Sports, Clubs, Music & Other Groups

The fraternal Knights of Pythias were formed in Washington, DC, in 1864, named for the Greek legend of the friendship pf Damon & Pythias.  Local units or "castles" included Anchor Lodge, Babylon, established in 1881, & Unqua Lodge, Amityville, established in 1883.  Pictured is the Wilhelm Tell Lodge, initiated in Breslau on December 30, 1882.  At induction, members received swords inscribed "FCB" for the Pythian motto "Friendship, Charity, Benevolence."

The Ulrich Von Hutten Lodge  of the Sons of Liberty of the State of New York was chartered in Breslau in 1888.  Named in homage to the German Reformationist scholar, poet, & satirist, the order proposed building a home for the poor, infirm, widowed, & orphaned brethren, modeled after the Long Island Home in Amityville.  Despite years of fundraising, plans never came to fruition, & the lodge was dissolved in 1896.

The local Boys' Brigade, similar to the Boy Scouts, is pictured around 1910.  The South Side Signal reported, "Acting Captain W.F. Wild (rear, center)...was presented with a beautiful pearl handled knife as a token of their esteem.  The boys in return were given their 1st allotment of rifles for drill work....The boys were on the streets a few evenings ago marching & drilling & drew applause from all for their clever work."

Honoring the famous canal, the Panama Athletic Association formed to establish school sports teams & a gymnasium "in order to play games & take some muscular exercise during the cold blasts of winter" in 1913.  The South Side Signal proclaimed, "Uncle Sam believes that 'all work & no play makes Jack a dull boy,' & the boys & girls of Lindenhurst are with Uncle Sam in the construction of the Panama Canal.

The Breslau Cornet Band is pictured with its stage wagon in 1895.  In 1889, the South Side Signal announced that visiting trombonist Ewald Stolz composed a march for the band & "on account of the lessons which they enjoyed under the instruction of the eminent musician, have improved wonderfully."  In August 1888, the International Trumpet Guild journal described Stolz as "one of the greatest trombone players of the world to-day."

Louis F. Wrieth's Band is pictured at Gleste's Hotel about 1904.  Louis' father, Gottlieb L. Wrieth, owned a hotel at the northeast corner of Wellwood & Hoffman Avenues.  The March 9, 1901, South Side Signal excitedly proclaimed "the first dance under the auspices of L.F. Wrieth's Brass Band & Orchestra is announced for Saturday, April 27, at Washington Hall.  Bear the date in mind, & make no other plans for that evening.  Tickets, admitting one, 10 cents.

The Plug Hat Bowling Club is pictured around 1913.  From left to right are (seated) Peter Nuener, team captain, & Charles Vollmer; (standing) Charles Baiter, George Otten, Otto Vetterly, & Charles Bruno Gnilka,  Taking their name from a popular style of top hat, the club was active from around 1910 to 1914 & played at area bowling alleys, including those in Sayville, the Alhambra Opera House, the amusement hall in Babylon village, & the lanes at Gleste's Hotel.  In a display of team rivalries, the December 16, 1910, South Side Signal reported, "A picked team of the Thursday Night Bowling Club...went to Babylon last Friday evening & were trimmed for three straights by the Plug Hat Club at the Alhambra.  A return game will be played at Gleste's alley tonight...   & it is said the Plug Hats will be served up some of their own bacon."

The 1890's bicycling craze inspired the 1896 formation of the Progress Wheelmen, whose excursions went as far as Bohemia, Hicksville, & Jamaica.  Local bicycle dealer & repairman William F. Wild advertised "a full line of (bicycle) sundries & parts always on hand."  The South Side Signal published a challenge from the Lindenhurst Wheelmen to race a member of the Progress Wheelmen "for a prize to be decided upon."

Brothers-in-law August Voldenauer (left) & George Weierter, both members of the Union Hook & Ladder Company, pose with their bicycles around 1900.  Weierter, a Progress Wheelmen member, was a contractor who built many Lindenhurst buildings, including the National Theatre.  Voldenauer, a merchant, held many public offices including school truant officer, president of the Lindenhurst Board of Trade, & keeper of the Riverhead Jail under Sheriff Henry Brown.

Members of the Creedmore Athletic Club pose with a car decorated for the 1920 parade celebrating the community's 50th anniversary.  The Creedmore Athletic Club formed in 1914 to promote athletics & established a clubhouse behind the National Theatre where it "installed various indoor athletic paraphernalia", according to the March 17, 1916, South Side Signal.   The South Shore Baseball League, formed in 1919, included the Creedmores & teams from Babylon, Bay Shore, Sayville & Patchogue.

The Lindenhurst Athletic Club baseball team is pictured in 1910.  Club members held fundraisers for uniforms & equipment.  The South Side Signal  congratulated the club on its 1895 masquerade ball at Gleste's Hall: "It was undoubtedly the most successful ball....Fully 300 persons were present, & over 100 were masked...The hall was beautifully decorated, & was lighted with a calcium light (limelight).  The effect was beautiful."  The club was formed in 1893 & disbanded in 1921.

