$150.00 - Luxembourg American Heritage Information Center

attend, the Section donated $25.00 to the Bishop's relief fund. In addition, the Orchard School
for the retarded continued to receive donations from the Section during this period.
In 1962, Paul Hermes, Recording Secretary since 1913, became ill. As his health deteriorated,
other Section members began taking the minutes of the meetings, among them Bill Biegert,
Jr. and Joe Witry, Sr. In December, 1962, Paul declined to be re-elected as Recording Secretary.
To show its appreciation, the Section gave him an embossed scroll and a $50.00 gift certificate.
To succeed Paul Hermes, whose contributions to Section 15 as its Recording Secretary were
without parallel (and whose handwriting was clearly legible - Thank you, Paul!), the Section
chose Joe Dockendorff, Sr.
Several issues effecting the Grand Lodge and all of the Sections arose in the 1960's. As
previously noted, the L.B.A. was incorporated in 1888 as a benevolent, charitable and social
club. In 1902, it was enrolled by the state of Illinois as a Fraternal Beneficiary Society to provide
"pecuniary benefits to beneficiaries of deceased members or accident or permanent indemnity
disability to members."
As an outgrowth of these insurance benefits, the L.B.A. paid to its members sick benefits
which, in the 40's and thereafter, was usually $5.00 per week. In 1963, the Grand Lodge
discontinued this benefit, but the Sections were free to pay them. At the September, 1963
meeting, this question was tabled for further discussion, and a review of later minutes fails to
show any further discussion of the issue. At the section meeting held January 23, 1964, Harry
Trausch, Grand Secretary, reported that the Grand Lodge had discontinued sick benefits.
Section 15 apparently agreed, for the Expense book shows no disbursement for this benefit for
any year subsequent thereto.
A second issue of importance which confronted Section 15 was at what location would it hold
its monthly meetings. Beginning in 1954, the Section commenced holding its meetings at the
Gardens. By early 1967, however, it was the general feeling of the members that the cost of
refreshments and food at the Gardens was becoming prohibitively expensive. At the May 25,
1967 meeting, it was suggested by John Hansen that Section meetings be held at the homes of its
officers, commencing September 27,1967. At that meeting, held at John Hansen's home, further
discussion was entertained and inquiries were to be made of the Lincolnwood V.F.W. as to the
availability of that hall as a meeting place. Joe Witry, Jr. was to meet with Steve Heinz, then
Grand President, and John Hansen was to meet Nick Hoffmann and attempt to resolve the
impasse with the Gardens. These efforts came to naught, for the Section continued to meet at
the homes of various members, until 1978 when quarterly meetings were instituted and dinner
meetings were initiated.
There were two other related issues which received some attention. At the 1967 Grand
Lodge convention, an effort was begun to resuscitate the Luxembourg News. A proposal was
made to assess each Lodge member $4.50 and give that member a subscription to the News.
The Section minutes do not reveal what became of this issue.
In 1968, Section 15 owned 180 shares of stock in the Luxembourg Gardens. As the Gardens
operations were in disarray and a movement to sell the building and grounds was underway, the
Section determined to sell its shares at the agreed price of $15.00 per share. This was done, and
the Luxembourg Gardens gave way to Villa Toscana, an Italian restaurant still operating at
6211 Lincoln Avenue, Morton Grove. Thus Mueller's Hall begot Deckert's Hall which begot
the Luxembourg Gardens which begot Villa Toscana.
The Section practice of recording the deaths of members in its minutes was apparently
abandoned in 1964, for there is no mention in the minutes of the death of Doc Sintzel, nor of
the death of any subsequent member, although Resolutions of Condolence continued to be
published in the Luxembourg News.
At the Grand Lodge meetings held in early 1969, it was proposed that the Grand Lodge be
dissolved and its assets be distributed in accord with the insurance laws. Each insured member
would receive $150.00 and the balance would be distributed pro-rata to each section based on
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