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November 2002 - Nr. 11

 
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Speech given by James W. Breithaupt, Q.C.

 

Today we are celebrating our third "German Pioneers Day". At our first 2 years ago we showed that Berlin was the first town in Ontario to receive power from Niagara in 1910.

Last year we honoured the involvement of German troops in the American Revolution and their introduction of an illuminated Christmas tree as a symbol of peace, at Sorel, Quebec in 1781.

Today our thoughts and thanks go back to the year when Berlin celebrated its "birth of City-Hood" 90 Years ago, in 1912. The Dominion Census of 1911 had shown Berlin with 15,195 inhabitants, just over the number needed to be a city.

During the last 15 minutes of the final hour of Berlin’s career as a town on July the 18, 1912 six thousand citizens, including a group from Bridgeport and 500 well-wishers from Waterloo had assembled in the square in front of the Town-Hall.

It was an inspiring sight that greeted the Mayor and the Members of the Council and as prominent guests, the Premier Sir James Whitney and Adam Beck, as they emerged from the Town Hall and waited for the striking of the midnight hour to hear the reading of the Proclamation.

When the twelfth stroke of the post-office clock had ceased reverberating the Mayor, William H. Schmalz read the King’s Proclamation. The announcement was hailed with a mighty cheer. After speeches by the Premier and Adam Beck, the Mayor congratulated the citizens of having entered into the charmed City-Circle.

Church-bells pealed and cannon-firecrackers detonated. Afterward the bands and lines of rejoicing citizens marched up and down King Street until dawn.

While it was expected that the event would be unique and memorable, it was not anticipated by the most enthusiastic citizens that there would be such an immense and representative crowd participating in the celebration at the late hour as there proved to be. It was a very tangible evidence of the local patriotism of the citizens of Berlin, which had been one of its most prominent characteristics in its phenomenal growth.

But before we await the pageant, let us introduce to you one segment in our local history, which is with us for over 125 years.

It is the Concordia Choir with their immense contribution to the fine arts and music of our twin cities.

Wherever German-speaking immigrants settled, be it in little hamlets, villages, small or large cities, their love for music never diminished. Often they were the founders of very successful choirs, music-societies, symphony orchestras and other musical institutions as well. In 1862 at the first Song-Festival in Berlin, choirs from Berlin-Waterloo-Wellesley and Toronto participated. Even choirs from Buffalo and Detroit did not hesitate to undertake the long journey. The last of these twenty or so big musical "Happenings" prior to 1914 was held with almost 3,000 singers in 1912 here in Berlin/Waterloo. Mayor Schmalz himself was very active as a singer in many choirs and a cornet player with the famous band of the 29th Regiment, as well as with the Berlin Orchestra. For twenty years he directed the Berlin Music-Association. He was also a talented Artist and Landscape Painter. The emblem you see above the stage with the beaver as its symbol was his idea. – Everybody knew him as a "Pracht-Kerl" or a splendid person.

So the Concordia Choir founded in 1974 is with us today as they were in 1912 to celebrate the "City-Hood" Day of their beloved Berlin.

Please welcome the mayor, Council and our Guest Speakers.

  •  Mayor William H. Schmalz

  •  Sir James P. Whitney, Premier of Ontario

  •  Hon. Adam Beck, MPP

And finally our thanks to the Concordia Choirs for their wonderful performance on this festive occasion, especially their conductor, Alfred Kunz. – Alfred!, and the wonderful accompaniment on the piano, Christine Higgins – Christine!

And soloists: Claudia Braun, Ulrike Schmidt, and Christina Schmidt

Our Committee thanks you all for being with us today, and we look forward to next year.

 

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