Any attempt to write an adequate history of the Freeport Saengerbund is necessarily attended with many difficulties, when it is considered that none of the early records of the society were preserved and of the original members but one survives, Mr. Phil Hoebel of Blaristown,, Iowa. Hence it is from personal recollections only, in addition to the brief mention which is contained in the early numbers of the Deutscher Anzeiger, that the writer has to draw upon for the early history, and since at the time of the organization of the Bund he was but a boy of fourteen – not yet eligible to membership – his memory may occasionally have lead him into error. Mr. Hoebel, however, verifies the statement that it was largely due to the efforts of the senior William Wagner that the society came into existence.

On Saturday evening, Dec. 15, 1855, in response to an appeal published in the preceding issue of the Anzeiger twenty men – both old and young – assembled in the hall in the third floor of the Hoebel building, at present No. 79 Stephenson Street, for the purpose of organizing a Singing Society. The project met with such favor that the organization of the Society, for which the name Freeport Saengerbund was chosen, -- was duly accomplished, and a constitution and by-laws, prepared in advance by one of the more zealous agitators of the movement, were adopted. The first president of the organization was Mr. Carl Strohacker, and Mr. John Geiger held the office of secretary for many years. The following are the names of some of the charter members: Wm. Bergholte, Phil. Fleischmann, John Geiger, Geo. Held, John, Phil, and Peter Hoebel, Louis Jungkunz, Jos. Lampert, Carl Schoen, H. Schrenkler, John M. and Henry Spratler, Carl Strohacker, and Wilhelm Wagner.

Mr. P. Knecht, a German teacher, who had emigrated from Rhenish Bavaria a few years before, was unanimously chosen director, a position he filled very creditably for eight years. The first rehearsal took place Friday evening, Dec. 21, in the same hall in which the organization of the Bund was perfected and during the fifty years following Friday evening has continued to be rehearsal evening except in especial exigencies.

The first social entertainment was given on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, 1856, at which choruses, solos, and declamations comprised the program, and these gatherings were given bi-weekly every winter for many years, though later on evenings instead of afternoons. On Easter Monday, March 24, 1856, the society made its debut in public concert, followed by a dance, in Phoenix Hall. Besides choruses the program embraced solos, duets, and also piano selections for two and four hands, and in a communication, which appeared in the Anzeiger, written by Mr. Christian Mueller, long since deceased, that gentleman spoke very favorably of the concert, urging the singers on to continued efforts.

In 1856 a German Turn-Verein was organized, which together with the Saengerbund formed the center of the society life for the German element of the community. Almost all the liberal minded Germans belonged to one or the other of the societies, and many to both. Festivities of every sort were held and especially was the celebration of the 4th of July made an occasion of the great rejoicing for many years. The two societies worked hand in hand even after the Turn-Verein organized a singing section of its own. The two choruses would forget all differences and rivalries and mingle their voices on many occasions. On Nov. 10, 1859, at the centennary celebration of the poet Schiller’s birth, the societies sang a chorus together and each rendered two numbers independently.

Toward the end of the fifties the Saengerbund took an active part in a national Saengerbund, but no details of this event are to be found. In 1863 Mr. Knecht, who had also assumed the leadership of the singing section of the Turn-Verein, resigned his position as director of the Saengerbund and Mr. W. H. Wagner was chosen in his stead. The new director was young in years, only twenty-two at the time, and comparatively lacking in musical knowledge and experience, but he set himself to his task with such zeal and enthusiasm – practicing oftentimes until late into the night hours – that success rewarded his efforts.

By the end of the year 1863 the society had increased its membership to such an extent as to necessitate larger quarters and in February 1864 rooms in the building Nos. 100-102 Stephenson St., previously vacated by the Masonic fraternities, were occupied. In this hall, which was almost twice as large as the original meeting place, many pleasant and happy hours were spent. In those days, the director received no stipulated salary but occasionally gifts were made or a benefit concert arranged for him. One of these, during the winter of 64-65, from which the beneficiary received an unexpectedly large sum, will always be remembered by him with gratitude. Either in the year of 1865 or 66 the society moved its habitation again and this time to Hettinger’s hall, now known as Armory hall and in the meantime, as the young director was becoming more experienced, the renditions of the society gradually improved, so that on the occasion of a gathering held at Mineral Point, Wis., our singers were rewarded with great applause for the manner in which they rendered their selections.

The Saengerbund of the Northwest held a Fest in Galena from the 17th to the 19th of June 1869 and although the Freeport society was not a member of the Bund at that time, an invitation was extended to us by our Galena confreres to attend, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure. We reached Galena in advance of any other society. In fact up to the afternoon of the second day the Freeporters were the only visiting singers in attendance, and at the first concert they with their hosts, the Galena society, occupied the stage alone. The Fest-President in an address commended the Freeport Saengerbund for this and citied it as a model society.

