Long-standing German tavern Gottscheer Hall celebrated a century of serving the community in Ridgewood on Sunday, Nov. 10.
The local landmark’s historic 100th anniversary was commemorated with a private gala at the venue. The exclusive event was sold out days in advance, and the tavern was closed to the public for the day.
Gottscheer Hall traces its roots to the Gottscheer people, a German-speaking community originally from Gottschee, a region in present-day Slovenia. Settled in the 1300s, Gottscheers maintained their unique dialect and traditions despite centuries of challenges, including wars and displacement. In the late 1800s, many Gottscheers immigrated to the United States, particularly to New York.
Established in 1924 in Ridgewood, Gottscheer Hall became a gathering place for this community, preserving their cultural heritage through events, music, and social gatherings that celebrate their unique identity.
Many attendees began their day with a 10:30 a.m. mass at St. Matthias R.C. Church before making their way to the Hall at 1 p.m. Tickets were $100 per person, and each guest was served appetizers, soup, salad, prime ribs, chicken cutlets, and desserts. They also had access to an open bar.
The Gottscheer Choir kicked off the celebrations by serenading the full house and was met with a well-deserved round of applause. President of Gottscheer Central Holding, Joseph Morscher, then addressed the room, thanking the many Gottscheer community members and paying tribute to the generations that have passed by.
“Gottscheer Hall is where they gather to sing, dance and enjoy each other’s company. Gottscheer Hall has had many good times, survived bad times, and after 100 years, is still a great place for the Gottscheers and the surrounding community to enjoy themselves”, he said.
Morscher went on to thank the Board of Directors for their work over the last few months to pull off Sunday’s big celebration.
Glasses were raised, and a toast was made to the hard workers who have contributed to Gottscheer Hall’s many years of existence. Tributes were paid to the heads of the many Gottscheer clubs and societies. Morscher then introduced Miss Gottschee 2024, Krista Schemitsch, who gave a speech of her own.
“It is so special to gather together today in a place filled with so many special memories, not just for me but for all of us here. This clubhouse has been a witness to so much of our community’s history,” she remarked.
“It has hosted weddings, communions, birthdays and all of those milestones that bring us together to celebrate the people that we love. For so many of us, this place is more than just a venue. It is a place where our traditions and cultures thrive and where our heritage is kept alive.
“The memories in this Hall are not just about the milestones. They are the familiar sounds of lively conversations, the laughter, the comforting smell of the kitchen soup and the taste of the signature salad dressing.”
Schemitsch dedicated her speech to Gottscheer Hall’s past, present, and future and thanked the community for its undying unity. Father Dariusz Blicharz, Pastor of St. Matthias Church, also came up to offer a few words of his own before leading the room in prayer.
“A lot of churches here were established by Gottschee people. They live here, they practice here and they have hope for the future of this area. I want to include all of you as we pray for another 100 years of this community and its love,” he said.
Food was then served to the guests while they enjoyed traditional German music and folk dancing for the remainder of the afternoon.
