In Germantown , einem Vorort von Milwaukee, leben viele der Mitglieder des Hessischen Vereins
Club History
Following are some gleanings from the Hessischer Verein minutes pertaining to the formation of the club and those relating to the food vehicle.
An organizational meeting was held on June 15, 1989 to form a local German club for people of Hessen descent. The name selected for the club was Hessischer Verein. The first officers for the club were: Philip Fritsche, President; John Gettelman, Vice-President; Emmy Kinkead nee Wetterau, Secretary; and Bob Kreuser, Treasurer. The club was to meet on the third Thursday of every other month. Areas of interest included genealogy, festivals and events, German history and language, music and dance, and club newsletter.
The club had a float in the 1989 Christmas parade to help make the community aware of our existence. In May of 1990 we sold Bratwurst, Frankfurters and Tortes at Mai Fest. In July we had club members who worked at German Fest. The money earned from volunteering funded club activities and allowed us to contribute to a number of organizations.
In October of 1990 our club was presented with three authentic Trachten from Hessen: an antique woman’s funeral Tracht, male and female Marburger Trachten. They have been worn in German Fest parades and are now on display in the Dheinsville Historical Society Museum. Also in 1990 our club won first place for best float participant in the Christmas parade. In January of 1991 we discussed building a cook trailer to use at various fests and local activities. It would be a storage unit, have room for cooking and selling food when opened for use. Over the years the vehicle was put to good use selling Kartoffelpuffers,Kasseler Rippchen, Rouladen and other items at many Mai Fests and Oktoberfests. In January of 2008 club members voted to stop selling food and so we would no longer need the food vehicle. In November of 2008 the food vehicle was purchased by the Germantown Historical Society.
The club membership has identified specific cultural and social activities that they are promoting:
Hessen Dance with the formation of a new dance group.Genealogical Research of our Hessen ancestors.
Hessen Cuisine at local festivals and with recipes in our quarterly newsletter.
Putting the German back in Germantown though participation in Mai Fest and Oktoberfest.
Participation in Milwaukee's German Fest to keep German culture alive.
Promotion of Hessen costume and Tracht though participation in the German Fest Trachtenshau.