HERE’S AN
ANTIQUE 1897 SOUVENIR BRONZE MEDAL BADGE MADE BY SCHWAAB’S & SONS
CO., MILWAUKEE
Commemorating The 8th Annual German Day Celebration
“DEUTSCHER TAG”
HELD IN
ALTOONA, BLAIRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPT. 1911”
About the Medal/Badge
During this era, it was highly customary for organizers of
ethnic heritage festivals, firemen's conventions, and military reunions to
issue commemorative pinback ribbon badges or stamped metal medals. These were
distributed to parade participants, committee members, and attendees as
souvenirs.
The badge features a decorative enameled metal hanger with
an eagle, crossed American and German Flags, and a metal pendant drop detailing
the city, organization, and the explicit "Sept. 1911" date
In September 1911, Altoona, Pennsylvania hosted the
8th annual German Day Celebration (known in German as Deutscher Tag).
Organized by the Altoona chapter of the German-American
Central Alliance (Deutsch-Amerikanischer Zentralbund), this major
cultural festival celebrated the heritage, language, and contributions of the
region's large German-American population.
Historical records and local coverage from the archives of
the Altoona Mirror highlight several key details of the event:
- The
Parade: A massive heritage parade was
a core feature of the celebration. The organizing committee arranged for
prominent local societies to march and notably coordinated a fleet of
automobiles to carry more than 100 of the city's oldest German-American
residents as guests of honor.
- Festivities
& Venues: The celebration featured
lively community gatherings, including a prominent Deutscher Tag
assembly hosted at the local Schmitt House.
- Business
Support: Local establishments, such as
the Germania Brewery, closed early to allow workers to attend the
festivities. Businesses also funded an official, detailed Souvenir
Program for the event.
Artifacts and original souvenir programs from this exact
1911 festival are preserved today by the Blair County Historical Society and
have been featured in heritage exhibits at the historic Baker Mansion in
Altoona.
The badge measures 5” in length, the hanging medal is
1½” in diameter. The ribbon shows wear but stable, otherwise in very
fine+ condition, showing much of its luster, and complete with its original pinback attachment.
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