AELPLER GRUPPE SWISS CLUB

The Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club was founded in 1925. Swiss people had participated as a group dressed in Aelpler costumes at the Diamond Jubilee Parade in San Francisco. After the parade the Swiss gathered at the Roesch (German) Hall and decided to meet as a group and to form a Swiss Club. The name Aelpler-Gruppe is derived from the Aelpler costumes they wore. Dances, Chilbis and Schwingfests were planned with the first dance an “Aelpler Chilbi” that was held on January 23, 1926. A board was selected and the first president, Jacob Iten, led the meetings that were held at the Roesch (German) Hall in San Francisco.

In 1928 the meetings were moved to Alameda, where a community of Swiss lived. Besides August Walliman (the President) and family, other families included the Alberts, Ambiels, Bauhofers, Durrers and Fries’. In 1929 Frank Durrer became President and the meetings were held at the Kruzzi Ranch in San Lorenzo where Joe Widmer Sr. and his family lived and worked.

Plans were made to have the Schwingfest a yearly event with the first Schwingfest sponsored by the Aelpler Gruppe being held on May 6, 1928 at the Newark Pavilion. The Al Fassler Orchestra played for the club dance in Oakland in 1930 and Aelpler Gruppe was accepted into the United Swiss Societies on April 12, 1932. The first masked ball was in 1932. There were also “Damen Schwingers” (lady wrestlers).

As the Bay Area urbanized many Swiss settled further South into Washington Township (the Tri-City area) where there was more farmland. In 1934, when Louie Marchy Sr. became President the meetings moved to Newark

At this time there were many new Swiss immigrants in the Bay Area. The dances and celebrations became very popular and the dream of having a hall of their own became possible. Frank Fries, Sr. purchased the five-acre property on which the hall was built and later was paid by the Aelpler Gruppe.

A Park Committee was formed and it was decided to collect contributions in order to obtain the necessary amount of money to start building a hall. With a contribution of $50 one received a Life Membership that entitled the member to free admission to all club dances and Schwingfests. With a $30 contribution one received a Life Membership and free admission to the dances only. This is how the Life Membership of the Aelpler Gruppe was formed. Thus a fund was started that enabled the construction of the present Swiss Park Hall. Three members loaned the Swiss Club $800.00 each, Frank Durrer, Jacob Sutter, and Frank Marty. The Wilhelm Tell Verein of Oakland also loaned the Swiss Club funds. The Aelpler Gruppe is forever grateful for the sacrifices the members and friends made in contributions as well as the officers and committee members serving at that time. With the help of the members and the Wilhelm Tell Swiss Lodge, it wasn’t necessary to mortgage the hall. In 1947 the final payment was made and the members really felt their dream had come true.

After WWII the dairy industry and the economy thrived and the Swiss found many occasions for celebrations. Swiss Park was a social meeting place seven days a week so the managers were very important. Just after the war Joe Schelbert and Joe Studer (1944-1947) were managers and Carl and Olga Reichmuth and their son David (1947-1950). David remembers playing with his tri-cycle in the dance hall.

The club incorporated in 1946. Membership grew and all the events were packed. The Masquerade Balls were crowded with those in costume and those watching. Young families participated in parades, dances and schwingfests dressed in their Aelpler trachten.

In 1958 there was a new flag dedication and celebration that included a parade with participants from various clubs. The flag was donated by Mrs. Louise Durrer in memory of her late husband, former member and President, Frank Durrer. Frank had designed the flag many years before and it was made by Joe Stadelman of St Gallen, Switzerland. There was also a Musicfest that same year.

The various Swiss clubs participated in celebrations up and down the Pacific Coast. Many attended the Schwingfests and Musicfests from Tacoma to Imperial Valley. The Swiss Journal published information about the various clubs and Rosemary Ramsell reported the “Chit Chat” of family and friends and Aelpler Gruppe and Swiss Park events.

The Musicfests were first organized by Joe & Katie Reichmuth in the early 1950s. In Switzerland they have a Musicfest in the form of a contest every two to three years. Joe Reichmuth liked the idea and so the Pacific Coast Musicfests were founded in which the event is alternated every three years by Swiss Clubs in California, Oregon and Washington. This event is not held as a contest but rather to bring the musicians together for everyone’s enjoyment.

In 1964 Aelpler Gruppe sponsored and Rosemary Ramsell organized a chartered flight of 148 only “Aelpler Gruppe” members for a three month trip to Switzerland. It was so popular a second trip was organized in 1967 with 150 members. In later years Rosemary Ramsell organized many other trips with the “Jolly Swiss”.

Currently the Swiss Club hosts various yearly events such as the Family Night – Members Annual Dinner in December and the Folklore Night featuring young Swiss musicians. The Folklore event was started by Joe Reichmuth. The Club has recently added the Fondue Dinner and Jass Party events. The Spring and Fall Schwingfests, and the Metzgete are other social events that bring Swiss together in friendship.

Improvements to the park and buildings continue. Mowry Avenue was widened and the old Schwingerplatz was replaced, a fence, barbeque pits, a beer hall and outdoor dance floor were added. Joe Allgauer and Alois Kaslin helped with several projects in 1994 and 1995. The parking lot was repaved in 2001 and the handicap ramp was installed in 2002 and recently the kitchen was remodeled.

The Aelpler Gruppe has grown and changed throughout the years meeting changes with new visions to continue to everyone to enjoy and share with us when we celebrate our Swiss Heritage now and for many years to come.