Oktoberfest to feature local history films

MINSTER - Visitors to the 40th Minster Oktoberfest on Oct. 3-5 will be treated to a lesson on village history.

The Minster Historical Society and a committee of local residents collaborated to show two films entitled "A Celebration of Heritage - Minster Our Home" in honor of the festival's landmark anniversary.

Two large tents will be erected next to Bernhold Insurance Agency, 81 W. Fourth St., and across from the Minster Post Office as a reception area featuring historical displays and a theater equipped with 100 seats.

Senior citizen premieres are 9:45 a.m. Oct. 3 for residents of Heritage Manor Nursing Center in Minster and at 10:45 a.m. for residents of Elmwood Assisted Living of New Bremen. A valet service will be offered for those who drive to the event, and a pickup and return service is slated for those without transportation.

Showings will be at 40-minute intervals from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 3, 1-10 p.m. Oct. 4 and 3:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 5. The Minster Historical Society will provide free popcorn with door prizes to be awarded by sponsoring businesses in the community, according to project chairman Don Kitzmiller.

More than 200 volunteers from businesses and church and civic organizations will be involved with the weekend presentations, Kitzmiller said.

IE Industries - now Midmark Corp. in Versailles - originally funded production of the films at the Oktoberfest in 1976 and 1977.

Committee member Bob Lammers coordinated the effort with IE's advertising agency in Dayton. The end result was a two-projector slide presentation, which IE later converted to video tape.  

The 1976 film focuses on the political and religious climate in Germany in the 1820s and 1830s, which set the stage for many people to abandon their homeland. It also focuses on Frantz Joseph Stallo, who established Stallostown - now known as Minster - and on what life was like here and in surrounding communities founded in the 1830s.

The 1977 film continues the story of Minster, compressing the early history while looking how things changed or did not change up to 1975. The 1976 film will play continuously in the reception area; visitors can watch the 1977 film in the theater.

There is no admission charge for the films. However, the committee is hoping to receive enough donations to make a third film highlighting Minster's history from 1975 to present day.

Kitzmiller, who is spearheading the effort with committee members Mary Oldiges, Jack Buschur, Rudy Quinter and Lammers, recalls the initial showings in 1976 and 1977 when an estimated 2,000 people attended.

"I thought since it was the 40th anniversary of the Oktoberfest, it might be a good idea to get them (the films) out there once again to an almost all new audience," he said.

Kitzmiller said support from area businesses and industries has been overwhelming with all founder and settler sponsorships completely taken. He added the committee is concentrating on attracting more resident ($100) and member ($50) sponsorships.

"We have enough money to do a first-class job with the production at the Oktoberfest," he added. "We feel we have a great shot at raising what we need for the new film."

Work on what is billed "the rest of the story" should begin later this year. No date has been set for completion.