German-American Citizens League
of Greater Cincinnati
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| The Germania Society was founded in 1964 as a society of German heritage. The purpose of the Germania Society is to perpetuate the German culture and to establish true traditional events of German folklore. |
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The idea for the Society was conceived in 1960 by a few forward thinking immigrants who resolved that a new society was needed in Cincinnati, one which would include people from all Germanic areas, but refraining from politics and religion. The name Germania was chosen in 1963, and by the end of that year, meetings were held to ratify a constitution. The Germania Society was incorporated on May 16, 1964. |
| The Germania Society contributed to the already rich list of German-American
events in Cincinnati. A radio program called Over-the-Rhine Showcase was
started in 1963 by founding board member Hermann Albers, and was followed
by Over-the-Rhine Day at LeSourdsville Lake in 1964. Oktoberfest dances
were the forerunners of Cincinnati's Original Oktoberfest, begun by Germania
in 1971. Charter flights to Germany were organized, and entertainers like
Herbert Hiesel and Willie Millowitsch were brought to Cincinnati from Germany.
Original involvement in Maifest and the International Folk Festival is
credited to President Fred Mause and Helmut Maurer.
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| Under the direction of Germania founding board member, Dr. Wilhelm
Kraeling, a German school program was introduced, now called the Tri-State
German-American School. The Cincinnati Kurier was newly published by Marie
Lammers Engel, and Germania's first article appeared on December 18, 1964,
written by founding board member, Ernst Schwab, who wrote many more articles
in an effort to promote Germania, as well as to establish a Rhineland style
Karneval organization within the Society. In 1967, President Fritz Prochnow
and his wife, LaNelle, became the first princely couple. The Elferrat (council
of eleven jesters) has chosen a prince every year since 1968. In 1977,
the Germania Society completed their Klubhaus, located on West Kemper Road
in Springfield Township. The outdoor pavilion was built in 1985 and is
the site of Cincinnati's Original Oktoberfest, held each year in August.
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| The Germania Society has given the people of Cincinnati many years of enjoyment through its many cultural events. All people of German birth, Germanic people, and those of German ancestry are eligible for membership. |
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Contact: Walt Pegram 513-677-5266 Visit our Web Page |