Boy Scout Troop 60 formed in 1918.  Scouts furnished their own uniforms & equipment & paid a 25-cent membership fee & 10-cent monthly dues.  To celebrate the February 1919 Scouting movement anniversary, the South Side Signal reported that Boy Scouts took a hike to Pinelawn (East Farmingdale) "where they cooked dinners in regular scout fashion," attended a St. John's church service, & held a celebratory dinner at Feller's Hall with 18 Girl Scouts as their guests.

Formed in 1918, the Lindenhurst Girl Scout troop poses below at the School Street School after marching in the 1919 Decoration Day (Memorial Day) parade.  In April, 1919, Scoutmaster Robert W. Wild led 40 Boy Scouts & Capt. Louise Weierter led 20 Girl Scouts by special trolley to Babylon & acted as honor guard for James W. Gerard, former US ambassador to Germany, who spoke at the Church Institute.

As their name implies, members of the Phoenix Rod & Gun Club enjoyed fishing & hunting, as pictured at their clubhouse, formerly situated on the marshlands along the Great South Bay.  

In the early years of the Phoenix Rod & Gun Club, the July 24, 1897, South Side Signal reported, "Quite a number of members of the Phoenix Rod & Gun Club are at the clubhouse at the foot of Wellwood Avenue, & are having no end of fun fishing, sailing, bathing, etc.  The club men are all jolly fellows, & if there is any fun to be had, afloat or ashore, they are sure to find it."  Primarily composed of Brooklyn & Manhattan residents, the club was dissolved in 1917.

The members of the Wilhelm Tell Rifle Club, formed in 1909, engaged in shooting competitions against one another & other clubs.  Named for the Swiss folk hero & marksman, the clubhouse was adorned with a Swiss flag & an American flag for its formal dedication on May 28, 1911.  The old clubhouse was later expanded to form the current American Legion Hall.

In the summer of 1911, the Wilhelm Tell Rifle Club hosted the United States Shooting Clubs of America for its annual Bundesfest shooting festival.  The 200-foot target range at the Herbert Street complex could accommodate 10 riflemen simultaneously.  Targets were placed in a concrete house connected to the clubhouse by telephone.  The September 1, 1911, South Side Signal described the event: "By a clever electrical scoring apparatus the various scores were immediately flashed before the official scorer, allowing no delay in the contests."  

One of the oldest fraternal organizations in the United States is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  Breslau Lodge #524 organized in 1885.  Active in the community, the lodge fundraised for the erection of a clubhouse at the southwest corner of Hoffman Avenue & Travis Street.  The lodge held its 1st meeting in the hall on February 16, 1910.  The initials I.O.O.F. can still be seen at the top of the building, currently Restoration Kitchen.

Pictured is the Rebekah Lodge class of 1924.  Local women formed G.D. Meinen Lodge #119, Daughters of Rebekah, an independent branch of Odd Fellows, originally exclusive to women.  Celebrating their 4th anniversary, an 1894 South Side Signal announced, "The annual concert & picnic of G.D. Meinen Rebekah Degree Lodge takes place at the Washington Pavilion...no one who is in search of an evening's pleasure should miss it.  See hand bills for particulars."

A parade & firemen's tournament was held on June 28, 1920, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the community's founding.  Despite the rainy weather, the July 2, 1920, South Side Signal declared that "Lindenhurst lived up to her reputation as a doer of big things," in that the nearly 8,000 people assembled were "either fed, entertained, protected & cared for without an accident, arrest or any unpleasant incident to mar their pleasure."  The parade began at 11:30 a.m., headed by grand marshal Charles Helling & police chief Herbert Mielke.  The hour-long parade included "800 uniformed men, 50 fire apparatus, including racing outfits, 20 bands & drum corps.  There was only one horse drawn truck, the balance being motorized, showing a positive indication of a new era of a motor age."  Many local organizations decorated motorcars & marched in the parade to demonstrate their community pride.  Foresters of America Court Lindenhurst #498 decorated its truck in stars & stripes.  The local Foresters Court organized  in 1910, held local benefits, & was active in the community.

The Elks Lodge got into the June 28, 1920 Lindenhurst semicentennial parade spirit with a car festooned with crepe paper & a jaunty umbrella.  The parade celebrated the 50th anniversary of the community's founding.

Positioned near the Sheide beverage truck, local women of the American Red Cross pose with a young Uncle Sam & Lady Liberty at the June 28, 1920 Lindenhurst semicentennial parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the community's founding.  A Red Cross chapter formed in Lindenhurst in 1917 under chairwoman Georgia Ackerly.  The October 12, 1917, South Side Signal informed the public that Rosa Ramsauer offered use of her family's plumbing & tinsmith shop on Wellwood Avenue to "the new auxiliary which was accepted with thanks.  Mrs. (Lilian) Boehl, who is an expert with the knitting needle, also offered to give one evening each week at the headquarters to instruct any who desire to knit sweaters, etc. for our soldier boys."