Newark Maennerchor Information

The Newark Maennerchor was founded on December 5, 1881, by a group of men of German parentage. They elected as their president, Captain Joseph Wehrle, a German immigrant and a veteran of the American Civil War. The Maennerchor was dedicated to the purpose of nurturing and maintaining the members' German cultural heritage through choral singing. The first director of the new Maennerchor was Herr Frederick Kochendorfer, who was also director of music at Newark High School. In the early years of the society rehearsals were held on Sunday afternoons, and they were followed by a Kaffee Klatch, hosted by wives of the members. Membership in the Maennerchor was limited to men of German parentage. Meetings were conducted in German. Annual outings, often held at Moundbuilders Park, were open to the public and they featured a German concert band. The Maennerchor became affiliated in 1887 with the Central Ohio Singing Society. In November of that year they gave their first public concert, in the old Newark city hall. Although public appearances were suspended during the first world war, the period after the war saw a new wave of German immigration and renewed life in the Newark Maennerchor. The society celebrated its 100 th anniversary in 1931 with a songfest. Participating in the celebration were the Columbus, Ohio, Maennerchor and Damenchor, the Columbus Arbeiter Verein (later the Harmony Glee Club), and the Columbus Germania Gesangverein. The Newark Maennerchor survived the great depression with little change in membership. As a number of members were called into military service during World War II, the chorus became a mixed chorus, consisting of both of men and women. Fekete's Grove, now Maennerchor Park, was purchased in 1953. In that year Maennerchor President Gus Horst organized an Ox Roast at the new park, and a tradition was born. With only a picnic shelter at the park, the society continued to hold its meetings in the winter months at the Druids Hall, until member volunteers turned the picnic shelter into a heated building in 1973. In 1976 a second building project more than doubled the size of the clubrooms. In 1978 work began on a large kitchen addition. The Ladies Section of the Newark Maennerchor was formed in 1973. Its purposes are to promote fellowship among the wives of Maennerchor members and to support the Maennerchor organization. The years 1975 through 1985 saw significant growth in the ranks of the singing members. Herman Larson, retired professor of vocal music at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, served as director from 1976 until his passing in 1997. In 1977 the Damenchor was revitalized and soon grew to a chorus of 39 singers. The Maennerchor (men) singers numbered 46. The Newark Maennerchor celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1981 with a weekend songfest. Gerard Gauthier and Charles DeLawder served as Co-chairmen of the event, which was attended by many of the choruses of the Central Ohio Singers District. In 1978, and again in 1996, the Newark Maennerchor hosted the Central Ohio District Songfest, an event that is held every three years. More than 20 choruses participated in these two-day songfests. Herman Larson was Fest Director at both events.