On August 25, 2003, two national German organizations recognized Ellis County as the official German Capital of Kansas
Ellis County has always had a strong German Heritage and a history of German traditions that dates back to 1876. Now the German Heritage of the Ellis County communities will become more well known by other residents of Kansas and visitors to the Sunflower State. On September 20, 2003 a ceremony was held during the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest that proclaimed Ellis County as the official German Capital of Kansas. This important event in the history of Ellis Count was scheduled to coincide with the opening ceremonies of the annual Oktoberfest. Local politicians, community leaders and officers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association attended the ceremony.
Two national German organizations recognized Ellis County as the German Capital of Kansas. The Germans from Russia Heritage Society and the Bukovina Society of the Americas provided letters of support and certificates to endorse this title for Ellis County. In a letter of support from Aloys Feist, the president of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, noted, “The annual ethnic German events and community celebrations far exceed those of any other counties in Kansas”. The Germans from Russia Heritage Society is a national organization with headquarters in Bismark, North Dakota. Its purpose is to bring people together who are interested in discovering the common history unique to Germanic Russian ethnic groups and to preserve the many elements of their rich heritage. The society serves its membership in various ways including educational and social opportunities, research, publications and historical preservation. Membership information is available by contacting the society at: GRHS - F1125 W. Turnpike Ave F- Bismark, ND 58501-8115.
Many of the citizens of Ellis County and surrounding communities are descendants of German immigrants who came from the Volga River region of Russia. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Russia following the end of the Seven Years War in 1763. In October and November of 1875, many of these immigrants left their villages along the Volga River and traveled to Saratov, Russia to begin their journey to America. The first Volga Germans arrived in Hays in the middle of February 1876. The communities of Catherine, Herzog, Pfeifer, Munjor, and Schoenchen were settled during the spring and summer of 1876.
Another group of German immigrants arrived in Ellis, Kansas from what was known as Bukovina, which is currently part of Romania and the Ukraine. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Bukovina in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. After one to two generations of living in Bukovina, land became scarce and many of the German immigrants came to the United States as well as Canada and South America. In 1886, the first Bukovina Germans arrived in Ellis, Kansas and acted as scouts for a larger group that settled there in 1887.
The Bukovina Society of the Americas also provided letters of support and certificates endorsing the ceremony that proclaimed Ellis County as the German Capital of Kansas. “We whole-heartedly endorse this activity for the continued promotion of our German traditions, music, food and language for future generations to be proud of”. The Board of Directors of the Bukovina Society attended the opening ceremonies to sign and present the certificates to the officers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association.
The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of German traditions, food, music and family fun. Admission to attend the two day celebration is free and includes activities such as: wheat threshing demonstrations, a fashion show, polka dance lessons, horseshoe tournament, skillet throwing competition, strudel making and a polka mass.
Above photo: Signing of the official "German Capital of Kansas" documents. Kansas House Representative Dan Johnson and Ruben Schuckman with the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association.
Below photos: Local city and county officials signing of the official "German Capital of Kansas" documents.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: October 10, 2003
Ellis County Historical Museum to receive proclamation for German Capital of Kansas
Hays, KS - The Ellis County Historical Society Museum has announced they will hold a ceremony on Tuesday October 28th at 1 p.m. to receive the three German Capital of Kansas certificates that were signed on September 20th during the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. Oren Windholz, president of the Bukovina Society of the Americas, will present the certificate awarded by their board of directors. John Smith, chairman of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association will donate a framed document signed by the Ellis County commissioners and officers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association. The official German Capital of Kansas proclamation will be presented to the museum by Ruben Schuckman from the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The mission of the Ellis County Historical Museum is to collect, display, and preserve items that illustrate the counties history. Because the title of German Capital of Kansas is an important event in the history of Ellis County, the museum plans to display the certificates, letters of support and other documents pertaining to this occasion. Letters of support and recognition were received from two national German organizations including a letter from the president of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society. A letter of support from Scott Allegrucci, director of the Kansas Division of Travel and Tourism, will also be donated to the museum for display. In his letter he mentioned "The designation will aid Ellis County and Hays' ongoing work to create a unique and culturally rich experience for area residents and travelers alike".
The Ellis County Historical Museum board members and local dignitaries will be on hand for this ceremony to accept the certificates and receive a framed version of the official German Capital of Kansas logo. Museum staff members will also unveil a new exhibit entitled "Answering the Call: A tribute to Ellis County and Kansas Veterans from W.W. I to Operation Enduring Freedom." The event begins at 1 p.m. at the museum located at 100 West 7th Street in downtown Hays.
For more information, call the Ellis County Historical Museum at 785-628-2624 or the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau 1-800-569-4505.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: February 18, 2003
Hays, Kansas - Organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest have announced that a ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2003, to proclaim Ellis County and Hays as "The German Capital of Kansas". The ceremony will include various local politicians and members of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association as well as several VIP guests that plan to attend the 2nd annual Oktoberfest. An official proclamation and ceremonial signing of the 2003 Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest certificate will be held prior to the traditional tapping of the keg.
Because Hays and the other communities in Ellis County are well known for their German Heritage, the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association felt that the distinction of being "The German Capital of Kansas" would be a wonderful honor to help kickoff the Oktoberfest celebration. Many of the people of Ellis County are descendants of German immigrants who came from the Volga River region of Russia. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Russia following the end of the Seven Years War in 1763.
In October and November of 1875, many of these immigrants left their villages along the Volga River and traveled to Saratov, Russia to begin their journey to America. The first Volga Germans arrived in Hays the middle of February 1876 and traveled south to settle land along the Big Timber Creek. Liebenthal was the first community to be founded on February 22, 1876. The other communities of Catherine, Herzog, Pfeifer, Munjor, and Schoenchen were settled during the spring and summer of 1876. Bukovina Germans immigrated from what was then part of the Austrian Hungarian Empire and began to settle in Ellis beginning in 1886
Of course, a traditional Oktoberfest would not be complete without the food booths and good German cooking. Local clubs and organizations will have German brats, funnel cakes, sausage, bierocks, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, green bean and noodle soup, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
The Oktoberfest celebration will begin at 10 a.m. on September 20th and continue through Sunday, September 21st with the final polka band jam session from 4-6 p.m.
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