JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER

To our Guests & Friends,

The summer of 2006 will be filled with the sound of music now that the Clara Eitmann Messmer Amphitheater is up and running. Most weekends, a musical group will be performing at the newest performing arts venue in Hermann. In this newsletter we are featuring the three bands that are scheduled to play in June.

Several other events are scheduled in June that may be of interest to our readers. They include the 12th annual Hermann Garden Tour on the 3rd and 4th, Living History Day at Deutschheim State Historic Site* on the 3rd, a chamber music concert at the Hermannhof Winery Festhalle* on the 11th, and "Damn Yankees" will play at the Showboat Community Theater* June 22 - 25. Check out the local calendar and visit the Hermann Arts Council's web site for updates on this summer's events.

(You will notice an asterisk (*) throughout the newsletter. This indicates a reference to Hermann Hill's Three-Mile Walk. Information about the walk is on our web site.)

Hermann Hill Village update
June 1 will be an exciting day for us with the arrival of our very first guests at Hermann Hill Village. In anticipation of their stay in Cottages #1 and #2, we are going through the final checklist to make sure everything is ready for them.

Hot tubs and Jacuzzi tubs are running, fireplaces have been lit, and all appliances are installed and working. We have ordered glassware with the Hermann Village logo and have placed a special rack in each kitchen to hold the stemware. In addition, kitchens are equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, coffeepot, waffle maker, toaster, plates and utensils.

The Common Room in Cottage #1

Deck with grill and Jacuzzi at Cottage #1
 

And, gas grills have been installed on the decks. When they arrive at Hermann Hill Village, each guest will be given a complimentary thermal coffee mug.

Cottages #3, #4, and #5 will be ready for guests by July 1. Anyone interested in booking one of the cottages may check the availability page on our web site.

Keeping the town ticking
Sitting proudly atop the German School* is the town clock, which has been a Hermann landmark since 1890.

As the story goes, it was Mrs. Carolyn Graf who spearheaded the effort to get a clock placed on the public schoolhouse. Apparently, before the advent of wrist watches, people sitting on benches alongside the school often went across Fourth Street to the Graf Printing* building, which housed the local newspaper office, to find out the time. Mrs. Graf, a newspaper employee, was continually asked, "Was ist die Uhr?" (What time is it?) To put an end to the interruptions, she went to the school board and asked to have a clock tower erected.

The Clock Tower is a Hermann landmark

The school board ordered a tower clock for $435. A German clock maker from the A.E. Pollhans Company of St. Louis was charged with building the clock, and Henry Tekotte, a local contractor, was enlisted to construct the tower. On Aug. 27, 1890, the project was completed. The clock's inner workings still can be viewed from the second floor of the German School building. Visible are its two mechanisms, one for striking and one for time keeping.

But, to keep the clock ticking and striking the hour, the clock must be wound twice a week. This takes a committee of local citizens, which currently is headed up by Joe Everdon. He's been a clock winder for about 10 years. He also is known as chief worrier, the man responsible for the clock. And the clock seems to be in good hands. "I've made several grandfather clocks so I'm used to the gearing of the clock," said Joe, who is a clock hobbyist. In addition to grandfather clocks, he has made several grandmother clocks and hundreds of battery operated clocks.

Recently, there was talk about electrifying the clock because it is not always easy to get people to do the winding. But, the board of directors of Historic Hermann ruled out that idea. According to board member Carol Kallmeyer, "The board felt that it's our tradition to keep it running as it is. To electrify it would take away that tradition, and we need traditions."

Joe Everdon winds the town clock

Joe concurs, "It would be a shame to put electric on it." However, he said that more clock winders are needed. "We could use eight or ten. It would be nice to get some volunteers." What he'd really like to see are younger people getting involved because it takes some strength to wind the clock, particularly the striking mechanism. The clock must be wound twice a week. Usually volunteer winders sign on for a month at a time, but any help would be welcome. One volunteer said he likes being a winder because he "keeps the town ticking".

The clock recently has undergone its first cleaning since it was installed. It is in its original condition -- no new parts have been added. "It's an amazing little clock," said Joe.

The clock continues to strike every hour, letting anyone within hearing distance know the time of day.

The sounds of summer
Since the arrival of the first German settlers, Hermann has always had a band. The Music-Chor Blech Instrumenten (choral group with band instruments) was formed in 1839, and there has never been a time since when music hasn't played a major part in community life here.

Last month, the Clara Eitmann Messmer Amphitheater was dedicated with its mission to continue the musical traditions in Hermann. Beginning with the Memorial Day dedication and a concert by the Hermann City Band, nearly every weekend from now until October there will be a musical performance at the amphitheater.

In each of the next several monthly newsletters we will introduce you to the groups that are scheduled to play during that particular month. All seating at the open-air amphitheater is on the lawn, so guests are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Since weather can be a factor, it may be necessary to make some last-minute schedule changes.

Performances in June include The Loehnig German Band playing on June 11, Fresh Picked on June 16, and the John Berkemeyer Combo (JB8) on June 25. Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Concerts are free to the public and are sponsored by the Hermann Arts Council.

