St. Louis Liederkranz
On November 7, 2020, the St. Louis Liederkranz will mark a milestone reached by few singing organizations. We will be celebrating 150 years of bringing the love of German folk songs and the music of our immigrant ancestors to their new homeland of America.
ORIGINAL MEETING PLACE FOR THE LIEDERKRANZ SINGING CLUB
Founded in 1870, it was considered one of the most exclusive venues among German-Americans in St. Louis. In 1880, at the opening and dedication ceremony of our very own Music Hall, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that the current membership in the club "included 41 ladies, 105 active members, 306 passive members, and 38 applicants awaiting membership." Under the direction of Professor Egmont Froehlich, the Liederkranz blossomed into one of the best singing groups in the land.
In accepting the keys to the new hall at 13th and Chouteau, the president of the Liederkranz, F.W. Sennewald, proclaimed in his speech "although a majority of us were born on a foreign shore, we all claim that this glorious country is also our country, and the old and noble city of Saint Louis is our home". He also promised that "It is our highest ambition that the Liederkranz should be what its name in our mother tongue designates 'a wreath of songs', a musical society second to none in the United States."
During the social season, the club sponsored a semi-monthly ball. The St. Louis German press printed glowing reports of these events, complete with the names of the most socially prominent in attendance and detailed descriptions of the women's beautiful gowns.
The Liederkranz was one of the most socially acceptable clubs for the affluent St. Louis German-Americans who wished to retain the traditions of the homeland; traditions that were in danger of being lost in their new country. The group met in the grand hall at 13th and Chouteau Avenues until movement of the German population stretched further south. They built a new building in 1907 in south St. Louis on Grand Avenue at Magnolia, at the end of Tower Grove Park. At the opening of the new home of the Liederkranz, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote on October 6, "A fine music, singing, and the great 'family' idea are helping to make this one of the most popular clubs in the city. Most of the clubs in St. Louis are intended for the use of either men or women exclusively. And it is this respect that the Liederkranz differs radically from other big clubs - it is a true family club; women are as welcome as men. If a member dies, his membership goes to his widow."
1907 HOME OF LIEDERKRANZ
The new building housed game rooms, private and public meeting space, a Rathskellar, several dining rooms (with kitchens like those in the best hotels), bowling alleys, and both concert and dining halls. It also included a rehearsal hall, music library and director's room. The building was the work of William Albert Hirsch, a partner with the architectural firm Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson, which had been founded that same year. In this early part of the new century, the club had grown to more than one thousand members, including a full orchestra. But, because of lingering anti-German sentiment after the First World War, and the effects of a world-wide pandemic, the Club's income fell and their beautiful home fell into foreclosure. The name "Alhambra Grotto" has varied stories of its origin. One version is that being forced to sell their beautiful home, a group of Masons bought it in 1920 and renamed it "The Alhambra Grotto".
"MANSION" HOME OF THE LIEDERKRANZ
In 1920, they purchased one of the grand mansions a few blocks north at 2163 South Grand at Flad. The new site boasted a beautiful, large garden area in the back, perfect for a German Biergarten Celebration, and a third floor music library and ballroom. Under the leadership of director, Hugo Anschuetz, the club flourished, until his untimely death in 1931.
Unfortunately, the United States was to enter another World War, with the country of Germany as one of their adversaries. German sentiment changed in the United States during these difficult times of war, and German-American organizations felt the effects. After the wars, the St. Louis Liederkranz held on to their numbers for quite a few years. In the 1950's, Frank Moder re-established a full orchestra. Under the direction of Dr. Nandor Damoskos, the Club now performed great music compositions and grand opera pieces. Unfortunately, Club dues did not meet the expenses, and the home on Flad fell into disrepair. Thoughts of looking for a less expensive home prevailed among the leadership. After much negotiation and voluntary hours of repairs, it was the dedication and generosity of a handful of Liederkranz members that kept the club going. In 1968 they sold their home on Grand for $65,000. The sale paid off the mortgage and other outstanding bills. Any profits were invested in AAA bonds.
