Imagine,
being seated at a table beneath majestic oaks observing the
candles in hurricane lamps flicker as they add to the light
of the moon and stars on a balmy evening of early summer.
The fragrance of honeysuckle is carried to your table by
gentle breezes. Waitresses garbed in long skirts and peasant
blouses hurry from table to table delivering huge pitchers
of home brewed lager and breaking into song as a band
renders the melodious strains of German folk songs. Suddenly
the band strikes up a Strauss Waltz and the tables empty as
each gent leads his lady to the freshly waxed platform which
serves as an outdoor dance floor. As the couples whirl
about, the floor-length dresses flying, you spy the blue
uniforms of furloughed soldiers participating in the
festivities of the evening. This colorful scene was not, as
one would expect, set in Heidelberg, nor in Vienna, or
Bavaria, but rather at the German resort, known as the Flora
Gardens, located in southwestern Centralia during the days
of the Civil War.
It
was in 1853, when Centralia was in its infancy, that Joseph
Droll, a concert musician, and his wife, the former
Elizabeth Rheinbold, arrived from Baden, Germany where he
was born in 1828 and she in 1830. They established a
boarding home in Centralia to provide for the early railroad
employers. For a short time they served as proprietors of
the noted Centralia House. Shortly after 1860, Mr. Droll
decided to combine his musical skills with the art of
entertaining and proceeded to construct a two story building
on what was part of the Fred Heiss estate. The block which
is now the 500 block of West Fifth was beautifully
landscaped. Its acceptance by the citizens of Centralia,
many of whom had come from Germany, was rapid and nearly
universal.
Some
of the early activities at the Flora described in the
newspaper included: The concert of the Centralia Brass and
String Band for the benefit of the Ladies Soldiers Aid;
Catholic benefit social; Odd Fellow's Ball, Saengerbund
banquet and concert; Odd Fellow and Rebekah Century Watch
(1900); Turner's Ball; and Lutheran Benefit. The Sentinel of
July 27, 1898, recorded that beer made by Anheuser-Busch in
St. Louis replaced the brew made locally.
It
was on Feb. 18, 1899, that the old host, Joseph Droll died
and two months later, in May, Mrs. Droll, inconsolable,
committed suicide and followed her husband to the grave.
Tony Dunker, who had been a long time hotel operator in
Centralia, assumed management and continued the old
traditions. Rehabilitation was necessary from time to time,
but the old resort continued to operate until the time of
World War One when anti German sentiment forced its closing.
Many social leaders of the area fulfilled their obligations
by hosting private affairs at the Flora. For example, the
May 31, 1912 Sentinel records that Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Weldon
opened the summer social season with a ball at the Flora
Gardens with 86 couples in attendance.
Mrs.
Elizabeth Kurth in a 1934 Sentinel recalled the old
amusement center “A pleasant resort enjoyed by many
Centralia families during the early days was the Flora
Gardens or the Biergarten, built and managed by Joseph
Droll. The grounds about his large house were beautifully
landscaped. Roses and many other pleasant flowers abounded.
There was nothing sordid in this resort, and the most
respected citizens took their families to sit beneath the
trees at the tables arranged there and to enjoy the
excellent music and refreshments. “Mrs. Flora Touve Harris
gave this account, “Often we strolled out to the Flora
Gardens which was a social rendezvous since the 1860s. Many
plays, concerts, and dances were held in the upper hall
there. I recall the violets, profusely blooming near the
hedges, the pretty tulip and narcissus gardens, the tall
trees, the vine covered gartenhouses, the serving tables for
social repast and the bowling alley to the west of the
building where the men bowled.” The Sentinel of Aug. 24,
1953 said of the establishment, “Built in the early 1860s,
its hall reechoed the laughter of soldiers of the Northern
Army on leave during the war and was later to become the
amusement center for the city, particularly among the German
population.”
On
Feb. 13, 1868 the Sentinel vividly described the highlight
of a masquerade ball given at the Flora, “About eleven
o'clock, an interesting ceremony, new to Centralia, was
performed in a very impressive manner. It is called the
birth of Prince Carnival. A bishop enters waving away all
evil spirits with his wand; immediately following him came
four bearers carrying upon their shoulders, a frame holding
a large nest with a monstrous golden egg in it, as large as
a flour barrel. After marching around the room, the nest and
egg were placed in the center—tin plates containing Greek
fire were placed around it—then while the scene was
gorgeous with the brilliant lights, and amid the sound of
heavy thunder, at the command of the Bishop, the egg burst
open with the report of cannon, and forth stepped the young
prince, Carnival, who was immediately seized by the awaiting
clowns and carried around the room to make the acquaintance
of his subjects and receive their pledges of adherence.”
Gone
are the Flora Gardens and those who whiled away happy hours
on he grounds, but many still exist who would delight in
spending an evening of music and dancing under the stars
just as it was done in yesteryear.