How We Got Started: The German American Friendship Club in El Cajon
The German American Societies Clubhouse, located in El Cajon, is fairly well-known in San Diego because of its annual Oktoberfest celebration, held the first two weekends in October. For members, that’s just one of many offerings the Club provides throughout the year, which brings people together to celebrate fun German traditions in the United States.
This sharing of traditions spans more than 50 years ago, when a large number of native German speakers established a club where they could meet, speak their home language, and share stories and memories from the old countries. Just as they were nostalgic for the past, they were also interested in learning about American culture, customs and traditions – and in finding ways to weave the two together. In the process, they discovered there were many Americans who were interested in learning about German culture, too, so they welcomed guests to their gatherings and soon formed a central hub for German-American education, entertainment, connection and camaraderie.
There have been Germans in San Diego County for a long time. Early records refer to the German Club of the San Diego Turners, who published a German-language weekly as early as the late 1800s. But it was on May 8, 1965, that the abovementioned group of determined German-speakers opened the doors to the first German American Societies, located at Turner Hall.
Very quickly, members formed activity groups including choir, Skat card game gatherings, a Damenkreis Women’s Circle, German language classes and more – most of the groups still in existence today. They also formed host committees to coordinate large annual events and concerts, which supplemented membership dues to provide the revenue that was needed to cover Club operations.
By 1971, the “Society” had more than 1,500 members and could afford to buy and rebuild its own clubhouse on 1017 South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon (East County, San Diego), CA. Many Club members bought thousands of dollars of building blocks so that the Club house could become the great place it is today.
For 52 years the German American Societies’ mission has been to unite Germans and those representing other nationalities who are interested in German culture through a variety of social, cultural and educational activities, to enjoy good fellowship and foster mutual respect between people of all backgrounds.