Our History

ONCE UPON A TIME.........
THE FOUNDING AND GROWTH OF THE G.A.F. SOCIETY

The earliest date on record is January 24, 1966, on which Frederick W. Schwesinger, Financial Secretary of the G.B.U. District 510, Toledo, wrote a letter to seven local ethnic Societies - American Turners Toledo, Bavarian Benevolent Society, Bavarian Sports Club, Greater Beneficial Union, Teutonia Maennerchor of Toledo, Toledo Schwaben Unterstutzungs-verein, and United Swiss - to discuss in a meeting the possibility of having a"Continental Day" to bring together all claimants of German and Swiss heritage.
 

On February 3, 1966 a meeting sponsored by the G.B.U. was held at Howard Johnson's Hotel. All seven Societies were represented and also at subsequent meetings on March 3, March 17, April 28, May 19, June 16, June 28, July 28 and August 4. In these meetings, the planned event was named "German-American Festival" and for getting it started, each Society contributed $ 300.
 

On March 3, 1966, officers were elected. These members of the seven Societies organized the beginning of the G.A.F..

On Saturday, August 27, and on Sunday, August 28, 1966, the first German-American Festival was held  at Raceway Park on Telegraph Road, Toledo. It stayed there until 1974, when it had to be moved to another location due to the Park's extended racing business. The Lucas County Recreation Center, Maumee, was chosen as a site and Festivals were held there until 1986. In 1987, Oak Shade Grove became its permanent home. Rental fees increased from $ 1,250 at the Raceway Park, to $14,500 at the Recreation Center. In 1969, the Festival was extended to three days.

The German-American Festival was the first large scale ethnic event in Toledo. In the years to come, it then was copied by other ethnic societies.

Despite a start on a meager financial budget of $ 2,100, with worries about un-predictable events and with large amounts of credit looming overhead, this first Festival was a big success as the American public welcomed the event. Its popularity nowadays is best reflected by over 30,000 visitors in 1990 and whereby Oak Shade Grove is just an ideal place for it.

The $21,000 profit, of this first event, was equally divided among the seven Societies.

Edward Kemper, Attorney at Law, stressed the need for incorporation. A Committee, consisting of Hans Ersepke, Henry Pfaff, George Recknagel, Robert Willets, and with Edward Kemper, statutory agent for the G.A.F. Society, wrote its Constitution and By-Laws and submitted those to the State of Ohio.

On December 29, 1966, the G.A.F. Society was formed by the seven Societies at a meeting at the Bavarian Hall and with Robert Willets, temporary Chairman. The Societies were asked to invest $ 500 of their $ 3,000 earned, as original Stock in the Corporation. Encouraged by the success of the first event, the members agreed to hold further German-American Festivals.

On January 9, 1967, the G.A.F. Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization under 501(c)3 under the laws of the State of Ohio. The original incorporators were the Presidents of the seven Societies. In fact, state law was changed to permit our incorporation.

The second German-American Festival in 1967, was attended by 14,000 visitors and netted $ 21,500. However, under the laws of incorporation, distribution of the income among the seven Societies was no longer possible. With these funds available and members' support in UNITY, the G.A.F. Society was on its way up.

'T was a long way to Tipperary, however!

In 1967, it was the intent of the founders of the G.A.F. Society, with profits from the German-American Festivals, to establish a German-American cultural center, to dedicate itself to the purpose of perpetuating cultural, athletic and scholastic achievement and in addition, to make sure that the seven Societies would have a home and never to lose their identity.

Mission Accomplished! While in the sixties, the American Turners, the Bavarian Sports Club and the United Swiss had club houses of their own, the Swiss sold theirs in 1974, and the Turners sold theirs in 1991. Now, their members could find shelter at Oak Shade Grove, too.

In the search for a home, the 35.25 acres "Eischen Grove", Oregon, was purchased in 1969 . It was a massive undertaking by the members of the G.A.F. Society. However, in September 1978, the mortgage had been paid off and at a ceremony at Oak Shade Grove, the members burned the Mortgage Paper.

In June 1969, the property was named Oak Shade Grove. Val Helldobler was its custodian for ten years.

