Think German food, beer, lots of games and even choir practice.
That’s what’s happening at the Hartford Saegan Bund in Newington, a German-American social club that predates the Civil War and is still thriving 166 years later.
This non-profit club has over 300 members who meet almost every Friday night for the aforementioned festivities.
The Grill Room at the Hartford Sangerbund is a relaxing place to enjoy food, drinks and hospitality. Sangerbund means “singing party” and the club’s motto above the bar translates to “True to German Song.”
The Newington store (719 North Mountain Road) is believed to be the oldest German-American club in New England and the third-longest continuously singing Saangerbund in the country.
The men’s and women’s choirs rehearse weekly from September through June and perform spring and winter concerts and other performances.
The club also hosts events open to the public, with the primary goal of sharing food and culture and generating revenue to keep the club running.
The Christmas Market is the club’s biggest event, taking place over Thanksgiving weekend. Jennifer Freison Patrick is seen standing next to St. Nicholas in traditional European dress.
The next event is Sommerfest, taking place on June 22nd from 2pm to 8pm. Admission is $5 and open to the public. There will also be German-themed entertainment, including music by Scha Musi and performances by dancers from the Alpenland Tanzer.
There are a total of five events open to the public each year, the largest being the German Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt), which takes place every two years and features food, booths, live music and more. The two-day event can attract up to 2,000 people.
Seasonal events are also a major draw for people in the Greater Hartford area and surrounding areas.
All events are run by volunteers and you do not have to be of German descent to be a member.
“All you need is an interest in German culture and music,” says Mark Jahn, a member and spokesman for the group.
Jane has been a member of the club for 15 years, and says that in Newington, the membership is split evenly between men and women.
The choir performs twice a year and competes in the annual regional competition in Meriden. There are an estimated five to 10 other German social clubs in the state, with Newington and Meriden being the two most active, Jahn said.
History and Schnitzel
The Hartford Sengerbund was founded in 1858 in the tradition of German singing societies. The club was originally located in Hartford and moved to its current location in 1966.
The Grill Room serves traditional German cuisine and German beer.
Brooke Lavallee/Hartford Courant
In this file photo, beer is poured from a mug at Newington’s German Beer Festival in 2010 at the Hartford Saengerbund.
Many of the members play the German card game, skatt, which is a difficult game and is comparable to chess when it comes to strategy. Many of the Newington players compete in regional tournaments. Other activities include cooking, baking, sword dancing and ice curling. Curling is played on a pond in Vernon. Unlike the Olympic version, German curling does not have a sweep. The sword dance is a traditional dance with men, women and swords.
Hartford Zengerband President Christina Wilson said she is proud of the club’s history.
“It’s amazing when you think about all the generations that have come through here,” Wilson said. “Some of the German clubs have closed down because there aren’t as many immigrants coming. I’m 100 percent German, but you don’t have to be German to be a member. You can just enjoy the German culture. We make all the food except the sausages.”
“We make our own schnitzel and our own desserts, and the recipes have been passed down through generations,” she added. “We offer food influenced by different regions of Germany.”
Wilson’s parents immigrated to the United States from Germany shortly before she was born. She has family there and has visited Germany many times. Both of her children have studied in Germany. The Wilsons live in West Hartford.
Wilson added that the family spends Friday nights playing board games and the German version of UNO.
Wilson also said that anyone is welcome to join the choir and that people do not have to speak German to sing.
Wilson said the club’s membership is growing, in contrast to many other clubs that are seeing membership decline.
To learn more about the club or to see the menu for a particular Friday, visit hartfordsaengerbund.org
“There’s a great camaraderie at our club,” Wilson says. “You can come on a Friday and sit at a table with your friends or your spouse. If you see someone new sitting alone, you introduce yourself. We’re very inclusive. At some clubs, no one will talk to you and you can feel insecure. We’re just a friendly group of people.”
She described the club as more of a hangout spot.
“You’re welcome to come see us on Friday night, but it’s easiest to come during the festival,” Wilson says. “You’ll need to fill out an application and pay a fee to attend.”
