In the early sixties, Charles H. Sipple III had the idea of a society honoring men of German descent. Having attended a number of St. Andrew’s Society banquets, he was impressed by their devotion to and celebration of Scottish heritage. Charles Sipple shared his thoughts with Reverend Curtis Derrick, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension, while the two were en route to Bonaventure Cemetery to attend a funeral. He told the pastor that those of German descent in our community should embrace our rich and noble heritage, one that had been tainted by German involvement in two twentieth century world wars.
After much discussion, the two agreed that Savannah should have a society composed of native-born Germans, their sons, grandsons and great-grandsons along with any direct lineal male descendant of a German man or woman. Charles Sipple solicited the aid of his longtime friend, Jack E. Altman, Jr. and Pastor Derrick suggested George H. Oelschig assist with the creation of the society as well. Sipple, Altman and Oelschig met one morning over coffee at the Pirates’ House to share their ideas. They all felt that for a German society to be successful, it should have the blessings of both Pastor Derrick of Ascension and Pastor Joseph Griffin of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the two largest Lutheran congregations in Savannah. With the blessings of these two Lutheran pastors, a second meeting was held at Johnnie Ganem’s Restaurant to plot the course for the new society. These five men—Sipple, Altman and Oelschig along with Pastors Derrick and Griffin—laid the groundwork and worked diligently in the early years to build a successful society. While there were existing German social organizations in the city, it was the clear goal of the founding committee to make this organization something unique and special.
To that end, the founding committee quickly grew to include attorney Luhr G. C. Beckmann, Jr. and Dr. Henry C. Frech, both of whom made substantial contributions in this early phase. The first formal meeting of the expanded committee was held at the Sipple residence, 20 Pinewood Avenue. In attendance were Charles Sipple, Jack Altman, George Oelschig, Pastor Derrick, Luhr Beckmann and Dr. Frech; Pastor Griffin no longer resided in the city. Charles Sipple chaired the organizational meeting and the committee continued to meet regularly at Dr. Frech’s office. Despite the weekly meeting schedule, the committee needed more than a year to frame a preamble and by-laws and to select the initial cohort of members. Sallylu R. Sipple, wife of Charles Sipple, designed the badge that the society continues to use today.
This charter group expanded further to include Herman H. Grotheer, Jr. Fred J. Hart and Thomas A. Smith. These men, together with the six original members of the organizing committee, elected the prospective members through a black ball system, with each candidate standing on his individual merits. Each prospective member was invited by a member of the organizational committee to gauge the degree of excitement for a new German society in Savannah. The committee received robust enthusiasm as each candidate eagerly accepted his invitation to join. The society began with ninety-five charter members.
The charter meeting of our yet-to-be-named society was held at the Gold Room of the old DeSoto Hotel on January 28, 1965 at 8 PM. Charles Sipple presided over the meeting and the first order of business was choosing a name for the society. After several suggestions, Dr. Charles Usher offered “The German Heritage Society” which was enthusiastically approved by the membership. The following charter officers and stewards were also elected: Charles H. Sipple, President; Dr. Henry C. Frech, Jr., President-elect; George H. Oelschig, Vice-President; Luhr G. C. Beckmann, Jr., Secretary; Hal H. Hoerner, Treasurer; Reverend Curtis E. Derrick, Jr., Archivist. The Board of Stewards included: Dale Critz, Edward J. Derst, Jr., Jesse L. Fulenwider, Jr., Henry M. Garwes, Jr., Herman H. Grotheer, Jr., and Frank K. Peeples.
The newly installed officers and stewards immediately turned their attention to the first annual banquet to be held on Thursday, October 28, 1965. A formal gourmet dinner was planned replete with German music and renowned speakers; the assessment was fifteen dollars for each member and guest. National radio personality Paul Harvey was to be the featured speaker; however, it was Reverend Benjamin Bedenbaugh, professor at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, who sent the audience home with their sides splitting from his hilarious and risqué talk. Reverend Bedenbaugh’s remarks, along with George Oelschig’s menu selections and Jack Altman’s colorful telegrams—which he wrote and delivered—made the first annual banquet a smashing success and the talk of the town. The German Heritage Society was well on its way to carving its place in a city with many proud ethnic organizations.
