German Society of Maryland

Our 241st Anniversary Dinner will be held on November 2, 2024.
Additional reservations are not longer being taken. Scroll down for more information.

Welcome to the German Society of Maryland

 The German Society of Maryland aims to preserve and promote the German heritage, language, and traditions through educational, social and benevolent programs; and to develop the unity and continuity of the German American community in the State of Maryland.

Membership: Anyone interested in promoting and preserving the German heritage in Maryland may join the Society. We welcome you regardless of ethnic or religious background. Annual dues are $25 per year. Teachers receive a reduced membership rate of $15. Student membership is free. Lifetime memberships are $250.

Donations: The German Society of Maryland is a non-profit, charitable corporation under the provisions of
§501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are welcome and are fully tax-deductible.

Featured Upcoming Events

Check our calendar and blog for a full listing of German Society activities and announcements. 

241st Anniversary Dinner, November 2, 2024

Matthew’s 1600
1600 Frederick Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
November 2, 2024, 6:00–9:00 PM

All members and friends of the German Society of Maryland who purchased tickets should have received confirmation. If you think you made a reservation, but did not receive a confirmation, please contact Steven Harper, President by email at president.gsm@germansociety-md.com

As of Wednesday, October 30, we are no longer accepting additional invitations.

St. Martin's Day Lantern Procession, November 9, 2024

Zion Church of the City of Baltimore
400 E Lexington St.
Baltimore, MD
November 9, 2024, 5:00–7:00 PM

A great family friendly events for the kids and grandchildren! The evening opens with a mass reenactment of the story of St. Martin and Beggar, followed by a lantern procession around Baltimore’s City Hall Plaza. Refreshments including Wienerwurst and the traditional Weckman dough figure will be provided to the children. Light refreshments including Glühwein will be available for the adults. 

There is no charge for this event, but donations to support the German Language School are graciously accepted.

Free parking in the church lot at 146 N. Gay Street

Please register your plans to attend so that we can ensure sufficient refreshments. 

This event is hosted by the German Language School at Zion Church of the City of Baltimore with support from the German Society of Maryland.

Weckmänner are a common treat at St. Martin's Day festivities
Mass Re-Enactment of the Story of St. Martin and the Beggar
St. Martin's Day Lantern Procession at Zion Church in 2023

Some Recent Activities

German for Beer Festivals, October 29, 2024

Rathskeller German Restaurant
5782 Main St.
Elkridge, MD
October 29, 2024, 6:30–7:30 PM

Want to have more fun at German beer festivals? Join us for the second session of “German for Beer Festivals.” 

This is your chance to learn and practice some basic German and sing the classic German drinking songs. We will start the session with a short German lesson–how to introduce yourself, how to order your beer, some pronunciation tips, and answers to questions you might have from your Duolingo or other online class. Then the member of the Arion Gesang-Verein, Baltimore’s German singing club, will teach us some of the common German drinking songs. 

This event is a joint undertaking of the German Society of Maryland, the Arion Gesang-Verein, and the Rathskeller Restaurant. All levels of German ability welcome. Proceeds from the $5 participation fee go to benefit the Arion Gesang-Verein. 

For more information and to buy a ticket in advance visit the Rathskeller ticketing web page. Advanced purchase is not required–walk-ins are welcome. Come early and order a beer and schnitzel before the sessions starts. 

German Society Booth at the Germantown Oktoberfest

Through the courtesy of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, the German Society had a booth at the Germantown Octoberfest on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Society President Steven Harper, First Vice President Bill Kommalan, and member Barbara Harper staffed the booth. Germantown has experienced major growth over the last 50 years, and many current residents know little about the German heritage of their town and state. We signed up a number of new members, whom we hope to see at future German Society events. 

Barbara and Steven Harper represented the Society at the Germantown Oktoberfest
A German dance troupe from Richmond, VA, joined the opening parade
Bill Kommalan drinks to the success of the Oktoberfest
No beer for these guys–they are happy enough already!

Tour of the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
and a Cold Beer at the Frederick Oktoberfest

On September 28, members and friends of the German Society of Maryland had a private tour of the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum. 

After the tour, the group re-gathered at the Frederick Oktoberfest and enjoyed a beer together. 

 

Schifferstadt Garden
Schifferstadt Historical Plaque
Schifferstadt House
About Schifferstadt

Joseph and Cathrine Brunner arrived in Frederick County in 1736. They named their new 302-acre farm Schifferstadt after their hometown in Germany’s Palatinate region.

