Kolping House New York

Kolping New York started in the lower hall of the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, East 17th Street on October 14, 1888 with 20 visionary and dedicated men. Theobald Dengler, a Kolping member in Germany, with the aid of Karl Loerwald, who was born in New York, had gathered friends for this event. The latter was well acquainted with the Kolping work because his father had known Father Kolping personally. The pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, a former tailor, offered his school hall to the group, whereupon the first meeting was planned and foundations of the society in New York were laid.

In January 1892 the Franciscan Church on West 31st Street was completed and the young society was able to use its basement for meetings. At this time the first piece of furniture was acquired – the large table which today still stands in the reading room of the Kolping House.