The Turn Verein
The Rock Island Turn Verein, or the Turner Society, as it is commonly
styled, is one of the best known and most substantial organizations in the
city. Its origin dates back to April 16, 1857, when it was known as the
Turn Gemeinde. It was incorporated in 1869. During the time that has
intervened there has been but one real crisis in its affairs. That was
happily tided over and since that time its growth has been steady and
sufficient.
John Imber, a shoemaker, upon coming to this city during the fifties,
began agitating the question of such an organization among the German
residents. He aroused about twenty-five of his fellow countrymen and the
society was formed. Julius Mosenfelder, the grocer, was the first
president, John Wright, who was once employed in the mechanical department
of The Argus, was the first secretary, and Mr. Imber the first turnwort,
or leader of the classes in physical culture.
At first the society had no building in which to meet, but the lot at the
northeast corner of Twenty-first Street and Sixth Avenue was bought and
fenced in and the exercises were held in the open air during the first
season. Rooms on the second floor of a building on Market Square, back of
the Bengston Block, were then leased for a couple of years. Here the first
dramatic undertakings were put on in the Winter of 1858-59. The next
meeting place was in a building which occupied the site of the new Hotel
Harms. After a few years another change was made to the Empire Hall, as it
was then known, located over 1506 Second Avenue.
The lot now owned by the society, and occupied by its present quarters on
the south side of Third Avenue west of Sixteenth Street, was acquired in
1866. The wooden building, known as Turner Hall, had been in use as the
church of the Episcopal congregation of the city, being abandoned upon the
erection of the church now occupied. The brick gymnasium in the rear of
the hall was put up about fifteen years ago at a cost of $2,000, and the
brick structure which now constitutes the main building was put up nine
years ago at a cost of $14,000. The property of the society is now valued
at $35,000.
It was in 1859 that the membership was reduced, through a schism, to nine,
but it has grown since till at the present time it numbers 1,000. There is
also a Ladies' Turner Society, with thirty-five members, that is
maintained as an auxiliary to the main society.
The quarters are provided, in addition to the hall and a well equipped
gymnasium, with nicely furnished club rooms, including a library of seven
hundred volumes of works in German and English.
Rock Island County Organizations and Societies
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908