1931 to 1959 - The Founding Years

 

In Herbergslokal Segmiller, 355 East 88th Street, New York City, at nine p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 1931, the "Original G. T. Schuhplattler Verein Do g'mütlichen Enzianer" was born.  The actual purpose of the "Gemuetlichen Enzianer" was to uphold and preserve Bavarian traditions, customs and Tracht; but as the name suggests, Gemuetlichkeit was indeed a part of the early club life. By the end of 1931, as members of the newly-formed club and their families celebrated their first Christmas Party together, it was evident that the corner-stone and foundation had been laid and were indeed strong enough to build upon.

 

The first Vorstandschaft of the Gemuetlichen Enzianer included - President: Hans Kiendl, Vice President and Secretary: Heiny Strecker, Treasurer: Paul Atzenbeck, Trustees: Charles Handler and Jackl Segmiller, Custodian: Alex Atzenbeck, and Vorplattlers: Hans Kiendl and Charles Handler.

 

In February 1932 the first Bauernball was held and on October 19, 1932, we celebrated our first Stiftungsfest, at which time Hans Kiendl was made Ehrenvorplattler.  Membership now numbered over fifty.  The second Bauernball was held on February 25, 1933, in the Labor Lyceum, at which time Hans Kiendl was made Ehrenpräsident.  In that same year the Gemuetlichen Enzianer purchased two lots in the community called Lake Secor, with the intentions of building an Almhaus. On September 1 and 2, 1935, the dream of the membership was realized with the "Einweihung" of the Almhaus. 

 

In 1936 Alex Atzenbeck became President and Kurt Mietzner Vorplattler.  Membership was closed to Plattlers, unless they brought a "Dirndl" with them. The Almhaus inLake Secor was an important part of club life.  On Labor Day weekend all members came to the Almhaus in Tracht and participated in various tournaments – gathering on Labor Day weekend  has always been a part of Gemuetlichen Enzianer tradition.

 

In 1937, the site of the Bauernball was moved to Yorkville Casino. During the following years World War II overshadowed much of the activities of the Gemuetlichen Enzianer, although Plattlerproben still kept the membership together.  By 1953, the children of the founding members were beginning to take their places in the ranks of the membership. Plattlerproben were begun again, for the first time in over a decade, in Hans Kiendl's basement. Hans gladly gave his time to teach the new "Buam" how to plattl, and Erich Bayer was appointed Vorplattler

 

In 1955 Hans Kiendl retired as President, to be succeeded by Jack Bayer, Sr.   Martin Hubner succeeded Erich Bayer as Vorplattler and our founding members were again able to pass their traditions and customs on to listening ears. New members were taught not only Plattl'n and Dreh'n, but also respect for the Tracht and for other members, and above all, pride in the Gemuetlichen Enzianer.

 

In 1956 we became members of the Vereinigten Bayern von Gross New York and on March 23, 1957, in the Long Island City Turn Hall, with Edmund Killian as Vice President and Festleiter, the Gemuetlichen Enzianer held their first Bauernball after World War II.

 

By the beginning of 1958, preparations for our upcoming Fahnenweihe kept us very busy, but in January, we made our television debut as one of many ethnic groups appearing at Mike Todd's party in Madison Square Garden marking the first anniversary of the film, "Around the World in 80 Days."  Then, on March 29, 1958, in the Long Island City Turn Hall, the membership - proudly dressed in their first Festtracht - presented their new flag to Fr. Otto DeChoibert to be blessed.  Edelweiss White Plains (Westchester) honored us by becoming our Patenverein. Tillie Mietzner was Fahnenmutter, Marianne Hauck (Bayer) Fahnenjungfrau, and Jack Bayer, Jr., and Tony Graf Fahnenträgers.  Vorplattlers Martin Hubner and Erich Bayer led the Buam and Dirndln in the Bankltanz to the music of the Karl Weiss Kappelle and the Knickerbockers; and when the Festtanz was over, the Bankls were used to seat some of the overflow crowd.

 

In May 1958 we attended the Fahnenweihe of Original Enzian, and during the summer a large group of members visited our Stammverein Almrausch Regensburg. Hans Kiendl had been a long-standing member of Almrausch and ties were once again strengthened, old friendships renewed and new friends made. In November of that same year, the leadership of the Gemuetlichen Enzianer was trustingly passed on to the second generation, as Edmund Killian became President.  Santa Claus was very generous that year - in the persons of Hans and Maya Kiendl - who presented the club with a Tischstandarten - a miniature of our club flag.

 

In September 1959, we proudly marched up Fifth Avenue in the first Steuben Parade, and this pride in being German-American has made us march in every Steuben Parade since then.  In March 1962 the site of the Bauernball was moved to the Sunnyside Gardens. In July, the Vereinigten Bayern, at their annual Bayerntag Picnic, held their first Preisplattler competition of the New York area clubs, and the Gemuetlichen Enzianer brought home first prize.