notes that anyone interested in joining the auxiliary may attend the meetings on the second Friday of each month, or call her at 486-6841. The only criteria for membership is that the applicant must be "someone interested in the Haus."

Deutsches Haus president Tom Shinn thanked the Ladies’ Auxiliary for their many contributions to the Haus, saying "The Ladies’ Auxiliary does a wonderful job of supporting the Haus because they do so much. This year alone, they provided three dozen cooking trays and tops along with several utensils and serving pieces. We cannot thank them enough for the fine job that they do."

Celebrate the Season

The Crescent City Homebrewers will hold their annual Christmas party and end-of-the-year meeting on Friday, December 7, 2001 in the Heidelberg Hall. The 2002 elections will be held just before the party, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The club will provide beer and sandwich trays, and members are asked to bring a covered dish to share, as well as their favorite home brew. Chips will also be supplied for the annual salsa contest; according to a CCH source, "the hotter the better, but taste is important, too."

Editors Note: The Following narrative was submitted by a member and is written in English and German. The Monatsblatt welcomes all such articles. Thank You.

Elberfeld is also called the Montmartre von Elberfelds because of the many stairs, in total 8723. In Wuppertal-Elberfeld behind the late classical facade are hidden many other things, among them the Von -der Heydt Museum with a significant west German picture gallery. In the old Elberfeld Rathaus, built from 1827-1847 is an art collection from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Watch Museum on the Poststrasse shows pieces out of the private collection from the Abeler family. Yes, it is worth a trip to Wuppertal visiting Helgo!

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hier meldet sich Euer Mitglied Helgo Schulte mit festem Wohnsitz in Deutschland. Von Zeit zu Zeit moechte ich Euch Deutschland ein wenig naeher bringen. So moechte ich zuerst einmal ein wenig ueber meine Heimatstadt Wuppertal Berichten. Die Stadt an der Wupper entstand 1929 durch den Zusammenschluss von sechs Dorfgemeinden. Einen geschichtlichen und gesellschaftlichen Mittelpunkt bilden dabei die Ortsteile Elberfeld und Barmen. Wahrzeichen der Stadt ist die Schwebebahn, die auf einer Strecke von 13,3 Kilometer die Ortsteile Vohwinkel (grösster Flohmarkt der Welt lt. Guiness Buch der Rekorde) und Oberbarmen verbindet. 1900 in Betrieb genommen stammen auch heute noch einige Wagen aus der Kaiserzeit. Selbst die Bahnhoefe stellen Attraktionen dar: Station Werther Bruecke in Barmen 1901 im Jugendstil erbaut. Station Alter Markt / Barmen (1967) eine bemerkenswerte Hängekonstruktion und die supermoderne Ohligsmuehle (1982) im Volksmund „Gewaechshaus" genannt. Beruehmt wurde die Schwebebahn durch den Sprung des Elefanten „Tuffi" im Juli 1952 aus der Schwebebahn in den darunter liegenden Fluss: die Wupper. Passiert ist nichts. Alle kamen mit einem Schrecken davon. Doch die Stadt der Treppen ( 8723 oeffentliche Treppenstufen sind auf dem „Montmartre von Elberfeld" begehbar ) hat noch mehr zu bieten. In Wuppertal-Elberfeld verbirgt sich hinter der spaetklassizistischen Fassade des Von-der Heydt-Museums eine der bedeutendsten Gemaeldesammlungen Westdeutschlands. Im alten Elberfelder Rathaus (1827-1842 erbaut), widmet es sich schwerpunktmaessig der niederlaendischen Malerei des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts. Das Uhrenmuseum in der Poststraße zeigt Stuecke aus dem Privatbesitz der Familie Abeler. Ein Besuch von Wuppertal lohnt sich.

Goings on at the German-American Cultural Center

Lisa Hollis

The German - American Cultural Center is raffling a beautiful oil painting of Seven Oaks Plantation by Texas resident and Gretna native Betty Bourgeois Grummer. The 29" x 35" painting depicts the Seven Oaks Plantation, which was built in approximately 1840 by Camille Zeringue in what is now known as Westwego, Louisiana. The plantation had 26 Doric columns which supported the gallery that encircled the entire home. Grummer visited the plantation many times as a young girl, and was fascinated by it. She used an old sketch of the plantation when it was still standing to create her lovely rendering. Grummer has donated the painting to the GACC as a fundraiser. The raffle tickets are $1.00 each, and the drawing will be held on December 15, 2001.

The German-American Cultural Center is located in Old Gretna at 519 Huey P. Long Avenue. If you have not already visited the center, which features a multi-media exhibit on German-American culture, history and language in southeastern Louisiana, make plans today. For more information about the GACC, call 363-4202 or visit their Web site at www.gacc-nola.com.

GERMAN LANGUAGE CLASSES

 Beginner's German language classes are starting on Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m. at the Deutsches Haus. If interested, just show up and ask for Margo Mitchell.

JIM’S CORNER

Our new monthly column kicks off with Jim’s variation of a favorite holiday drink just in time for the season.

Glühwein

Put oranges, lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar in a stainless steel pot. Add enough water to cover the mixture plus an inch and bring to a low boil. When the orange and lemon rinds start to look opaque or "glassy", turn the heat down and add the wine (and a bit of brandy to "kick it up"). Cover and let steep. Strain the mixture and serve warm.

Monatsblatt Submissions Invited

The Monatsblatt staff would like to offer an invitation to all of our readers to submit articles for upcoming issues. Just drop it off at the Haus attention Monatsblatt, e-Mail to deutscheshaus@home.com or contact a staff member. Photos are welcome and will be returned.

Notice of  Meeting
Annual Election Meeting January 22, 2002
New board members
will be elected.

Haus Christmas Party December 9^th

Unless otherwise noted, all events are after noon and in the Haus

Deutsches Haus

James Copeland, Janice Daughdrill, Jeff Graf, Dr. Charles D. Hadley, Hans-Georg Heinemann, Margaret Ingram, Col. Richard A. Kuntz, AUS (Ret), Claus Sadlier, Joseph Stephany, Jr., and Anna Whitely
Haus Steward: James Copeland

Monatsblatt

Issued monthly except July by Deutsches Haus

DECEMBER DEADLINES:
For ads: Nov. 9
For articles and announcements: Nov. 9
Preparation for mailing: Nov. 15