Brigadoon Revisited (With a German Accent) was written by Marie Wartinger, Bill Zink and Otto Zink. This article originally appeared in the April 2001 issue of Log By Log, a publication by the Beavercreek Historical Society

Brigadoon Revisited

The "Book of Minutes" provided by the late Frank B. Zink, a 42-year veteran teacher in the Beavercreek School system, describes how the New Liberty Welfare Association was born. The book states that on April 14, 1919 five respected New Germany community men, Charles H. Miller, Gus E. Karnath, Karl Zink, H. J. Reese, and Otto Zink, filed with the State of Ohio an article of incorporation. Soon, thirty members of the New Germany community signed the article as members of the organization.

The New Germany community chose the "politically correct" name of the New Liberty Welfare Association, rather than the New Germany Welfare Association, to counter the anti-German feelings that arose during World War 1.

The bylaws, as written in the Book of Minutes, states that a meeting would be held on the first Tuesday of every month. On September 30, 1919, there was a motion to build a gathering hall financed by the monies earned by the band performances. A three man committee was appointed to search for a location. At a subsequent meeting, it is noted that a vote was passed to buy an acre of land next to the woods owned by Anton Zink for the sum of $200. Two weeks later the Book of Minutes stated that a 32 feet by 70 feet hall would be erected. The building still stands on National Road across from Wright-Patterson AFB, Area B. It is about a quarter of a mile North of the Colonel Glenn and National Road intersection.

According to early minutes, the members voted Charles H. Miller as chairman and Gus Karnath, Karl Zink, and Otto Zink as other officers. They immediately obtained a $3,000 loan from the East Dayton Savings and Trust Company to finance the hall construction.

The finances of the association became a major concern. In order to support this construction, the association initiated annual dues of $1.00 and delinquent dues of $1.50. The membership expanded with new members such as Art Wells, Leo Thompson, John Baker, John Beard, Gene Routzong, and Dave Durnbaugh.

With the expansion of the membership and the collection of dues, construction of the hall proceeded with workers hired at $2 per day to dig out the basement and $4 per day if they had a team of horses. By 1922, the structure was completed and the membership began scheduling social affairs from the community. Some of the events scheduled included: Farmer's Dances, 50/50 Dances on Saturday nights, and "Quadrilles" every Tuesday evening.

The New Germany Band continued to keep the association viable by performing at the county fairs and at holiday parades. The musicians for the hall dances included Squire H. Hanes on banjo, Gus Karnath on drums, Ted Zink on piano, Vic Lyons on sax, and Mr. Frost on the accordion.

Oyster Suppers also brought in revenue. In 1924 the association held a Valentine Dance "for the ladies'" and a "quadrille competition." The minutes of that year noted a lengthy discussion about putting gravel in the parking area.

In 1925 there was a "danger alert" - too much swinging at the quadrilles! The safety of the joists holding the dance floor were questioned and it was decided to put John Baker in charge of installing metal posts beneath the dance floor. They also authorized the construction of a roof over the ladies toilet. Did they have Peeping Toms or nighttime animals lurking above in the dark of night?

In that same year, the membership held discussions on whether the society should rent the hall out to other groups or sell advertising on the stage curtain. One area of agreement, however, was the sponsorship of a baseball team. The members appointed Squire Hanes manager of the baseball team. The team even had a monogram on their shirts, NL for New Liberty.

Plays, holiday Christmas parties for the children, and elocution performances made the stage come alive. In 1926, they held a New Year's gala. Paul Karnath, draped in a sheet portrayed the Grim Reaper, and Carl Bernard Zink, the New Year's baby crawling behind. As the decade ended, the old gathering hall was the scene of numerous community affairs and long time memories.

The New Liberty Ball Team became a softball team and continued its winning tradition. They paid a yearly stipend of $35 to practice and play games in Ollie Zink's farm field. Fairfield, Yellow Springs, Osborn, and teams sponsored by Focke Meat and Sucher were on the schedule.

In 1938, the $3,000 bank note from the East Dayton Savings and Trust Co. was paid off. The minutes list a new expenditure of 200 wooden chairs for $50 or 25 cents a chair. Soon after this, the membership decided to enlarge the hall. They enclosed the front porch to provide a coat room and a "ticket station." The admission fee was 25 cents. Ollie Zink managed a kitchen on the ground floor and a host of willing teenagers, anxious to make a few dollars, helped make it very successful. They sold hot dogs and hamburgers for just 5 cents.

All this activity raised the issue of a gravel road in front of the hall. Bill Rottennan was charged with laying the gravel. Using a hay wagon with sideboards and a team of horses, he hauled gravel from a gravel pit close by on Harshman/New Germany Road. It is interesting to note that one could pay property taxes by helping the county deliver gravel.

The association was well aware of the "ups and downs" of life. The minutes reflect the fact that they sponsored a "benefit dance" for the widow of Ace Newton. Mr. Newton died while unloading his hay wagon. The lift rope snapped and the hay tumbled down breaking his neck and killing him. They collected $34.10.

Since the men's New Germany Baseball Team was so successful, the association formed a women's team as well. The women's team was managed by Vic Lyons and sponsored by Fulton Ford. They soon won a name for themselves. Some of the players included the Miller girls from Hashmanville, Dot Wolfe, Marie and Rita Zink, Carry Mae Zink, and Helen Smart Brown.

The story of the New Germany hall continues today. It is now home to AGAPE Church whose members meet there every Wednesday and Sunday. If you drive by on the first Tuesday of the month, you will see a lively group sharing a potluck dinner. Many of them are descendants of the New Liberty Welfare Association charter members. The history of the hall lives on!