Vintage Johnstown: Charity Bazar

Charity Bazar for the War Sufferers in Germany, Austria and Hungary - May 15 to 20, 1916 - at the Auditorium along Main Street. Before America entered The Great War - we officially were supposed to be neutral - so this event was created as a community effort to help their friends and family back home. Even some very high ranking German officials came to Johnstown to lend their support and give speeches. The U.S. was never really neutral - just playing on both sides of the fence - until we fell off it in 1917.

My great-grandmother Rose (Baum) Lenz was one of the organizers.

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Rev. Ernest Porzolt, Mr. Fred Krebs, Rev. E. A. Tappert and Mr. John Widmann

Mr. Herman Cron, Mr. Peter S. Fisher, Mr. L.H. Opperman and Mr. Paul Schmidt

Mr. Geza von Heinrich, Mr. John Von Alt, Mr. Henry J. Gradwohl and Mr. John Meise

Mr. Joseph Bullinger, Mr. Bruno Danker, Mr. Adam Robel and Mr. Henry Robel

It is with pride that I can say my own great-grandmother Mrs. John Lenz along with other members of our family were very involved in the effort to help others - what is so cute is that my grandfather even underlined her name.

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Mrs. John Widmann, Mrs. Cyrus Wehn Brown, Mrs. John Borbonus and Mrs. Rev. E. Porzsolt

Mrs. John C. Abele, Mrs. John Lenz, Mrs. Frank Bruckner, Mrs. Joseph Bullinger and Mrs. Carl Schubert

Mrs. Conrad Hahn, Mrs. Geo. G. Viering, Mrs. John Meise and Mrs. Ernst

Mrs. Julius Bischoff, Mrs. Frank Lux, Mrs. Frank Heinrich, Mrs. Paul Schilling and Mrs. Louis Hessler

Mr. George Schaller, Mr. Ed Riddel, Miss Paula Somogyi, Miss Edna Meise, and Miss Ilse Meise

George G. Viering - Undertaker and Embalmer - 415 Franklin Street and First National Bank - Corner of Main and Franklin Streets

Program - Monday - May 15th

Buy it at Widmann's - Railroad Street, Martin Barentincic - Undertaker and Embalmer - 324 Broad Street and George E. Young - Drugs and Seeds

Program - Tuesday - May 16th

Miller's - Reliable Clothiers, Fisher & Co. - Wines and Liquors - Clinton and Main, Porch Bros. - High Grade Pianos and Player Pianos - Corner of Vine and Franklin and Geis - Furniture, Rugs, Carpets and Lace Curtains - Clinton Street near Main

Program - Wednesday - May 17th

August G. Mayer - We kill all our cattle and make our own sausage and puddings - 512 Broad Street, 16th Ward Home Hotel - The Only Hungarian Hotel in Cambria City - 319 Broad Street and Cambria Bowling Alley - 216 Broad Street

Program - Thursday - May 18th

Wm. H. Strauss and Co. - 114 and 116 Franklin Street

Program - Friday - May 18th

Hoffman Transfer Co. - Taxicabs, Touring Cars and Baggage

Program - Saturday - May 20th

Title, Trust and Guarantee Co. - Main and Clinton, Louis H. Opperman - 5 Stores, Fisher Bros. - Quality Meats - Groceries and Butterine - Clinton Street and Keystone Hotel - Bar and Café - Main Street