They moved into rooms at the Letter Carriers Hall, the recently closed Magnolia police station. After a couple of other moves, including a stay at the Kolping Society, they rented rehearsal room at the German Cultural Society's hall on S. Jefferson around 1980. With storage space for their library of music, they had a comfortable meeting space to rehearse and hold meetings for many years.
Currently, the Club is rehearsing in the Community Room at Bethesda Orchard Senior Living Community in Webster Groves. The current president, Norm Cleeland and his wife Ann live in the community and the manager has graciously allowed rehearsal space. Of course, the residents get to hear the music at rehearsals and the club enjoys sharing their songs with them.
Norm has the distinguished position of being the longest active member of the group. Joining in 1958, as a high school sophomore at the suggestion of his voice teacher, Kaspar Theissen, Norm enjoyed singing the music as the members tried to teach him the German words. Even now, he says, "I'm still trying to learn them, 63 years later!" After being elected Secretary of the group, Norm asked the German-speaking members if they needed the minutes of the meeting transcribed after the meeting. When they answered 'yes', he said, "Then you better speak English!" Meetings which had been held in the German language for almost one hundred years, were now held in English.
At our 100th and 125th Anniversaries, the club received proclamations and awards from Germany and other German entities. The most prestigious award from Germany was the Zelter-Plakette
ZELTER-PLAKETTE
The German Government created the Zelter-Plakette in 1922, to recognize the accomplishments of Karl Friederich Zelter (1758-1832). Herr Zelter studied music with Kirnberger and Fasch, became conductor of the Berlin Singakademie, and founded the Royal Institute of Church Music. He was a friend of the German poet, "von Goethe" which enabled the musician to use some of Goethe's literature in his compositions. In 1809, he founded the Liedertafel, the first male chorus and predecessor of the great German Saengerbund. Created in bronze, silver, and gold, to honor singing organizations for their work in jubilee years, the award was discontinued during the war years.
The first President of the German Bundesrepublik, Professor Doctor Heuss revived the award after the wars, and in November 1970, the St. Louis Liederkranz Singing Club became the only society west of the Mississippi to be presented with the "Zelter Placque" by Bundespraesident Gustav Heinemann.
MEMORABILIA AND ARTIFACTS
Thanks to the efforts of past leadership, some of the original documents of club have been saved. In 1952, the original building at 13th and Chouteau was razed to prepare for the Darst Housing project. Then President of the club, William Heinemann stated, "I made sure I was there the day the building was torn down and got the box from the cornerstone," "Inside were handwritten lists of the original club's membership and all the newspapers of the day when it was put into place." "Included were several of the German language dailys that are no longer around. The old papers and things were still together, but when they hit the air, they disintegrated in my hands."
Held safely in a safe deposit box are the original Articles of the Constitution, a book of minutes from early meetings, and a handwritten list of members, with some prominent St. Louis leaders: the founders of the Busch family.
While numbers have fallen slightly as members have passed on, a recent increase in singers happened as the Damenchor of the German Cultural Society decided to close their group. Some of the women who wanted to continue singing the German songs have joined the Liederkranz singers. Currently we number about 25 men and women singers, some born in Germany, some of German descent and some who just like to sing.
President for over 20 years now, Norm Cleeland's dream was for the club to reach their 150th year.
"Having the Liederkranz reach its 150th Anniversary year and still be a strong singing society is something I have always wanted for our members. I know we can continue to preserve the German Culture through our singing for the public's enjoyment."
We will continue to have an annual spring dinner concert, sing at a variety of venues by request, and travel to meet with other German singing organizations for a variety of Sängerfests.
"If you are ever in St. Louis, please look us up!"
Website - www.StLLiederkranz.weebly.com
Facebook - St. Louis Liederkranz German Singing Society