For those of you who do not know German the first sentence says "There was a place for German music in Yonkers!" Unfortunately, this place is now closed and abandoned, but a very important culturual and historic relic right next to the Waterfront.
Known as the Teutonia Hall, it was opened by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1892 so that Germans living in Yonkers could celebrate their culture via this singing hall. The building is abandoned now, but stands as a testament to many German immigrants who came to Yonkers in the late 1800's. If you go to Woodlawn Cemetary, just south of Yonkers, you will see many German names, many who lived in Yonkers. Unfortunately there is very little left of the German culture in Yonkers. We have included a Deutsches Volkslied (a German folk song) so that you would have an idea of what was sung at the Teutonia Hall. The song is, "In Einem Kuhlen Grunde" (In a cool place). This is in honor of the German people who called Yonkers home and one time made the Teutonia Hall an active place.
It seems that a developer has bought the hall... It will only be a matter of time when this historical building meets the wrecking ball unless we all do something about it. The current policy of knocking down history to create nothing is going to make Yonkers lose its identity.
Pity, we are still alive!
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