The longest continuously running festival in Minnesota history, Stiftungsfest, was founded in 1861. This German festival celebrates the music and culture of Carver County’s German immigrants.
Stiftungsfest has a long and rich history, rooted in Pioneer Maennerchor, a German men’s singing group also founded in 1861. One night, founder Carl (also spelled “Karl”) Bachmann had a dream in which he was leading a group of men singing songs in German. Inspired by this dream, the next day, he gathered the best male singers who were willing to put in practice hours. That very evening, the first practice of Pioneer Maennerchor was held in Bachmann’s home in Benton. The group sang songs in both English and German, due to the groups’ strong German roots. Over the years, the group traveled and participated in many concerts, festivals, and contests. They have won many awards.
That same year, Stiftungsfest was born as a picnic for choir members and their families. Choir member’s chose the name for the gathering, which is German for “Founder’s Day Festival”. This yearly picnic was first held in Vogler Woods, then Young America’s City Park. Each year, the festival grew larger, until the whole community of Young America was involved. Baseball games became a main attractions along with the music and dancing. Other Minnesota towns with large German immigrant populations, like New Ulm and Gaylord, offered special train service for this festival, as did Minneapolis and St. Paul.
In 1867, the Pioneer Maennerchor built a permanent home, Singer’s Hall, in Young America. The hall was famous for its “Des Brosse Runde Tisch,” or big round table. Used for card games after practices, the table had a special shelf beneath the playing surface to hold beer mugs, preventing spills on the tabletop.
By 1911, interest in Pioneer maennerchor had waned. However, the group did not officially disband until July 7, 1938. The final six members voted to turn over control of Singer’s Hall and Stiftungsfest to the village of Young America. The village handed control to the fire department, which has maintained festival traditions ever since. When the cities of Norwood and Young America merged, so did the fire departments. Both departments have worked to run Stiftungsfest through Stiftungsfest Incorporated since that day.
Over time, there have been changes to Stiftungsfest. In 1956, barbeque sandwiches were first offered. That same year, the festival became a three-day event for the first time since 1866 with baseball tournaments, bingo, parades, dancing, as well as singing and music. Since 1981, Stiftungsfest has hosted the Diedesfeld band from Bonn, Germany, every five years. Other bands from Germany are invited every year. In 2011, Stiftungsfest celebrated its milestone one hundred fiftieth anniversary. In 1994, to better house Stiftungsfest, Willkommen Park was redesigned to look like an old German town.
Turning Point: The founding of Carver County’s Pioneer Maennerchor in 1861 was the start of a yearly gathering of choir members, called Stiftungsfest, which has grown into Minnesota’s longest running and largest celebration of German heritage and music.
Chronology:
- 1861: Pioneer Maennerchor is founded. That same year, the choir meets for the first of many yearly gatherings of choir members and family, naming it “Stiftungsfest” of “Founder’s Day Festival”.
- 1867: Singer’s Hall is built in the village of Young America as the permanent home of Pioneer Maennerchor.
- 1911: Membership in Pioneer Maennerchor is dwindling as interest wanes.
- July 7, 1938: Pioneer Maennerchor disbands, turning control of Singer’s Hall and Stiftungsfest to the village of Young America. The village in turn gives control to the Fire Department.
- 1956: Stiftungsfest becomes a three day event with baseball tournaments, bingo, parades, dancing, music, and singing. Barbeque sandwiches are served for the first time.
- 1981: The Diedesfeld band from Bonn, Germany is invited to perform, the first of many German bands to play the festival.
- 1994: Willkommen Park, home of Stiftungsfest, is redesigned to look like an old German town.
- 1991: The cities of Norwood and Young America merge, including their fire departments. Both run Stiftungsfest through Stiftungsfest Incorporated.
- 2011: Stiftungsfest celebrates its milestone 150th anniversary, making it the longest continuously running festival in Minnesota history.
Bibliography:
The Book Committee. 125th Anniversary of the City of Young America, Minn., 1856-1981. Norwood: Times Printing Co., 1981.
“Celebration a Grand Success.” Young America Eagle, September 2, 1910.
