“German
Progress Club of South Bend”
(Click on pictures to enlarge for better viewing)
#1 
#2 
#3 
1. First Home of the Society - 1916
2. John Muszer - First President - 1916
3. Group of Society Members
“Deutscher Fortbildungs
Verein, South Bend”
The German Club was founded on February 8, 1914. Led by John Muszer, the group abandoned a Christian Society because it frowned on the cards, cigars, wine and beer which the men enjoyed after a tough week at Singers, Oliver or Studebakers.
The men chipped in a $1.50 each to get the organization rolling, with the understanding that future members would have to pay $2.00. One man short of the cash, offered six gallons of homemade wine in lieu of the initiation fee. There was no protest.
The main purpose of the club was social and fraternal. But very early members decided that it would be mutually beneficial to provide sick and death benefits.
The young club had clearly defined its purposes, among which were to “Provide moral and material support to members in distress; and provide opportunities for cultural advancement of its members.”
I remember the “German Club” on the shoulders of my Uncle Hank Siderits, who would take me into a tunnel under the building where “machines of chance were located” and when my Mom wasn’t looking would let me taste the homemade wine “for medicinal purposes”. I can taste it today, so long ago.
The gentleman in the picture “Adolf Siderits” was his Uncle.
Source: South Bend Tribune, Michiana
9-15-1974
Information Submitted by: Jim Piechorowski and John Kovatch
Project Started: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 -07:08:18 PM
Updated: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 07:10:18 PM
Return To: Immigrant
Societies
Return To: Saint Joseph County, Indiana INGenWeb Site