Germaine and her family leave Belgium for New York

Thank you to our historians Marcel Verdoeft and André Gebeurtenis who continue their research on the life of Germaine Slutte. Last news: it was on board the Belgenland that Germaine and her family left Belgium for New York in 1933 ...

According to the latest research by Marcel and André, it was on board the Belgenland that the Slutte family left the port of Antwerp in October 1933 to reach New York on November 3, as evidenced by the arrivals register of the immigration center settled on Ellis Island, a tiny island of ten hectares in the interior of New York Bay, not far from Manhattan. At the end of the 19th century and for decades, it also served as a port of entry for all immigrants who came to seek their fortune or simply a better life in the United States.

The Belgenland is an ocean liner built under the « Belgic » name in 1914 in the Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast. First used by the White Star Line as cargo and troop transport during the First World War, it then underwent a major overhaul and became the flagship of the Red Star Line under the name Belgenland. After twelve years of service for the company, it was sold to the Panama Pacific Line, which renamed it Columbia but failed to make it profitable. The following year, in 1936, the liner was scrapped.

The name of the beer chosen in homage to Germaine Slutte

The name of the beer was chosen in tribute to Germaine Slutte, a famous Jettoise, who died in 1968 in New York, and whose extraordinary story is still the subject of much research to this day by two Jettois who are passionate about history. : Marcel Verdoeft and André Gebeurtenis. Step by step, they try to piece together Germaine’s story. Here is the result of their initial research ...

"From a family of brewers, Germaine Slutte was born in Jette in 1920. She is the 4th daughter of Gustave and Elisabeth Slutte. The family lives in a charming house in Rue de la Station in Jette (currently Rue Léon Théodor). Gustave is in the origin of the creation of several very popular craft beers at the time in and around Jette, such as Paaïp, Peochenel, Rotzak and Pisswaaïf.

After primary studies at the Sacré-Coeur in Jette, Germaine began her secondary studies there, wishing to pursue a career as a nurse in tribute to her grandfather Alphonse, who died during the Great War, in Adinkerke in March 1915.

While in April 1933, the American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt repealed the "Volstead Act" which until then justified the prohibition prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol, Gustave Slutte saw the opportunity to put his talent and his expertise brewer serving American companies.

The Slutte family then decided to emigrate to the United States that same year. She leaves Belgium in Antwerp by taking one of the transatlantic liners of the company Red Star Line. Germaine was then 13 years old… "

A Picture of Germaine Slutte

Many thanks to Marcel Verdoeft who sent us a post card with a picture of Germaine Slutte ! He mentioned also he has other information about the story of Germaine and her family...