New Glarus (Wis.) Preserves Its Swiss Heritage

***For history and travel buffs, this is a reproduction of a story I had published exactly 33 years ago in The Chicago Tribune.  Do an Internet search under New Glarus, Wisconsin, and you will find that June is still the month in which many of these festivals still take place!  Less than a year after this article appeared, I spent about eight days in Switzerland, including a hike to Tellskapelle—William Tell’s Chapel, on the shores of Lake Luzern in Canton Uri.***

America is chock full of miniature communities that constantly remind us of our accepted national stance as the world’s “melting pot.”  A slice of Holland exists in one region, while Grecian, Japanese and Polish neighborhoods persist elsewhere.  Yet, none has worked harder at preserving its true heritage than New Glarus.

The “Swiss Colony of New Glarus,” as it was first dubbed, was born in 1845.  Crippling economic conditions fueled by serious famine had struck the Canton of Glarus and other areas of Switzerland.  Faced with impending misery, several Swiss chose to emigrate.

Two representatives of The Emigration Society of Canton Glarus, Switzerland, were sent to the United States to purchase land for a settlement.  Months later, 108 homesteaders flocked to southern Wisconsin to make New Glarus their residence.

At first, life was difficult for these artisans and textile workers turned farmers.  But they endured the tough years, the town was organized in 1850, and New Glarus prospered thereafter, thanks to new influxes of settlers.

Although the settlement’s name changed to the Town of New Glarus in 1850, then to the Village of New Glarus in this (20th) century, much of the old heritage has either remained intact or has been restored.  Examples of this are New Glarus’ architecture, language and food.

Houses of New Glarus are built in the style of Swiss chalets with wide, overhanging roofs and several small windows complete with window boxes displaying red geraniums—a favorite Swiss flower.  Houses and shops are further embellished with canton shields or emblems, denoting Swiss family heritage.

The language, a Swiss-German dialect known as Glarnerdeutsch, is still spoken in many homes and shops.  Strangely enough, this same speech has been so altered back home that it barely exists in its native regions of Switzerland.

Emmentaler, which is more widely known as Swiss cheese, is a popular staple food for fondues or served with Swiss sausages and wine.  You will have no trouble finding these, other delicacies, and mouth-watering crisp pastries at authentic Swiss restaurants in New Glarus.

However, the major connection with the traditions and customs of Old Glarus is preserved through lively annual festivals and pageants.  The first of the warm weather affairs is the Heidi Festival, held annually the last full weekend in June.

Festivities begin with the Heidi Drama, held from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. June 28 at the high school on Second Street.  Adult and child alike will marvel at this charming tale set in the Swiss Alps.

After Heidi strikes up a friendly relationship with her grandfather, who lives up in the mountains with his goat, Little Swan, she is abducted by her artful Aunt Dete and taken to Frankfurt to live with invalid Clara Seesman. 

In the heartwarming conclusion, Heidi steals away to be reunited with her grandfather in the mountain village of Dorfli.  General admission is $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children under 13.

Part two of the activities is the Little Switzerland Festival, held at 8 p.m. in the high school gym.  This is where the greatest array of ethnic talent can be enjoyed.  Traditional entertainment like yodeling, flag throwing, bell ringing and Alpine horn blowing are featured for $2 per general admission seat.

Besides another showing of Heidi on Sunday, the final feature of the festivities is the Heidi Crafts and Food Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Village Park.

Two midsummer events of New Glarus are the Schutzenfest and Volkfest.  Held on July 5, the shooting fest pits the best marksmen in the area in competition for various trophies in all age groups.  There is no charge to observe this loud and smoky affair.

The Volkfest is held at the same Shooting Park on the first Sunday in August.  At this time, folks of New Glarus and other Swiss communities pay tribute to Swiss Independence Day with entertainment and merriment.

Highlights of the day-long event include dancing to live music, folk tunes by the New Glarus Maennerchor—an authentic men’s Swiss choral group, guest speakers, yodelers, Swiss storytelling, and of course, food galore.  Admission for this gala affair is $2 for adults and $1 for children. 

The Wilhelm Tell pageant has been held every Labor Day since 1938.  Entertainment begins at the Tell Amphitheater at 1 p.m. on each of the three days, and the Wilhelm Tell Drama starts at 1:30 p.m.—in English on Saturday and Monday, and in original German for the Sunday performance.

This highly popular legend depicts heroism at its finest.  Wilhelm Tell freed his nation from tyranny of the 13^th-Century Austrian Hapsburgs by shooting an apple from his son’s head.  Reserved seats by mail for this spectacular performance run $4, while general admission rates are $3 for adults and $2 for children.  Other activities are an Alpine Festival, a free street dance and the Tell Outdoor Art Show.

The final events of this year are the Schwingfest, or Swiss Wrestling Tournament, held on Sept. 14, and the Sugar River Marathon Run on Oct. 18.  At the former event, the best grapplers of the world are featured—one including an Olympic medal winner.  It begins at 9 a.m. with general admission ticket prices at $4 and $2.

The Marathon also begins at 9 a.m. and is held on a course that is also used for biking and snowmobiling at different times of the year. 

New Glarus has preserved its native charm through other annual events, too. Bells of the Swiss church and bank tower can be heard as you observe the sheer beauty of the Swiss Floral Clock.

Two additional popular landmarks which charge nominal fees, are the Chalet of the Golden Fleece and the Swiss Historical Village, open to Oct. 31.

The Swiss Historical Village is an assemblage of 12 buildings, which are replicas of those from New Glarus’ original pioneer village.

Accommodations may be secured at the New Glarus Hotel or at the Swiss Aire, Landhaus Chalet or Town Edge Motel.  For more information, write NEWTAP, Box 713, New Glarus, Wis.  53574.