Lincoln Square's history is inextricably connected with the lives of thousands of German immigrants who settled in the area as a result of World War II. As a legacy of this emigration, Lincoln Square is home to the largest chapter of the largest organization of German-Americans in the United States—the German American National Congress, or DANK (Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress). If you know Lincoln Square, you've probably seen the DANK Haus headquarters rising above the neighborhood on Western Avenue, its six stories offering some of the area's best views. The DANK Haus is not only an important meeting place for a variety of German organizations, it's also a resource for the community that helps connect people of German descent while introducing others to German culture.
The German American National Congress was founded in 1959, the same year that Chicago's North Chapter was started. The organization began as a voice for German-Americans who joined together to promote German culture and fight against postwar anti-German sentiment. "The DANK was committed to speaking up for immigrants who had been part of Germany for 600 years and suddenly weren't considered Germans anymore once it was reorganized after the war. It represented lots of displaced people," explains Bill Taney, Vice President of the organization. "The organization has always had a strong cultural component, as well, offering opportunities like chartering planes to help people go back and visit their families in Germany, which the organization did until the 1980s." The DANK trips to Germany were extremely popular with its members. "We have a picture in the office that's a panorama of DANK members standing on the tarmac next to a chartered Lufthansa plane," says Bill. When changes in the airline industry made it increasingly unaffordable to charter planes, the trips were discontinued. Today, the DANK offers members discounts on trips to Germany through a partner travel agency. Plus there are many more cultural offerings to experience at the DANK Haus.
The DANK Chicago-North Chapter is one of only three chapters that is fortunate to have a permanent house. Most DANK chapters meet at venues that range from local restaurants to Moose or Elks clubs. (The other two permanent houses are located in Benton Harbor, Michigan and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.) Its Western Avenue building has an interesting past of its own. Built in 1927 as the Three Links Temple, it was originally used as an Oddfellows Lodge, then later became a hotel with a well known restaurant. Strangely, the building was constructed with a pool and a sauna in its basement.
 DANK purchased the building in 1969 and has occupied it ever since. "Members donated money to help buy the building," describes Ernst Ott, president of the DANK since 1995. "We now own the house fully." Ernst has been president of the organization for more than 10 years. He was born in Transylvania and came to the US in 1952. Before he retired, Ernst had a long business career during which he worked as president of Jockey International, as the president of international operations at Johnson Evinrude Outboard Marine and as a photo journalist.
The DANK building features several large meeting rooms, a full ballroom and an outside veranda on the top floor, which is no longer accessible. The organization hosts a variety of events in its ballroom, ranging from its own festivities, such as the Oktoberfest it held this year, to events like the 2004 Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce Holiday Dinner Dance. "We rent out the ballroom space selectively to certain groups for their special events," says Ernst. Seven other German-American organizations call the DANK Haus home, including the Siebenburger Gesang Verein, a Transylvanian singing society; Pommern Mecklenburg, a regional German social club; Siebenburger Zweig 9, a Transylvanian society; Egerlander, a regional German society; Brandenburger Schuetzen, a marksman's club; the German-American Police Association; and the Schlaraffia, a formal debate society that conducts meetings entirely in German. This society has a history that dates back to 1859 in Prague, when it was founded by ordinary men to parody the old aristocratic structure. The DANK Haus has a specially decorated room filled with symbolic artifacts where the Schlaraffia members meet once a week.
Nationally, the DANK has about 4000 members that meet in 19 active chapters around the country, including the Chicago-North Chapter. Chicago has about 750 members who participate in the meetings and many cultural activities it sponsors. Every Saturday, the DANK welcomes people to watch a double feature of German films, while enjoying coffee and cake with other German-speakers. Education is a big component of the DANK's work. One of the floors of the DANK Haus is dedicated to its language school, which teaches about 180 students ranging in age from pre-school to adults. At one time, the DANK sponsored a children's choir. It still produces a bilingual newspaper in-house composed of articles written by its members. The DANK German-American Journal is primarily sent out to the organization's members, as well as some government officials, schools and libraries. Inside the DANK Haus is a museum that archives the history of the organization, its members and of the German people in Chicago. Ernst and other members of the organization make sure to take visitors to the DANK Haus on tours through the museum.
 Having the DANK Haus in Lincoln Square benefits more than the organization's members, as it draws groups from around the country to come and learn about German culture. "Today we have a busload of students coming from Springfield, Illinois," explains Ernst. "Visitors to the DANK represent a significant part of the business in Lincoln Square. When people come here, they also want to go shopping." The DANK Haus receives regular visits from groups of teachers and students involved in exchange programs to Germany and Austria. "They come here and I give a little talk about the culture there, what to expect, the things they should and shouldn't do, and so on," says Ernst. Current leaders of the DANK, including Ernst and Bill are working with Alderman Schulter on a plan to transform the DANK Haus into a city-wide German Cultural Center. Plans have been drawn up and city officials are addressing the logistics to make this a reality, opening the DANK Haus to even more people who can learn about the German heritage and enjoy its cultural activities.
The German-American National Congress welcomes both Americans of German descent and anyone interested in German culture to become members. Applicants only need to fill out a form and pay for membership to join, which you can do at www.dank.org. Basic membership starts at only $30. Those who want to learn German or who are looking for others to speak German with would particularly benefit from becoming a part of the organization. Since the DANK Chicago-North chapter was founded, many of its members have become less involved as they have grown older and have moved out of the city. But in recent years, Ernst has noted that the organization is expanding again. "We have a younger group coming in now," he explains. "First it was the German-Americans who immigrated here, now we're seeing subsequent generations coming in who are the second or third generations."
DANK Haus North
German-American National Congress
4740 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.561.9181
www.dankhaus.org |
