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Buffalo Dortmund Sister City Committee

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East Aurora, NY
Buffalo Dortmund Sister City Committee

Committed to establishing, developing, supporting and maintaining a sister city partnership between the City of Buffalo and the City of Dortmund, Germany.

09/10/2025

This month, take advantage of a unique opportunity to support Buffalo's sister cities. Enjoy great food and entertainment while learning about our international connections. A delegation from Kanazawa will also be in attendance.

Address

472 Fillmore Avenue
East Aurora, NY
14052

Telephone

+17169700079

Website

facebook.com

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Celebrating 40 years!

The origins of the Buffalo Dortmund program can be traced back to a summer day in 1972 when a Dortmund native, Herbert Morgenroth, arrived in Buffalo as an exchange teacher at the University of Buffalo under the auspices of the Carl Duisberg Society, a German exchange program. Morgenroth was struck by the similarities between our City of Buffalo and his hometown of Dortmund. It is about the same size as Buffalo and its suburbs, is the site of the most famous steel company in Europe and is famous for its beer production. Dortmund is located in the heart of the industrialized Ruhr Valley, in then West Germany. Morgenroth found Dortmund’s similarities with Buffalo very intriguing.

So struck was he by the possibilities of Sister City relationship that he undertook to “talk it up.” Morgenroth was living on LeBrun Street near the University campus and an Eggertsville resident, Mr. John E. Ward, then principal of Genesee-Humboldt Junior High School, heard of Morgenroth’s idea. The idea caught on with Ward and by 1974, he, Morgenroth and others had broached the idea with the Honorary German Consul in Buffalo, Mr. Nathan “Brix” Barrell. In February of that year, their idea was formally presented to Mayor Stanley Makowski and the program was on its way. Letters were exchanged by the City leaders in Dortmund and Buffalo, all under the watchful eye of Honorary Consul Barrell. Mrs. Barrell traveled to Dortmund in the spring of 1975 and reported “great progress” toward establishing a formal Sister City relationship with Dortmund. Early in 1976, officials of the Dortmund Cultural Affairs Organization visited Buffalo and laid the groundwork for a visit by a contingent of Buffalonians to Dortmund in the fall of 1976.

Meanwhile, John Ward busied himself organizing a committee of Buffalonians who would spearhead the arms-across-the-waters effort. Under Ward’s chairmanship, the committee reached out to contact a range of groups in the Buffalo area who expressed an interest in being part of this exciting partnership. Student exchanges were the first to pick up steam with Canisius Collge, under the guidance of Dr. James McGoldrick leading the way. Ward turned the reins to the Dortmund Committee over to Erie County Legislator Robin Schimminger and Mayor Makowski designated key aides to serve as program coordinators.

By the fall of 1976, all the pieces were in place for a major visit by a contingent of 40 diverse Buffalo area residents to the City of Dortmund in Buffalo’s first official visit. The delegation was led by Special Assistant to the Mayor, David B. Kelly, Erie County Legislator and State Assemblyman-Elect Robin Schimminger and Honorary German Consul Mrs. Barrell. The group was as diverse as the Buffalo community, including a Buffalo disc jockey named “Shane”, a Black jazz ensemble, artists, businessmen, representatives of the Lions Club and the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Neal O’Rourke of the Mayor’s Office served as Program Director for the Sister City Week.

On their return from Dortmund, the group was committed to make the German-American exchange grow and prosper. Dortmunders learned of the famous Blizzard of ‘77 through the international press and financial aid was sent to Buffalo in a gesture of international friendship. In fact, the Buffalo Dortmund Committee was asked to designate three “heroes” of the Blizzard who had assisted other Buffalonians. These “heroes” were honored in Dortmund as visiting dignitaries.

On July 3rd 1977, Dortmund officially committed to its new Sister City of Buffalo and during that year several groups from Dortmund visited Buffalo. However, 1978 was the year of the first official visit of Dortmund Burgermeister Willie Spaenhoff leading the group for Buffalo-Dortmund Week, October 6-15, 1978. Under the new Chairman of the Committee Mrs. Marta Herzbrun the Sister City Committee hosted many activities for the contingent.

In May, 1979, Buffalo Mayor James D. Griffin traveled to Dortmund for his first official visit.

The Buffalo Dortmund Sister City Committee is a registered 501c3 non for profit organization committed to the success or our sister city relationship and student exchange program. We are an active volunteer committee of people from WNY made up of former chaperones to Dortmund, members of current and former host families, German teachers and business leaders. If you are interested in joining our committee please reach out to Greg Engle, President of our group at [email protected] for more information.