(From the Monthly Progress in 2005)
Merging
In the early thirties, a group of businessmen, all members of the Banater Maennerchor, decided to for their own organization “German Hungarian Business Men’s Association”. Many of these businessmen had summer homes in the Oakford area, which at the time was known as Neshaminy Falls.
Eventually they were able to buy the land that is now our club’s grounds. This did not include the upper soccer fields. That piece of ground was owned by our former president, Frank Kirsch who eventually sold the ground to the United German Hungarians. A short time after the purchase of the property, the businessmen built a small wood structure for a clubhouse. The building consisted of a dance floor, bar, kitchen, and living quarters for the steward.
The German Hungarian Business Men’s Association consisted of plumbers, barbers, butchers, milkmen, shoemakers and many many more. The business organization lasted until shortly after World War II. Since most of these men were getting older, they no longer wished to continue with the problems of running a club. This led to a merger of the GH Business Assoc. and the United German Hungarian Club. Their property in Neshaminy falls became the property of the UGH club. Soon after this merger our club terraced the ground between the old clubhouse and Spruce Street. This made our picnic grounds as you see it today. A soccer field was made on the ground where we now have our main soccer field with stands.
Editor’s Note: from the archives of Rudy Rack – Our club did not only assume the ownership of the ground and buildings but also their $5000.00 mortgage and we spent $22,000.00 on improvements. However, events proved this to be money as the original planning and building was done poorly.
Events
Wenzel Osti was president of our club during the 1930s. While he was in office, tragedy struck. Mr. Osti’s wife died. It was customary in those days to have a Viewing in your residence. Since Mr. Osti was our club president at the time, he decided to have the Viewing at our club house at Second and Norris Streets. Since the club at that time had a substantial membership, it would present a problem if the Viewing was held in his home. Mr. Osti had a daughter, Betty, who was married to Ted Kereczmann, one of our best soccer players at the time.
Editor’s Note: Ted Kereczmann went on to become one of our club’s most influential leaders and was also the founder of this Monthly Newsletter. Wenzel Osti served as club president during the 1930s and again from 1960 to 1962.
F.P.W.
(to be continued)
EDITOR’S NOTE: this was written and originally published in Monthly Progress, Volume 60, No. 10 – October 2005, and No. 11 – November 2005, and No. 12 – December 2005. It has been re-published here in 2026 with minor edits. Misspellings of names, capitalization and punctuation have been preserved as originally published.
Note the Oakford property today is now called “1675 at the Ridges,” those Ridges being the areas the German Hungarians “terraced” in the late 1940s.