In March 1971, Tax Exempt Status was obtained from the IRS. At this point, it deems appropriate to list all acquisitions made as it reveals remarkable accomplishments by the Society's members. Between 1969 and 1990 the societies had acquired 75.83 acres. Property the members of the G.A.F. Society owned and paid for.

The German-American Festivals provided Cultural Events. Between the years 1980 to 1990 (no similar statistics is available for the years 1966 to 1979):

• Entertainment for over a quarter of a million persons.

• For German Language High School Students, $ 50,000 of scholarships were given.

• For other Cultural events, $ 20,000 were raised.

• By purchases, 1.4 million Dollars were returned to the economy.

In the average, about 2000 volunteers, members and non-members, make the Festival possible every year. 

DONATIONS FOR THE GOOD AND THE WELFARE

In 1982, the G.A.F. Retirees Club was formed. The Toledo Schwaben Verein and the Frühschoppen-Club donated $1,800 towards the furniture of the Club House. The largest single donation for the purpose was made by Robert Willets. Max Graf donated three large cow bells. John Kaman made the fixture and the leaded glass windows. In 1973, Promissory Notes of  $100 to $ 500 were offered the members. By the end of 1989, these Notes were redeemed.  Several members donated their investment back to the G.A.F. Society. In 1985, the Toledo Schwaben Verein  and the United Swiss donated towards the construction of new rest rooms at the picnic grounds. In 1986, 400 members donated  towards the Drainage Project. In 1991, the United Swiss donated the cost of the three flag poles at the Grove's entrance. This Society sponsors a soccer team of Oregon's youth.

FACTS TO REMEMBER

*** In 1969, tickets for the German-American Festival were $ 1.50 and in advance, $ 1.25 ..... In 1990, $ 3.50. Currently, in 2002, the price  is $4.00.

*** In 1970, a large parade through downtown was held  with floats, horsemen, bands and with all members of the seven Societies participating,  many of them on foot. Some trucking firms loaned us their flat beds and supplied tractors and their drivers. Although, there were possibly more participants in the parade than there were spectators, publicity of the German-American Festival was obtained by the effort. The parade started and ended  at Race Way Park.

*** On January 24, 1976, during construction of the Club House, a Corner Stone was buried in the hearth of its Fire Place. It contains history of the G.A.F. Society, program books of the Festivals, ground breaking pictures and the names of the workers who spent more than 4,200 hours for this addition. On January 24, 2000, the Corner Stone was removed and opened by Hans Enoch, the  youngest member alive who was present at its laying.  The spade with which ground breaking was done, was gold plated and is 

*** The G.A.F. Society's LOGO was designed by Henry Pfaff of the G.B.U. Its seven stars represent the seven societies and the letters, G.A.F. are set in Old English script. In 1977 it was enhanced by Helmut Seike upon his establishment of permanent record albums of the German-American Festivals.

*** Prior to installation of a massive Drainage System in 1986, the picnic grounds were but lakes at spring time and other land was impassable for some time.

 *** The Maibaum, German symbol for the arrival of spring, was constructed by many volunteers and who donated about 4,700 hours for this project. The Bavarian Sports Club's younger generation took special pride herein. It is the third of its kind in the U.S.A. and by its 63 feet, the tallest. The other two stand in Milwaukee, WI, and Frankenmuth, MI, respectively, and they, too, were erected by German-Americans. It carries the crests of the seven Societies, the ones of the G.A.F., the State of Ohio and its State Bird, the Red Cardinal, and those of the cities of Toledo and Oregon. It is crowned by a wreath, the symbol of life, and by an eagle, German and American symbol of freedom. The Maibaum represents UNITY; namely, the oneness of the members of the G.A.F. Society: Those of German and Swiss descent born in this country and those who once came from Europe, joining  their skills with Americans. Together, Germans and Americans now are upholding culture and traditions of yesteryear. The Maibaum is anchored onto a 3 ft deep concrete foundation and it took a 100 ton crane to raise it. At night, spot lights illuminate this monument of German tradition.

The new Scheutzenhaus was dedicated in 2002.

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