2008 Deutscher Erbe Tag
Wilkommen heißen!
Fort Walla Walla Museum, with the Blue Mountain Chapter of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and the Blue Mountain Deutsche Tanzers
present
German Heritage Day!
The celebration occurs Sunday, September 21 from 10 am – 5 pm in the Museum’s pioneer village. This year, the event will serve as the day long Living History presentation during Fall Harvest Festival.
There will be a German/English worship service at 11 am followed by German music, folk dances, with food preparation and preservation demonstrations, including sauerkraut and sausage making. Children’s toys will be available throughout the day and kids are encouraged to join the fun. Of course, German sausage, sauerkraut, and ice cream will be available. It’s a great way to appreciate the distinctive culture of part of Walla Walla’s immigrant heritage.
The Germans from Russia represent a long history and a long journey. Originally invited to settle in Russia by Catherine the Great in 1763, many families took advantage of the numerous incentives, including free land along the Volga River southeast of Moscow, freedom of religion, security, freedom from certain taxes and duties, and freedom from military service offered for their relocation. These were major inducements to people suffering from widespread poverty and malnutrition due to religious wars and feudal infighting.
As time passed, governments changed and so did the status of the relocated German families. Much of their culture remained intact as the immigrants chose to stay in their familiar enclaves, but little by little, their benefits were whittled away, including their responsibility to serve in Russian armies. When wars began to threaten the young men of those families in the mid-1800s, many decided to flee to America.
Walla Walla became a destination for many of those families and they settled in an area south of Chestnut Street and west of Second Avenue in the vicinity of today’s Garrison Middle School and the Fairgrounds. You’ll hear the story of their migration and pride of heritage.
Fall Harvest Festival/German Heritage Day was sponsored in 2007 by:
American West Bank, Inland Northwest Bank, Bank of Whitman, Pacific Power, LeMaster & Daniels, pllc, Banner Bank, Safeway, Gesa Credit Union,
Charter Communications,
The Country Register, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin,
and Best Western Walla Walla Suites Inn. Thank you!
2007 German Heritage Day Schdeule of Events
11:00 German/English Worship Service
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch break
German sausage & sauerkraut
12:30 - 1:00 German Dancing
1:00 - 2:00 Food preparation and preservation demonstrations
2:00 - 3:00 Living History presentation featuring Charles Saranto, Anne Heaton, Auralea Blackman, und freunden (and friends)
3:00 - 45:00 German Dancing and instruction
Children's toys & activities throughout the day.
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