A curiosity of early 20th century postcards from the Boyes Hot Springs resort are labeled “Harmonie Ausflug.” “Harmonie Ausflug” is not the name of a specific society but of the activity: the Harmonie (singing society, choral group,) takes an outing.
Livia Gershon in JSTOR Daily:
“In Europe’s German-speaking states…male choir organizations started popping up around 1810 and grew in number and prominence over the next half-century. Most were open to people of different social classes and focused on the idea of educating people and spreading middle-class values-though, by the 1860s, some were specifically “workers choirs,” affiliated with socialist and labor movements.
However, for many regular German Americans, this wasn’t really the point of the festivals. They showed up to enjoy romantic or humorous folk songs, eat childhood foods, drink beer, and reminisce about the old country.” and,
“German American singing festivals included both highbrow and lowbrow features.”
The Harmonie Ausflug post cards clearly represent the choristers indulging in the “lowbrow features.”
Animal costumes were favored. Dated 1909 on front.
An actual animal.
Not just singers, but a marching band!
“My wife’s husband has gone to the country “but oh you Kid!”
Taking the waters at Boyes.
A zeppelin (invented by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, don’t ya know)? Seems to be hanging from a cable over the pool.
All photos, dated 1909, are by the prolific Charles Weidner.
The JSTOR article https://daily.jstor.org/german-song-in-america/?utm_source=mcae&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jstordaily-07102025
Further reading about German American singing societies from a University of the Paicific thesis from 1955 https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2276&context=uop_etds
springs museum 