a member and family. Yet the preparations were so expensive that no profit resulted that year. The second Volksfest again took place in the Union Hill Schuetzen Park on Sept. 4 to 7, 1876, and resulted in netting a neat sum. The third Volksfest was celebrated at the same place Aug. 26 to 29, 1877, and again a bonus of several thousand dollars was obtained. Some of those following in the next few years were given in parks in this city, but it soon was demonstrated that Union Hill was the most advantageous place for the festival.
With very few exceptions, the annual reunions have taken place there, and at present circumstances are such that it is almost a certainty that this park will be the home for all Volksfests for many years to come.
The Plattdütsch Volksfest Vereen has done much in the field of charity since its formation, in 1875. It has contributed to many local philanthropic institutions, both German and American, and no appeal from abroad for any worthy object has been unheeded. The expenditures for charity in cash contributions reach almost $45,000,and most of the prominent local charitable institutions receive regular yearly contributions from its treasury.
The movement for a Fritz Reuter memorial was first started at the Directors' meeting on Oct. 8, 1887. At that session $5,000 of the society's capital was appropriated as a nucleus of a fund for this purpose. Every year after this there has been added to from the receipts of the festival. A committee was appointed, consisting of the following, on Oct. 14, 1888, to devise ways and means for an appropriate Reuter memorial; Henry Kröger, Chairman H. H. Hingslage, John C. Hilser, George H, Wehrenberg, and Frederick Finken. This committee submitted three plans at the meeting on Feb. 9, 1890. These were a statue of the dead poet, a memorial hall, or a home bearing his name for the aged and indigent.
The decision as to which should be adopted was left to a vote of the Plattdeutsche societies, and resulted in a large majority in favor of the latter. Mr. Kröger, Chairman of the committee, was elected to the Presidency of the general organization in 1891, and John Riefe was thereupon appointed Chairman of the Memorial Committee, which was augmented by four members, who were Frederick von Axte, August Bewig, Henry Maass, and Louis Lübben. The committee was again enlarged in 1893, when four names were added, three honorary Presidents, and a Secretary. These were: Honorary Presidents—George Landwehr, Adolph Schreitmüller, and Henry Kröger; Secretary—Bernhard Meyborg.
Active work for a speedy completion of the memorial was then begun with a will, and much progress was made in a a very short time. An opportunity presented itself to purchase the Sheutzen Park, at Union Hill, and, after proper investigation, it was ascertained that there was ample space in the park to erect the old people's home without encroaching upon the picnic grounds. Thereupon John C. Hüser, Henry Kröger, and George H. Wehrenberg were appointed a committee empowered to purchase the property. The Scheutzen Park finally became the property of the Plattdütsch Volksfest Vereen Nov. 14, 1895.
The second payment on the purchase was made last Tuesday, when $51,252.50 was paid, by which the first mortgage was lifted. There still remains an indebtedness on the property of $40,000, which, from the present outlook, will be wiped out before the close of the present year.
The property consists of thirty-two acres of land, of which it is proposed to take eight acres, near the intersection of the Hackensack Plank Road with the New Boulevard, for the site for the home and grounds, with gardens. This plot will be in a separate inclosure, thus leaving the park with twenty-five acres. The picnic grounds have been improved and beautified to a considerable extent since the society acquired the realty. These improvement have entailed an expenditure of $20,000.
The plans so far decided upon for the old people's home are the building of a section as soon as possible and the additions thereto as speedily as funds will permit. The first section of the edifice will be ample to accommodate the sixty inmates and will be the centre of the entire when finished. Architects are now at work on plans, which are expected to be finished in time to exhibit at the coming fair, early in October.
The ladies from the Plattdeutsch section of the Fatherland residing in this city and environs have arrange to hold a fair at Terrace Garden Oct. 2 to 14, 1895, for the benefit of the memorial fund. They have received much encouragement and are as-