Lemke, Margaret. “Stiftungsfest History on Display.” Norwood Times, August 21, 1986.
“The Pioneer Maennerchor.” Young America Eagle, September 2, 1904.
Shepel, Jan. “Stiftungsfest Has Roots in Maennerchor.” Norwood Times, August 21, 1986.
“Singers’ Hall is Deeded to Village.” Young America Eagle, May 13, 1938.
“Stiftungsfest.” Adult Educational Program. Carver County Historical Society, 2007.
Stiftungsfest. About Stiftungsfest. http://www.stiftungsfest.org/aboutus.html
“Stiftungsfest’s Rich History.” Norwood Times, August 23, 1979.
Stiftungsfest. Stiftungsfest History. http://www.stiftungsfest.org/history.html
“Stiftungsfest Through the Years.” Norwood Times, August 4, 1961.
“Young America- Festival.” Weekly Valley Herald, September 19, 1872.
Related Resources:
[Primary]
P1211
Bachmann, Charles William. Charles W. Bachmann and Family Papers, 1854-1912. Minnesota
Historical Society Manuscripts Notebooks. http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P1211.xml
Description: a collection of manuscripts, diaries and letters relating to the Bachmann Family and Pioneer Maennerchor.
“Council Resolution Accepting Deed.” Young America Eagle, May 20, 1938.
Kratzke, Cony. “A Look Back at Stiftungsfest.” Norwood Young America Times, August 27, 1992.
__________. “Looking Back on 1896 Notes.” Norwood Young America Times, October 29, 1992.
__________. “Looking Back to the 35th Stiftungsfest.” Norwood Young America Times, August 22, 1991.
__________. “Stiftungsfest Changes Through Years.” Norwood Young America Times, July 30, 1992.
Mesenbring, Mary Lou. “Stiftungsfest Centennial.” Norwood Times, August 24, 1961.
“Obituary.” Weekly Valley Herald, September 12, 1889.
“Pauline Ackermann Recalls Early Days of Old Singer Hall.” Norwood Times, August 4, 1961.
Pioneer Maennerchor. “In Memoriam.” Weekly valley Herald, September 12, 1889.
“Photo of Pionier Maennerchor at Stiftungsfest in 1910.” Norwood Times, June 15, 1956.
“Singers Hall is Sold to Plato Man Tuesday Night.” Young America Eagle, February 21, 1947.
“Young America- In Our first Issue of This Paper.” Young America Eagle, August 12, 1904.
[Secondary]
Rothfuss, Hermann E. “Plays for Pioneers: German Drama in Rural Minnesota”. Minnesota History, 34 no. 6 (Summer 1955): 239-242. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/34/v34i06p239-242.pdf
“. . .On the Historical Horizon- Some Anniversaries.” Minnesota History, 35 no. 4 (December 1956): 193-204. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i04p193-204.pdf
[Web]
City of Norwood Young America (NYA). http://www.cityofnya.com/
City of NYA. Willkommen Park. http://www.cityofnya.com/parks-trails/willkommen-park/
Images/Audio/Video
AV-81-4689.
Photographic print “Singer’s Hall”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: Image shows three individuals standing in front of Singer’s Hall, Young America, Minnesota. Circa 1870s or 1880s.
Rights held by the CCHS.
AV-81-5108.
Photographic print “Stiftungsfest 1898”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: Shows a crowd gathered at the 1898 Stiftungsfest celebration. Rights held by the CCHS.
AV-81-5109.
Photographic print “Pioneer Maennerchor”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: An image of the members of Pioneer Maennerchor. Circa 1870s or 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.
AV-81-6488.
Photographic print “Singer’s Hall”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: A row of people wraps around the front of Singer’s Hall. Circa 1870s or 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.
AV-81-6498.
Photographic print “Pioneer Maennerchor”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: An image of the members of Pioneer Maennerchor at the annual Stiftungsfest celebration. Circa 1910. Rights held by the CCHS.
Uncatalogued.
Photographic print “Carl Bachmann”
Photograph Collection, Carver County Historical Society (CCHS), Waconia
Description: A portrait of Carl Bachmann. Circa 1880s. Rights held by the CCHS.
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