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The Pueblo German American Club is not only kegs of refreshing bier and delicious pretzels, although those are some of the things we love the most! More importantly, we are a culture-building organization that enjoys celebrating with our community and carrying on the rich, 50+ year history of our club.
The PGAC is open to people from all backgrounds. You don’t have to be from Pueblo, you don’t have to be German, and you don’t have to be American! All you need is an interest in becoming part of a club, where you can experience authentic German activities and foster ongoing positive communication among cultures.
PGAC is a nonprofit club that is completely open to the public. We are funded through membership dues and sponsorships. We are always eager to welcome new members and patrons! Join us for a variety of events, sign up to volunteer, or show up at an event — we’re sure you’ll find something new and enriching.
Throughout the year, the PGAC hosts a variety of events. From the family-friendly Oktoberfest at the Union Depot in the early fall to theraucous Fasching event in the late winter/early spring, you’re sure to find entertainment and camaraderie at our gatherings. Each month we also host a Stammtisch, which is a German-speaking happy hour event. These are just a few of the many great opportunities to engage with our club and continue carrying on the tradition of alte tradition in der neuen welt — Old tradition in the new world!
All the way back in 1876, Colorado’s founding document noted that “Germans made up the largest foreign-born group in the state in the 1870s.” The Colorado Constitution was published in German, English, and Spanish, and until 1901, all laws were required to be published in those three languages.
Before the PGAC was officially organized, many informal gathering events called Kaffeeklatsch (calf-AY-clutch) took place until December 1969, when a more formally organized group met in the Columbine Room of Pueblo Railway Savings and Loan Association in downtown Pueblo. This became the regular meeting spot for a number of years. Attending this first meeting were the original 23 charter members, and on January 22, 1970, the first regular meeting was held with 33 people present. The name “Pueblo German Club” was adopted, and Barbara Cox served as first president. Annual dues were a mere $3 at the time, which allowed access to the group. It wasn’t long before plans for an Oktoberfest, a group picnic, and the purchase of German song books were approved.
Between then and now, Mayfest dances, Sommerfests, Oktoberfests, and Faschings were all added to our events calendar. The Club’s activities ranged from Christmas dinners, a yearly picnic, and holiday parties for children. To this day, many members take trips together to Santa Fe and Central City for opera performances. To encourage and promote German learning in Pueblo schools, yearly poetry competitions and scholarships for high school and CSU German students were established and have continued to be awarded. The funding for this philanthropy came from profits of bake sales, dances, and sponsor contributions. The club also received its nonprofit status during that time.
2011 saw the publication of 1970-2011: 4 Decades of Pueblo’s German Club by Philipp M. Mayer, depicting members’ histories with untold stories and surprising events about our members. It’s a page-turner—ask about it when you visit!
Further years marked participation in the Colorado State Fair Parade and our fleet of German cars and a 13-foot German-engineered Bierstein Float. The raucous Fasching event in February (just before the start of Lent) has become “the party of the year” among local Puebloans. Membership throughout the years has been made up of people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds and everyone is welcome.
Born to a German emigrant mother and an all-American father, Christina has lived in San Francisco, Santa Fe, and New York City, as well as Pueblo. In addition to her deep passion for the PGAC and keeping this fifty year old club progressing, she is a trusted real estate broker.
Cathy has served on many local boards and has been heavily involved in the Pueblo community for decades. She was Pueblo’s first female (and hispanic) city council president. Cathy’s husband’s heritage is German, bringing them to be active members.
Dagmar was born in the Prussian province of German-speaking Silesia, which is now part of Poland. Her parents and she emigrated to the USA when she was ten. She was one of Pueblo’s most influential German (and English) teachers in School District 60. She has been involved in the PGAC for the last fifty years, during which she has held most of the positions and chairmanships. She is very interested in preserving and continuing the PGAC in the Pueblo community with events and activities for all interested persons.
Hailing from Texas, Elayne is reconnecting with her German side (she studied it in college, grew up with an aunt from Heidelberg, and her brother married a German gal). She works part-time as a licensed agent for Medicare. Elayne loves serving the Pueblo community.
Originally from the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region, Monika learned English while attending school in Germany. At age 18, she arrived in the U.S. midwest for six weeks. As an adult, she has lived in both Germany and the U.S., raised three children, and has worked full-time.
Brigette was born in Berlin to German parents, who gained sponsorship from her aunt and her American husband in 1955 to move to Dallas, Texas. After retiring from the courts from The City and County of Denver, Brigite moved to Pueblo in 2007. A friend introduced her to the PGAC, and she has been involved ever since.
Connie is a retired nurse with ties to Germany, as she attended high school in Berlin and her mother is from Trier. Although fairly new to the PGAC, she is excited to be on the board, loves helping with activities, and is dedicated to preserving her German heritage.
