Dusseldorf: The Old Town Citizen's Society celebrates its 75th anniversary, recognizing the Bilker Schützen this milestone year.
Celebrating 75 Years: A Toast to the Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft
Step back in time, 75 years to be precise, and we find ourselves in the heart of a vibrant community. On July 21, 1948, the Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaftwas born, and this milestone was celebrated by its members and friends in grand fashion. Originally, the associationwas all about singing and amateur theater, but as decades slipped by, the lack of young talent moved their focus to preserving the home ties of its citizens.
The celebration unfolded at "Im Fuchs im Hofmann's" on Benzenbergstraße.
Since 1967, the Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft has been bestowing the Pastor Jääsch Plaque on individuals or organizations that are socially and locally committed. At their 75th anniversary celebration, two plaques were handed out. The first went to the St. Sebastianus Schützenverein Düsseldorf-Bilk. Their honorary chief, Hans-Dieter Caspers, graciously accepted the plaque, accompanied by a certificate, as the rest of the Bilker Schützen board was kept away by a coronation evening of the Sebastianers from 1316.
(l. to r.) Baas Uwe Triebel, Jutta Radke, and Hans-Dieter Caspers, the honored recipient for the Bilker Schützen
The Altstädters chose the Bilker Schützen because they not only traditionally start fundraising campaigns for a social cause as regimental king pairs, but the association also organizes a multitude of activities, from the St. Martin's procession to invitations for seniors to participation in shooting sports. The Bilker Schützen are members of the North Rhine-Westphalia Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association and have their own sports shooting group for the blind and visually impaired.
Hans-Dieter Caspers, a proud and surprised recipient, accepted the award with the plaque, certificates, and a check for 500 euros. He was especially delighted to receive the Pastor Jääsch Plaque, as Friedrich Eduard Gerst - Pastor Jääsch's real name - was the first Catholic prison chaplain in Düsseldorf from 1841 to 1865. Known as a Düsseldorf original who spoke Platt and preached in dialect, he was celebrated for his efforts to protect "his" prisoners and their families. Caspers drew a connection to this, noting that the Schützen's motto is "Schützen schützen". He shared several anecdotes about Pastor Jääsch, which he relished teaching as a teacher at the "Pittermann School".
The Pastor Jääsch Plaque, a symbol of exceptional engagement, was handed out by the Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft.
After the Filla band entertained the crowd with their music, Uwe Triebel presented the second Pastor Jääsch Plaque posthumously to former Baas Hans-Hermann Kastin. His wife, Gudrun, accepted the certificate and prize with emotion.
The Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft boasts a membership of around 100 individuals, and numerous awards were given out to long-serving members on this special night. Their next event will take place on July 29, when the new king will be shot. And, as with every event of the association, the club song "Mer sind us de Aldestadt, us de Retematäng" echoed through the hall.
In the heart of the celebration commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft, the focus shifted towards honoring organizations dedicated to enriching community life. The Bilker Schützen, renowned for their home-and-garden activities and social causes, were recognized with the Pastor Jääsch Plaque.
The Altstädter Bürger-Gesellschaft, beyond its historical roots in singing and theater, now cherishes preserving the home ties of its citizens, extending its reach to include home-and-garden endeavors.
