helmet
Catalog Number
1938.19.148Description
The silver plated ornaments and interior lining of this helmet, which are impractical for combat use, suggest that it was used for parades and ceremonies. Such helmets, referred to as "Kaiser hats" by allied soldiers, were highly prized war trophies.History
1938.19 is from the George Getz collection.George Fulmer Getz was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on December 26, 1863. He was the son of John and Amanda Getz, who were poor farmers. George left his home at age ten to make his own way. He came to Chicago and got his first job as a messenger boy with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He soon became a telegraph operator and then a yardmaster in the same company. In 1885, Getz became a salesman with Weaver, Todd & Company who were coal dealers. After five years he became a partner in the company. In 1895, George Getz went into business for himself. His business interests soon included coal, ice, banking, steel, hotel, newspaper, manufacturing, and transportation. George consolidated his interests in 1901 when he organized and became the president of the Globe Corporation.
George Getz married Susan Daniel in 1904, and they had two sons together-- George F. Getz and James R. Getz. In 1910, George and Susan Getz came to Holland, Michigan to look for a place to raise his family. They bought land bordering Lake Michigan and drew up plans for a home. Susan Getz died shortly thereafter, but George went ahead and built a house- later to be known as Lakewood Farm. At the highlight of Getz's Lakewood farm, there was an extensive zoological exhibit, greenhouses and livestock. There was a wide variety of animals found at "Getz's Zoo" including a hippopotamus, rhinoceros, six lions, an Indian leopard, twelve tigers, Syrian bears, polar and black bears, monkeys, two pythons and an elephant named "Nancy". All of Getz's exhibits were open to public, and for most of the years there was no entrance fee. On one day, 50,000 visitors were counted at Lakewood farm. In 1933, George Getz donated his entire zoo consisting of 119 mammals, 201 birds and 15 reptiles to the Chicago Zoological Society, and the glory days of Lakewood Farm ended.
George Getz had many other interests and accomplishments. He attained the rank of Major in WWI and served as an associate director of the American Red Cross in France. Getz was a prominent sportsman. From 1927 to 1928 Getz made a big game hunting trip to Africa. He was the chief promoter of the Dempsey-Tunny fights and also brought the Army-Navy game to Soldier Field. Getz was also the treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1933 to 1936. George Getz died on February 11, 1938.