The grand traditions that began at the inaugural banquet in 1965 have continued each October (except in 2020 due to COVID restrictions) through the years. The German Heritage Society is proud of its multiple course gourmet dinners, the delicious German wine enjoyed for toasting, the warm fellowship which is renewed each year and the outstanding list of speakers including Douglas Edwards, Red Mitchum, Jerry Clower, Lewis Grizzard and Bubba Bechtal. These ingredients combine for a banquet experience that makes for a most enjoyable and memorable evening for both members and guests.
But the German Heritage Society is much more than just an annual stag banquet. Members also meet in April for a business meeting and with the ladies at winter and summer socials. On March 3, 1989, members, wives and guests celebrated the society’s 25th Anniversary with a banquet at the Hyatt Hotel. The society also organized trips to Germany in 1967, 1970 and again in 2000 to enjoy Oktoberfest.
J. Curtis Lewis, Jr. began a scholarship fund with members of the society contributing to further the educations of German students in the United States and American students studying in Germany. On our state’s 250th birthday in 1983, scholarship prizes were awarded to three local students who won an essay contest about the contributions of German settlers to Georgia. The German Heritage Society is committed to the promotion and greater understanding of German history and culture and educational programing and sponsorships serve that vital mission.
The German Heritage Society also joined a national movement by lobbying Georgia’s lawmakers to name October 6 each year as German American Day to honor the achievements of German-Americans in the United States. Dr. Julian K. Quattlebaum, Jr., represented the society and attended the celebration of the inaugural German-American Day on October 6, 1988 held at the German embassy in Washington D.C. In celebration of the first German-American Day in Savannah, The German Heritage Society in conjunction with the German Friendly Society and the Salzburger Society broke ground for a fountain in Orleans Square to honor German immigrants who settled in the city. Shirley Oelschig, wife of George Oelschig, suggested the idea and the three societies raised the necessary $50,000 with an additional $30,000 contributed by the city of Savannah to complete the project. The fountain began flowing on March 13, 1989 with the formal dedication taking place on German-American Day, October 6, 1989. To further honor German-American Day, the annual banquet is held on the Thursday evening of the week in which the day falls.
The first decade of the new millennium saw members and guests continuing to enjoy the annual banquet; however, the membership sought other ways in which to spread German culture. To celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the society, a special event was held with members and their wives on March 10, 2000, with the theme “Best of 35 Years.” On April 22, 2005, the 40th Anniversary was celebrated with a similar banquet and member Justin Burgstiner as speaker. In 2008, member Frank W. (Sonny) Seiler delighted the audience with his stories about the University of Georgia mascot, “UGA.” On May 9, 2014, the Society celebrated its Golden Anniversary Banquet at the DeSoto Hilton Hotel, the newer version of the hotel that hosted the initial organizational meeting in January of 1965.
To enhance the German theme of the society’s banquets and meetings, nineteen full-size flags were purchased seventeen of which represent the states of the Federal Republic of Germany while the other two represent Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany with the German Eagle Crest.
Contained in the society’s preamble are the lines: “To perpetuate the cultural, historical, linguistic and scientific influence of Deutchland.” Our society strives to make its presence known in these areas both at home and abroad. Locally, the society sponsored the German Memorial Stone at The Coastal Heritage Society’s recreation at Battlefield Park. It is designed to commemorate the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah and Spring Hill Redoubt on October 9, 1779. The German Heritage Society joins seven other local groups and societies that honored their respective participants in this bloody engagement. A bench inscribed with the society’s name was given as part of the Ranger Memorial Monument at Hunter Army Airfield. This memorial was dedicated on October 18, 2007 to honor fallen Rangers. It is a place where families may visit, reflect and honor loved ones who served their country.
In Germany, the German Heritage Society generously contributed to the Frauenkirche-Dresden Lutheran Church for its restoration. This historic place of worship was destroyed near the end of World War II. In 2006, scrolls with the names of the donors form our organization were personally delivered to the church officials by Diane and Paul Jurgensen. They saw the two stones that were numbered 856 and 857 which were installed over an arched window. These numbers are recorded in the church archives in appreciation for the gift from our society and its members. Society members also made a substantial contribution to the World War II memorial erected in 2010 on River Street in Savannah.
The German Heritage Society has come a long way since Charles Sipple broached the idea with Pastor Derrick. The society’s accomplishments which include its elegant annual banquet and the fountain in Orleans Square are both wonderful and tangible. But it is that feeling of pride for their German heritage and ancestry that the members cherish through their fellowship and association with other members that really makes the German Heritage Society a special organization.
Compiled by
Edwin H. Culver