History of the Club

In the Spring of 1967, three good friends, Richard Blechschmidt, Gerold Harbeke, and Karl-Heinz Randtke dreamed of forming a CLUB here in Palm Beach County, that would be a social center for folks with German heritage. They called it the "Bavarian American Club".

The purpose of this CLUB would be to uphold and promote that ethnic background common to them, all within the framework of the U.S.A., so the name was changed from "Bavarian American Club" to "American German Club", which was approved in Tallahassee in June 1970.

Their ideas took hold and attracted other people from the area that also wanted to have a little bit of the "Alte Heimat" here. There were many impromptu gatherings and meetings... in stores, in restaurants, and in other facilities as the group grew in number and in their determination to realize this common goal. Funds were obtained, land was purchased and the vision started to become a reality.

The picnic grounds were our first real home. In 1975, ground was broken for the new clubhouse. The new building was designed in the authentic Bavarian style. Members helped dig, pour concrete, donated supplies and money, even bought cement blocks at $1.00 each. The interior of the building is beautifully handcrafted by members of our club who were taught in Germany. It was a long process, but a little bit at a time, it slowly took form.

By 1974 the Club had grown rapidly in membership and reached a total of 550 members by 1983. The Annual American German Club Oktoberfest was first held in 1974. Each year during the month of October, members outdo themselves in time and talent by presenting to the community an Oktoberfest for one and all to enjoy. There are authentic German food specialties along with beer and wine for all to taste. Entertainment comes to us from the surrounding areas as well as musicians flown directly from Germany. We plan to keep this tradition alive each year in October and invite everyone to come and see what "Gemütlichkeit" is all about.

A beautiful club facility such as ours is now, takes a great deal of money, much effort and good inspired leadership to become a reality. We still have more goals to achieve and more dreams for the future. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to demonstrate the tremendous contribution that we of American German heritage have made over the past 300 years to this great nation. We can help bring enrichment and harmony to the community as a whole.