The Loehnig German Band
(l-r) Marilyn Loehnig, Jim Oncken,
Bonnie Oncken, Terry Loehnig

The Loehnig German Band
The Loehnig German Band is a family band headed up by Terry and Marilyn Loehnig. Both Terry and Marilyn began entertaining long before their marriage in 1968, but the band wasn't formed until the early 1970s.

Marilyn became interested in the accordion at age 5 when she received a red, plastic accordion as a Christmas gift. She began playing simple tunes by ear, and as her parents noticed Marilyn's continued interest in playing, they purchased a small 12 bass accordion for her. She began taking lessons at age 12, but much of her advanced playing was self-taught. Terry also played the accordion from an early age, and during their teens, Terry and Marilyn played in Sonny Bottermueller's Peace Valley Orchestra in Hermann.

Shortly after they married, the couple moved to Germany where Terry was on active duty in the army for two years. While living in Bavaria, they enjoyed the typical music of southern Germany and got the idea to start a folk music band when they returned home.

Formed in 1973, the band played for Octoberfest and Maifest in Hermann. For many years the Loehnig children performed with the band having been taught to play drums and to sing German songs phonetically. The family cut their first record album in 1980, with many more following in the ensuing years.

The band has added members through the years, and presently they include: Terry; guitar and vocals; Marilyn, accordion and button-box accordion and vocals; Jim Oncken, trombone and vocals; Bonnie Oncken, drums; and Ehren Oncken, button-box and vocals.

The Loehnig German Band performs at area festivals, public dances, anniversaries, parties, and other functions. It has had several tours in Germany. Recently, they added television performances to the list of venues, playing for The Big Joe Polka Show that airs on RFD-TV Channel 379 on Direct TV and Channel 9409 on Dish.

The group specializes in German folk music including waltzes, polkas, schottisches, vocals, and yodeling. At the June 11 concert, Ehren will play an original composition from his CD of button-box music that was released in 2000.

Fresh Picked
Good friends Mike and Nancy Monahan and Mark and Sally Borzillo formed Fresh Picked several years ago. Since all are accomplished musicians, they decided to get more serious about their music and start playing together on a regular basis. The group plays a variety of music -- folk, Irish, bluegrass, and acapella. They also have been known to break out into jazz sessions with several of their children joining in the playing and singing.

Fresh Picked
(l-r) Mike and Nancy Monahan,
Mark and Sally Borzillo

Nancy is a native of Los Alamos, New Mexico. She is a classically trained musician who plays piano, violin, and viola. Both her mother and sister are accomplished pianists. Nancy has the rare ability of being able to sight read and she also plays music by ear.

Mike was raised in Marthasville, Missouri. He also is classically trained and plays bass, piano and guitar. He often is seen on the Hermann stage playing in local music performances, and for many years he's been a regular at performances at East Central College in Union, Missouri. Mike and Nancy have been playing bluegrass music for nearly 20 years. They also dabble in classical, jazz, and folk music.

Sally is a native of Ellisville, Missouri. She has been singing and writing songs for most of her life. She performs most of the lead vocals in the group. While growing up, she performed in school musicals. Sally plays guitar and sometimes is seen strumming the mandolin. Fresh Picked includes several of her published songs among its repertoire.

Mark hails from Affton, Missouri, but has distant ties to Hermann. His maternal relatives settled in Hermann in the 1840s and were well-known musicians in the Apostle Band and Fire Department Band. Mark plays piano, guitar, mandolin, violin, banjo, and bass. He claims that he fills in on the instruments that no one else plays and occasionally sings "when no one is listening".

The foursome toured Germany in 2000 as part of a bluegrass gospel music tour. They often perform as a group at local churches and are regulars at area events.

The John Berkemeyer Combo (JB8)
JB8 is a smaller version of the JB Big Band that plays both specially arranged charts and charts 'from the head' (arranged and presented on the spot). The concert on June 25 will feature the international cabaret vocalist Eleanor Edwards. Eleanor has performed around the world, doing opening acts for Louie Prima and many others. She hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and now claims the Midwest as her home.

Eleanor will be joined by pianist Terry Mosser, TJ Panula on drums, Mike Monahan on bass, Alan Nellis on trumpet, Ron Shroyer on tenor, Matt Myler on trombone, and John Berkemeyer on alto sax.

John Berkemeyer

Alan Nellis has arranged many special musical productions in mid Missouri and is featured with jazz and classical groups alike. Ron is the Dean of Music at Central Methodist University, and is a great arranger and player in his own right. Matt is fairly fresh from the cruise boat musical performance venues, playing frequently in Russia, and anywhere a large boat can travel. TJ, Mike and John hail from the Hermann area and often are seen, and heard, at local venues.

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Hermann Hill Vineyard and Inn
711 Wein Street - P.O. Box 555  |  Hermann, Missouri (MO) 65041
Phone: (573) 486-HILL (573-486-4455)  |  Fax: (573) 486-5373
Email: info@hermannhill.com  |   Website: www.hermannhill.com