2002
Welcome Speech
by Chairman 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.
