$150.00 - Luxembourg American Heritage Information Center

Section 3 is, today, the oldest of the four remaining Sections which comprise the L.B.A.
It has a rich history and is justly proud of its contributions to both the L.B.A. and
the city of Chicago.
Section 1 of the L.B.A., was established on the south side of Chicago in 1887.
Of course, at that time, it would not be known as Section 1 until 1897, when its first sibling was
organized i.e. Section 2. As word of a viable Luxembourg organization travelled the hinterlands,
other people would petition to start a section in their area.
John Glensener, a member of Section 1, came to Rogers Park in 1897. There, in the Rogers
Park and High Ridge neighborhoods, he found numerous Luxembourgers who had settled in
this area and whose lives were devoted to their greenhouse businesses and their parish — St.
Henry's. It was from this fertile ground that Section 3 was born.
In April, 1897, Glensener requested that the Grand Secretary, John W. Watry, come to the
north side and speak to an assembled group of 25 men who were interested in forming a section
for the north side of Chicago. At this meeting, Peter Weimeskirch acted as Secretary. At the
conclusion of the meeting, all 25 men pledged themselves to join the L.B.A. On May 9, 1897,
Grand President John Hankes initiated 33 men into the L.B.A., and christened them Section 3.
The Charter members were:
Fred Arendt J.P. Koob Peter Sartor
Anton Beaufils Theodore Lanners J.A. Schmit
Joseph Bill Mathias Laplume Vincent Schmitz
Nick Brucher Nick Laplume John Scholer
Louis Clesen J. Leichtenberg Peter Schoos
Peter Diederich Fred Lutgen Leon Schuler
Nick Drickes J.P. Michels Nick Thinnes
Peter Eischen Nick Nilles Peter Tres
Hubert Hostert Peter Nilles Fritz Wanderscheid
J.P. Jaeger Theo. Porters Andrew Weber
Cor. Kimmes J.B. Salentiny Peter Weimeskirch
The Section's first officers were:
President J.P. Koob
Vice-President J.P. Michaels
Recording Secretary Nick Nilles
Financial Secretary Nick Thinnes
Treasurer Peter Weimeskirch
The size and influence of Section 3 were immediately felt in the councils of the L.B.A. By
1907, a mere ten years after its creation, Section 3 had three hundred members, the largest in the
Brotherhood.
The history of Section 3 is best related in the retelling of the 64 year history of the
Schobermesse, the yearly fall festival of the Luxembourg people. The Schobermesse was held
each year from 1904 to 1967 in a variety of picnic groves which dotted the north side of Chicago
and its northern suburbs, Tessville (n/k/a Lincolnwood), Niles Center (n/k/a Skokie) and
Morton Grove.
The birth of the first Schobermesse was the result of the failure of a picnic sponsored by the
Section in May, 1903. The day dawned cloudy and rain poured down in the afternoon. Due to the
generosity of the grove owner, Matt Freres, the grove was made available to the Section on the
day following, Memorial Day. Though the spirit of the picnic was salvaged, it was a financial
failure and the Section leaders resolved to find a better way, for the summer months were
crowded with picnics and other family gatherings.
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