The German Family Society was founded in 1955 at St. Bernard’s Catholic church by Danubeswabian (Folk-German), German and Austrian immigrants. In the 1960s, we moved to the German American Club in Akron, then in 1973 to our present location (Donau Park) in Brimfield Twp. We are a non-profit, private and social organization whose charter is to promote our culture and pass down our ethnic heritage and family values to future generations. We are proud of the fact that our entire facility is maintained by members who volunteer their time and energy. We have approximately 12-15 major functions each year, including indoor dances with themes such as: Vienna Night, a Wine/Grape Harvest Festival, a Royal Ball, a New Year’s Eve Formal, and even a Hawaiian Night (with a terrific, authentic Hawaiian show put on by our national prize-winning Youth Group Dancers). We also sponsor Concert-Dances each year with famous performers from Germany and Austria. Of course, our best-known events are the 2-day “Old European Days & Bierfest” held every year on the last weekend of June, and our 3-day “Oktoberfest”, called by local TV as the best, most original and traditional Oktoberfest in the State of Ohio.

Gottscheer Park has been the home of E.O.U.V. for more than 35 years. Located in Novelty, a southeast suburb of Cleveland, Gottscheer Park is a beautiful 56 acre setting for just about all of the club’s social and cultural events.
The central feature of the park is the clubhouse, where activities occur year-round. The clubhouse contains a banquet and performance hall, and a full kitchen and bar. The hall hosts weddings and other events regularly. A large stage provides the venue for the club choir, dance group, brass band, and others to perform and entertain guests. Come to any event and you’ll find a staff of talented club members preparing dinner, tending bar, and faithfully serving guests.
A portion of the clubhouse existed when the property was purchased in the early 1980s. Club members expanded that original building into the clubhouse that exists today. Club meetings are held monthly in the upstairs portion of the original building.
The caretaker’s house is a beautiful A-frame building built by club members which serve as living quarters for the caretaker and family. The picturesque view from its balcony features one of the two ponds located on the property.
Behind the clubhouse, a three-season pavilion provides a great weatherproof venue for outdoor events such as the 4th-of-July picnic. The pavilion also includes a bar, kitchen, stage, and dance floor for the convenience and entertainment of guests.
Take a stroll around Gottscheer Park, and you’ll also find a children’s playground, a gazebo, a chapel dedicated to past club members, soccer fields, and much more.
All of the buildings on the grounds, as well as the large concrete parking lot and concrete driveway, were created by the hands of club members. Weekly, you’ll find a group of dedicated, hard-working, and talented men and women at the park, working on the latest project, and keeping those who are working on the projects well-fed. Their hard work and the pride they have in their club are evident as you stroll through Gottscheer Park.

Today the German Central Foundation, which was founded in 2000, relies upon rents, membership fees, and donations. Everyone is welcome to share in the camaraderie regardless of ethnicity. The spacious grounds accompany the Main Hall, the Vienna Cafe, the Pavilion, a Gazebo, and many picnic tables throughout the open grounds. All buildings are available for rental, which can accommodate weddings, showers, family reunions, company picnics, graduation parties, or any other special occasion.
The German Central Calendar of Events lists dances, the Oktoberfest in September, the fish fries during Lent, Zumba classes are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 PM, Tuesday’s chess club, Wednesday’s fun nights, and Thursday’s line dancing. All of these events are open to the public.
The dances are held two Saturdays every month with well-known bands.
For those interested in becoming members, the annual membership donation is $20.00 per year per person.