World War I Impact On Germans in Chicagoland and McHenry County, Illinois

I used to belong to an organization that had roots dating back to the 1880s and was German.  Germans could join and with membership came support as well as funds to help them in case of major medical expenses and burial.

I can't remember the name, as part of it was still in German, but think it it had something to do with Understubing, but part of the name was changed from German words to "Welcome Park" because of anti-German sentiment during World War I.

We live in Spring Grove, Illinois, and the town to the south of us is Johnsburg.  Both towns were settled largely by Germans.  I know of no histories written for either town about World War I, but suspect they also encountered anti-German sentiment.

--Cooter

Johnsburg, Illinois

Johnsburg is the town just to the south of us here in Spring Grove. 

It was settled by people from the Eifel region of Germany in the 1840s and named after its church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.  At one time, there was another small community to its north named Sunnyside which annexed Johnsburg and then changed its name to Johnsburg. 

Every September, the community holds a big Saufen and Spiel party.

Tom Waits wrote a song "Johnsburg, Illinois 1982" about his wife who grew up there.

Two notable residents of the Johnsburg were Chuck Hiller who played MLB with the Giants, Mets, Phillies, Pirates with a lifetime .243 batting average, played in the 1962 World Series, and then was a coach on three MLB teams and minor league coach for many years.

Clay Guida is a UFC fighter.

We often go to the Saufen and Spiels which are a lot of fun and every year, of course, it is the St. John's Parishfest with New Odyssey playing. We were just at it August 12th.

For many years I deejayed St. Patrick's parties at Tom's Cafe in town.

A Great Little Town.  --DaCoot