|
Danube
Swabian
Associations & Neighborhoods
What ongoing
presence of the Danube Swabians continues to exist
there to this day? What local Danube Swabians and
their descendants achieved some kind of prominence
or importance in the life of the community or nation
if any?
The
German-Hungarian community of Elizabeth weathered
the anti-German era of the first world war, survived
the great depression of the 1930s when many
breadwinners worked only one day a week if at all,
endured the anguish of WWII, and participated in a
major strike against Singer’s in 1949.
Once automobiles
became commonplace, however, around the 1940s, many
of the residents of the urban neighborhoods of
Elizabeth, like urban residents nationwide, began
moving to the suburbs, a gradual process that
eventually dispersed many of the Donauschwaben
community to Roselle, Roselle Park, and Linden. In
the postwar period of the 1950s, their children
accelerated the move to the suburbs and were less
and less likely to look to Singer’s for employment.
Indeed, many moved to other parts of the state or to
other states entirely. By December 1, 1982, the
final blow was struck when Singer Manufacturing
ceased production in Elizabeth and closed the plant
doors for good.
A Google search for
510 Court St., Elizabeth, NJ, for so many years the
address of the Fidel Singing Society, shows it to be
the current address for the Liberty Baptist Soup
Kitchen.
What groups or
organizations did they join or form? Did they
become members of specific parishes and
congregations? Did they tend to live in the same
neighborhoods or sections of the community?
The
German-Hungarian immigrants in Elizabeth settled in
an area of the city that was little more than a
square mile in area. It hugged Trumbull St., which
bounded it on the northeast and led directly to
Singer’s. The southeast border was Fourth St. (now
the New Jersey Turnpike) and the northeastern
boundary was Smith St., the location of St.
Michael’s Church. A walk of a mile or so or less
would take the worker to his job at Singer’s or take
the family (they were mostly Catholics) to church or
school. It was definitely an urban existence, one in
which most of a family’s needs were met by tradesmen
within walking distance, or accessible by a short
streetcar ride. For amusement, Elizabeth had
vaudeville houses and later movie theaters. Early
automobiles were there for those who could afford
them, and a same-day trip to New York City and back
by train and ferry was an ever available business
opportunity or treat.
Associations
Fidel Singing Society
There was more than
one German singing society in Elizabeth in the early
20th century. The Donauschwabens belonged to the
Fidel Singing Society. The Fidel owned a building on
Court St. where their concerts were performed. The
building also served as a social center where
meetings or family parties such as wedding
receptions could be held.
The Elizabeth City
Directories for 1937, 1939, and 1941 list the Fidel
Singing Society at 510 Court St., Ferdinand
Schillinger, manager. In addition, Mr. Schillinger,
from Baraczhaza, and his wife, Barbra Backhaus, from
Warjasch, appear at 510 Court St. from 1936 through
1942 in the Dreyer-Schmidt Kalendar website.
St. Michael’s
School was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of
Mendham, NJ, an order founded in Germany in 1849 by
Pauline von Mallenckrodt. The sisters spoke German
and taught the children in German and English,
although the German was not necessarily the dialect
spoken by the German-Hungarian children at home.
St. Michael's
graduating class of 1936. The clergyman in the
front row is Monsignor Hubert J. Behr, DD, who
had been the pastor of St. Michael's since 1901.
The young woman on the left as you look at the
picture is Rose Schmidt, my godmother, whose
parents were Anton Schmidt and Mary Hatzelhofer,
from Arad St. Martin. The young woman
immediately to his other side is Elizabeth
Krier, my mother, whose parents were John Krier
from Kleinbetschkerek, and Mary Schuch from
Kleinsiedel.
[Mary Regan]
Neighborhoods
The city
directories for 1937, 1939, and 1941 also show an
association called the Deutsche Ungarische Kranken
und Sterbe Kassenvon Elizabeth, NJ. Meetings were at
510 Court St. the first Friday of each month.
|
|
|
|