In 1758 they replaced their initial log cabin with a stone farm house. That home is now one of the oldest in Frederick county and is an example of how German settlers adapted their tradition to the American frontier.

The museum possesses the only 5-plate stove still in its original location (see photo below). The inscription on the plates read: Wo Euer Schatz Ist Da Its Auch Euer Herz (Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart). 

 

Docent Meg Ames discusses the kitchen at Schifferstadt
Docent Meg Ames discusses the kitchen at Schifferstadt
Docent Meg Ames highlights the details of the Schifferstadt's unique 5-plate stove used for heating the house
Docent Meg Ames highlights the details of the Schifferstadt's unique 5-plate stove used for heating the house
Members of the German Society pose for a photo at the Schifferstadt Museum before heading off to the Frederick Oktoberfest
Members of the German Society pose for a photo at the Schifferstadt Museum before heading off to the Frederick Oktoberfest

Maryland German Festival July 13 &14, 2024

It was great seeing so many of our members at the German Festival! And a special thanks to all those who volunteered in our booth or helped check IDs at the front gate. 

We look forward to seeing you next year!

Private Tour of the Baltimore Immigration Museum June 30, 2024

On Sunday June 30, 2024, the Baltimore Immigration Museum gave a private tour of the museum to members of the German Society.

Members were welcomed to the museum by Brigitte Fessenden, President of the Baltimore Immigration Museum. Brigitte is also a past president of the German Society and serves on the Society’s  Board of Directors.

Nicholas Fessenden, Historian for the Immigration Museum, spoke about German immigration to the United States and the role that the port of Baltimore played. 

Located in Locust Point, the Baltimore Immigration Museum is housed in the former Immigrant House, which was built in 1904 by the neighboring Deutsche Vereinigte Evangelische Christus Kirche (now the Locust Point Community Church UCC) to provide temporary housing for newly arrived immigrants, especially from Germany.  

Members had been encouraged to submit the names of ancestors who landed in Baltimore so that museum databases could be searched for information about those people. During the event, participants were able to sit down with a museum volunteer to review what materials had been found their family members.

Participants also enjoyed coffee, iced tea, and other refreshments, as well as homemade Bienstich (Bee Sting) cake baked by German Society President, Steven Harper. 

 

Dr. Nicholas Fessenden spoke about German immigration to Baltimore.
German Society President Steven Harper served Bienenstich (Bee Sting) cake for the event.

2024 Annual Business Meeting
April 13, 2024

Members enjoy dinner before Business Meeting (April 13, 2024)
Members enjoy dinner before Business Meeting (April 13, 2024)

Members of the German Society of Maryland gathered for the Annual Business Meeting on April 13, 2024. Prior to the business portion of the meeting, members enjoined a a light supper of German food and drink catered by Hausfrau Catering. 

During the meeting, members elected former-President Kraig Dean to be a Lifetime Director of the Society and Lynette Dean was elected to a 3-year term as a Director.  Members also approved bylaw changes reducing the quorum needed for Board Meetings from ten to seven, authorizing online meetings of the Board, and creating the position of Emeritus Director. This new class of directors honors Lifetime Directors who are due to age or health are no longer able to actively serve as directors. 

President Steven Harper also reviewed the year’s activities and introduced the winner of the Summer Study Scholarship, Charlie Schmidt, to the assembled members. Charlie is a homeschooled student from Catonsville, MD. He and his parents are members of the Society. 

Dinner Buffet at the Annual Business Meeting (April 13, 2024)
Dinner Buffet at the Annual Business Meeting (April 13, 2024)
President Steven Harper Addresses the Annual Business Meeting
High School Members of the German Society, including Charlie Schmidt (right), winner of the 2024 Summer Travel Scholarship.

240th Anniversary Dinner (November 4, 2023)

On Saturday, November 4, the German Society of Maryland celebrated its 240th Anniversary with a dinner at the Fogo de Chao restaurant at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

The celebration opened with a toast to the Society with wines from the Weegmüller winery in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, specially purchased for the occasion. After the singing of the German and American national anthems, Pastor Siegfried Otto (a past-president of the Society) offered an invocation and attendees then enjoyed an outstanding meal, albeit Brazilian and not German! During the dessert course, Dr. Nicholas Fessenden (President of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland) gave a short presentation on the history of our Society. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s dinner.