Five Hundred Singers Invade Walla Walla
The North Pacific Saengerbund brings a massive musical celebration to town, turning city streets into a stage for the German singing tradition.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
All ready for three days of song and jollification, members of the North Pacific Saengerbund, 500 strong, have arrived in Walla Walla. The Seattle and Whatcom delegations arrived in the city over the W.C.R.R. last night in special cars and were met by members of the local bund and the Walla Walla band. Today, however, saw the greatest arrival of singers. The Portland delegation numbering 30 arrived on the early morning O.R. & N. train and were escorted to headquarters by members of the Maennerchor and the band. At 11 o'clock a great crowd of singers assembled at the W.C.R.R. depot to meet the Tacoma and Spokane delegations. The parade down Main street, headed by the Walla Walla band, was participated in by the Tacoma, Everett, Seattle and Portland delegations and the local Maennerchor club. Over three hundred men were in line and received much applause as they marched through the streets.
“Over three hundred men were in line and received much applause as they marched through the streets.”
The Saengerfest was a hallmark of the cultural life of the Pacific Northwest's turn-of-the-century German immigrant community. Today, remnants of these fraternal societies have largely faded, but the tradition of civic festivals and parades remains a core part of Walla Walla's identity.
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