Before today's commercial insurance companies, many groups had fraternal organizations that assisted members in need and also served as a social organization. Many of Mobile's most prominent Jewish families belonged to The German Relief Association. The Gesang Vereen Frohsinn sponsored opera performances, chamber music, and other classical music programs in the association's hall, which still stands (or it did a few years ago). The association and similar German groups died out when anti-German sentiment was aroused by World War I. -----Original Message----- From: EMenden@aol.com [mailto:EMenden@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 7:02 PM To: AL-MOBILEBAY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [AL-MOBILEBAY] German Relief Hall In a recent Mobile Press 'Yesterday's News', an article from the Wednesday, April 30, 1902 paper stated: "The Ancient Order of Hibernians gave the last of their monthly socials last night at German Relief Hall." Can someone tell me the original purpose of the German Relief Hall? Are there any records that would include names of local people who might have gone there for some reason? My husband's great-grandfather married a Caroline High, whose parents were born in Germany. They moved to Mobile from the Demopolis area, and we believe they were with the Vine and Olive Colony. They came from the Alsace-Lorraine, France area. Earlene Lyle

This is all I could locate on the German Relief Hall. It burned down a few years ago. http://www.southalabama.edu/archives/german_relief.htm -- Regards, Kevin Sellew in Mobile, Alabama List Manager for Mobile Bay Area Roots [AL-MOBILEBAY] ==================================================== Seeking sharp, ambitious people who want to make a lot of money. Lazy people and wimps need not apply. <grin> www.Time2MoveUp.com ====================================================