Beethoven Männerchor: Cornerstone Ceremony for New Hall

“The Beethoven Maennerchor will lay the corner-stone of their new hall, at Nos. 210 and 212 Fifth-street, in this City, on Monday afternoon, June 27, at 2 P. M., with appropriate ceremonies. The members will meet at their present hall…and march [to the new hall; gives route]. The exercises will commence with a song from the Maennerchor, followed by an opening address by the President. Then Hon. Magnus Gross will deliver an oration, and, after another song by the Maennerchor, Mayor Hall will deliver a speech. The corner-stone will then be laid with appropriate ceremonies, and the exercises will be interspersed with songs by the Maennerchor and music by a celebrated brass band. The following officials have been invited as special guests: [lists officials].

“After the ceremonies there will be a festival, to commemorate the event, held at Terrace Garden. [Provides brief history of the Beethoven Männerchor.] On the 1st of January this year the organization had 182 members, and since that time it has so increased in influence and strength that it now consists nearly 600 members. The lot on which the corner-stone is to be laid was purchased by the Maennerchor for $32,000, and is 50 by 96 feet. The building to be erected thereon will cost about $60,000, and will be five stories in height. It will have a French Mansard roof, and is to be built of Nova Scotia stone, and to be put up in the best manner, under the supervision of William Grave, the architect. The basement will contain the bowling-alleys, kitchen and storage-rooms. The first floor will contain the bar and billiard rooms, and they are to be 47 by 60 feet. The second floor will contain the supper-room, which will be of the same size, and the dressing-rooms and ladies’ parlors will be upon the same floor. The third floor will be occupied by a beautiful ballroom, and its size will be 47 by 80 feet, and it will be two stories in height, the fourth floor being a gallery in the ball-room running along the side walls. There will also be a sitting-room in the front, adjoining the ball-room. The building will also contain a library and reading-room, and the fifth floor will be occupied by the janitor of the building. The Beethoven Maennerchor at present meet every Tuesday and Friday evening at Beethoven Hall, No. 632 Sixth-street, where the active members sing under their musical director, Carl Fraeger. Its present officers are as follows: [lists officers].”

“…The music for the occasion will be furnished by the Mænnerchor and a brass band…After the ceremonies of laying the corner stone, there will be a festival to commemorate the event at Terrace Garden.” Brief history of the society follows, along with more non-musical details.

“The Beethoven Mannerchor will lay the corner-stone of their new hall…After the ceremony, music, songs and dancing at the Terrace Garden.”

Brief history of the Männerchor with description of new hall.

Provides summary of event, attendees, speakers, and speeches. “…The most interesting spectacle, however, was presented by the thousands of spectators themselves, who had assembled on the streets named in order to look at the procession, all those streets being densely inhabited by Germans. There were at least 25,000 people in the streets…

“…[T]he chorus of the Society sung ‘The German Song,’ by Kalliwoda…The exercises were concluded with the song, “The Heavens Sing God’s Glory,” by Beethoven, sung by the chorus of the Society. Mr. Carl Traeger, musical director of the Society, conducted the singing. At the close the Society proceeded to the Terrace Garden, corner of Third-avenue and Fifty-eighth-street, where a Summer night’s festival was held…”

“…The streets were crowded with Germans, and every window on the route had a German and American flag floating in the breeze. In front of many of the houses were busts of Beethoven, and also large paintings.” Describes procession, summarizes speeches given during the ceremony. “The multitude proceeded in open cars, and the invited guests in carriages, to Terrace Garden, where a banquet was spread.”