In 1870 arrangements for a private Saengerfest were perfected and an invitation was extended to all German singing societies within a radius of 100 miles. The Fest was held from the 14th to the 16th of June and was participated in by the singers of the following cities: Davenport and Dubuque, Ia., Mineral Point, Janesville, and Burlington, Wis., Galena, Sterling, Rockford, Mendota and two societies from towns of our own county, Davis and Lena. The societies of Dixon and Amboy were represented by delegates, and the Davenport, Dubuque and Mineral Point contingencies were each accompanied by a band. The grand chorus comprised about 200 voices and the singers were assisted by an orchestra from Davenport, the Germania band from Dubuque and the local Union Cornet band. Upon this occasion addresses were delivered by the well known orator, Mr. Caspar Butz, of Chicago, in the German and Hon. T. J. Turner in the English language. Not only the German, but also the English speaking public was very enthusiastic in its praise of the event, and the marked success of the Fest induced the Freeport singers to ally themselves with the Saengerbund of the Northwest, since which time no Saengerfest of the Bund has been held at which the Freeport Saengerbund has failed to respond to the roll call.

In 1875 a number of the members of the Saengerbund assisted the musical director of the singing section of the Turn-Verein, Prof. E. Bischoff, in the presentation of the entire opera Freischuetz.

It having been decided that in the year 1877 the Saengerfest of the Northwest Saengerbund be held in Freeport, Mr. W. H. Wagner, not regarding himself competent to conduct so extensive an undertaking, resigned from the position as director of the society in the spring of this year and in his stead Prof. E. Bischoff was selected under whose leadership the Fest was held. About 170 visiting singers attended, scarcely more than took part in the private Fest held seven years previously. This was due to the fact that only one society from Milwaukee appeared in a body and two of the other societies merely send delegates. This was a great disappointment to the local Fest committee, who had expected the Milwaukee singers to turn out en masse; nevertheless from a musical standpoint, the Fest was a complete success. Bach’s celebrated orchestra from Milwaukee furnished the instrumental music and all of the grand choruses were rendered with orchestral accompaniment.

In November of the same year the Saengerbund and the Turn-Verein merged into one society under the name of Germania Society. This union was accomplished in the hope of becoming a more influential factor in the German life of the city. In 1882 the Turn hall, also rechristened Germania Hall, was remodeled and as a fitting dedication a grand concert was arranged, for which a part of the program was the presentation of the second part of Flotow’s opera “Stradella.” The several roles were sung by the following local talent: Leonora by Miss Alma Meyer, now Mrs. Louis Biersach; Stradella by Mr. H. W. Schroeder, now deceased; Barbarino by Mr. Ben Stoneman, who removed to California, and Malvolio by Mr. R. Hefti now of Chicago. The chorus numbered forty voices, assisted by an orchestra of fourteen pieces. This concert was unquestionably one of the best ever given under the auspices of the Saengerbund.

Yielding to the solicitation of the official body of the Saengerbund of the Northwest, the local society again undertook the management of a Fest in 1887. Prof. Bischoff had resigned the directorship at the conclusion of the Fest of 1877 and Mr. Wagner was again wielding the baton. At both of the previous Fests the concerts were given in Wilcoxon’s opera house, but this time, inasmuch as upwards of 400 visiting singers alone were expected, it was necessary to seek more ample quarters. The management decided to rent Taylor’s park and by erecting a temporary stage in front of the large amphitheatre for the accommodation of the singers and musicians – the audience to occupy the space in front of the stage and also the amphitheatre – provision was made for the large crowds which attended the concerts both afternoons and evenings. Nothing marred the success of the affair until the last day, just as the picnic was in progress, a heavy down-pour of rain scattered the crowds to their homes much to the chagrin of the Fest committee, whose treasury suffered in consequence. All that prevented a heavy deficit on the day of balancing accounts was the generosity of Mr. J. B. Taylor, owner of the park, in giving the use of the same almost gratis.

Toward the latter part of the year 1888 – the director now having served the society for 25 years and desiring to be released from his duties, Prof. Holub of Milwaukee, Wis., was engaged. His regime was brief, he conducting the society but three months. In May 1890 Prof. E. Lux was called to the leadership and he too remained but a few months; each time the former director, Mr. Wagner, being forced to step into the breach and again take up the baton. In January 1894 Prof. E. Tamm, a graduate of the Leipzig Conservatory of Music, who had come to Freeport to locate, was induced to take the directorship of the society, and under him much good work was accomplished. However, as a result of dissensions arising between the Saengerbund and the Turn section of the Germania society the former withdrew in February, 1896, and held its meetings in Blust’s hall for a time. Scarcely a year later they rented quarters from the Germania and in 1897 again allied themselves with that society, the former difficulties having in the meantime been adjusted. In April 1898, Prof. Tamm resigned and Mr. Wagner was again at the helm for four more years. At the end of this period – having served the Bund in all fully 33 years – he felt privileged to rest from his labors in the field of music. The present incumbent, Prof. Theo. H. Trost, was appointed in October 1903, the society having previously been conducted a few months by Mr. Aug. Schmacker, for years a member of the Saengerbund.

Owing to the fact that the younger generation of Germans does not cherish the customs and traditions of the elders, the musical-literary entertainments of the early days have for years only been given occasionally. The annual “Carnival of Fools,” which, since 1899, is held just preceding lent, has found great favor with the public and owing to its humorous features always attracts large audiences.

To the credit of the Freeport Saengerbund, however, let it be said that its members have always championed German song and the spirit and customs of the Fatherland, and it is the fervent hpe of the writer that in the future as in the past they may labor in the same direction, always true to the motto of the Saengerbund of the Northwest: