Page 1 - GC-Sept-Oct-Guide-2025

A NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GERMAN-AMERICANS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK
AUSTRIA • GERMANY • LIECHTENSTEIN • SWITZERLAND
Vol. 13 No. 5 September - October 2025 Issue

Good vibes are felt all day as part

of annual Waldfest celebration

by Steve Dlugosz
or nearly a half-century, the
annual Waldfest celebration
F– also known as the "Festival
in the Woods" at Spring Garden
Park in Marilla – has served as a
memorable, and in many ways, gen-
erational, German-American event
for revelers from and outside of the
The Schenck house before (below) and after (above) renovations. Western New York area. This year's
celebration served as the 48th An-
nual Waldfest, taking place July 20
on a warm Sunday afternoon.
Enthusiastic musical perfor-
mances by the German American
Musicians (GAMA) and the Polka
Boyz were enjoyed by those attend-
ing, with this year's turnout once
again being quite impressive, ac-
cording to event planners from the
Spring Garden Association and
those from S.G.T.V. Edelweiss
Buffalo, entities that have co-spon-
sored Waldfest since 1974.
The event was canceled in 2020
and 2021 due to the then-ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. The event
again featured a large number of
County completes restoration return customers, as well as family-
generational attendees, who had at-
of historic Schenck House tended previously. Out-of-state at-
tendees, including those from as far a lot of second, third, fourth-timers ally my first time attending Wald-
rie County’s 100-year-old Constructed in or around away as Texas and California, com- or more attending. The major pur- fest, and it certainly won't be the
Schenck House, located on pose a solid majority of reserved pose of Waldfest being founded was last."
Ethe grounds of the historic 1822, the house was tables purchased well ahead of time to uphold German culture in Amer- Anthony Kronbeck of Cheek-
Grover Cleveland golf course, is originally part of the Schenck for the event. Many entities and ica. To get some spectacular weath- towaga has attended Waldest for
celebrating new life today as a mod- homestead, home of German individuals responded within just er as part of the day certainly helps longer than a decade, with his par-
ern facility housing historical docu- farmer Michael Schenck and days of the event being announced. as well." ents and even grandparents attend-
ments, photographs, news clippings his family. Keith Krug, longtime planning Sunny skies provided the oppor- ing prior to that. "It's become a
and artifacts and serving as an Erie committee member and event coor- tunity for patrons to enjoy the out- family tradition," Kronbeck said of
County Parks history museum. dinator for the Spring Garden Asso- side, woodsy atmosphere. Tom Waldfest. "It's something we really
“Restoring the Schenck House
Erie County Executive Mark C. on the grounds of the Grover Cleve- ciation, was again instrumental in Franclemont of Canisteo, NY, get into. I feel like eventually my
Poloncarz recently joined Commis- the day's events, assisting in the which is located near the City of own kids will be coming to this.
land golf course restores a vital link
sioner of Parks, Recreation and For- to the past and preserves a treasure setup, coordination and even clean- Hornell, said Waldfest reminded You really have to give credit to the
estry Troy P. Schinzel along with up for Waldfest. He also credited him in many ways of Dyngus Day, event planners and organizers. They
for all county residents for the fu-
departmental personnel and mem- ture. This building and this site are the other planning committee mem- with polka sounds and general do a heck of a job."
bers of the Grover Cleveland golf bers for their ardent efforts. revelry/fun. The prior year's (2024) Waldfest
rich with history and that story will
community to open a new exhibit at now be told right here, along with "There's a lot of tradition as part "Beer and polka… gotta love featured the recognition/honoring
the Schenck House containing doc- of (Waldfest)," said Krug. "There's it!" said Franclemont. "This is actu- of the late Walter Wieand, a former
the history of our Parks department
uments and items focused on the as it celebrates its centennial,” said president of the S.G.T.V. Edelweiss
founding of the Erie County Parks Schuhplattlers - Buffalo and the
Erie County Executive Mark C. Po-
system and its five Heritage Parks a original founder of Waldfest; as
loncarz. “This investment brings the
century ago. The exhibit also high- well as Frank Wailand, a 50-year-
Schenck House alive for the first
lights the 1912 U.S. Open, which member/leader of the Auslanders
time in many decades and people
was played in August of that year at band, also serving as Buchprufer for
will be stunned at the restoration.
the Grover Cleveland course. S.G.T.V. Edelweiss Buffalo.
The House probably looks better
The Schenck House is widely Next on the agenda for the
than when the Schencks themselves
considered one of the oldest extant Spring Garden Association is the
lived here.”
stone structures in the City of Buffa- Annual Schlachtfest celebration,
A few highlights of the Schenck
lo. Constructed in or around 1822, taking place Sept. 14, 2025 at
House restoration project include:
the house was originally part of the • Addressing years of flooding Spring Garden Park, 3838 Two
Schenck homestead, home of Ger- Rod Road with The Polka Boyz
and water damage, including full
man farmer Michael Schenck and remediation and removal of mold again performing. Schlachtfest is
his family. Constructed in “Pennsyl- actually the original event hosted by
and damaged elements
vania German Traditional” style • Reconstruction of rear addition the Spring Garden Association. The
from locally quarried limestone, the event is one of several kicking off
to original structure to create new
home and surrounding area re- kitchenette for public use the Octoberfest season in Western
mained in the family until it was New York, with this year's event
• New drywall, floor joists,
sold to the Country Club of Buffalo wooden floors, ceilings, roof, featuring a specially brewed Okto-
in 1898. berfest beer from Hofbrauhaus Buf-
HVAC, plumbing, restroom, interi-
Used only by Parks personnel, or and exterior lighting, windows, The heavily damaged interior (at falo. The park opens at noon for the
that house had fallen into disrepair event.
trim, drainage, and landscaping right) has become a multi-use
and became a barely noticed relic on • New accessible entrances (2) facility (above). For more information on the
the side of the fairway at Grover. Spring Garden Association, visit
and walkways to the Schenck House
Then in 2022 with the support of the • New Golf Course Restroom department, from being lost for- https://springarden.com.
Erie County Legislature, Erie Coun- For more information on
• Creation of exhibit areas for ever. This building was in a seri-
ty invested $2 million in RENEW display of historic documents and ous state of disrepair after a S.G.T.V. Edelweiss Buffalo, visit
Plan and American Rescue Plan https://www.edelweissbuffalo.com
artifacts related to Parks and region- century of hard weather and the
funds into a full restoration of the al history. occasional errant golf ball, so a lot .
Schenck House, with the intention For more information on the
“This restoration saved a signif- of work was needed to bring it
of converting the building into a icant piece of history, both in the back to the beautiful state you see 2025 Schlachtfest celebration,
public museum dedicated to Erie which is taking place Sunday, Sept.
City of Buffalo and in the Parks today,” said Commissioner of
County Park and regional history. 14, call (716) 912-3124.
Continued on page 2