“Thanksgiving tide” in turn-of-the-twentienth-century Davenport brought not only family turkey meals and church services, but a popular event known as the “Jahrmarkt.” This fair was a fundraiser for the Claus Groth Gilde, a local benevolent society named in honor of the Holsteiner Plattdeutsch (Low German) poet Klaus Groth.
Claus Groth Hall, on the corner of 3rd and Taylor Streets, was expressly built by the Gilde in 1891 for events of this kind.
The Jahrmarkt or “Kirmess” (“fair” in German) typically began on Thanksgiving day and lasted for four or five days, often longer. It featured musical and theatrical performances, speeches, and contests. Booths decorated as German stores and houses were set up for exhibits, games of chance, raffles, the sale of “needlework and feminine handicraft,” other “fancy goods,” jewelry, flowers, cigars, candy, cakes, sandwiches, Wienerwurst, oysters, wine, and of course, beer.
In addition to the above, the Jahrmarkt usually included ladies’ and mens’ shooting galleries, dice throwing, roulette, a wheel of fortune, a knife and cane rack (a game?), a fishing game, fortune-telling, and a puppet show for children. In 1902, attendees could pay to guess the weight of a giant squash grown by Mr. A. Meiburg.
Decorations could be elaborate: a profusion of bunting, branches of arbor vitae woven through the booths, colored paper cutouts, flags hanging from the ceiling. A Grecian palace was erected at the center of Claus Groth Hall in 1900.
Despite being its being very well-attended and earning good money for the Gilde, the Jahrmarkt is not mentioned in the Davenport newspapers after 1907. Another local history mystery to solve!
(posted by Katie)
