by Shirley J Riemer
June 2, 1854:
The first temporary officers are elected at the home of H.
Ehmann, in the 500 block on J Street, at the "founding meeting."
July 4, 1854:
A fire that destroys much of Sacramento burns the Turner
Hall and all the apparatus. For several months, meetings
are held at various locations.
December 9, 1854:
After gathering at different places following the fire,
the members begin holding meetings at the "Zinkhaus,"
in the alley between 7th and 8th streets, and J and K streets
- constituting the members' very first Turnhalle, rented
for $12 per month.
January 1, 1856:
The landlord of the Zinkhaus agrees to construct a new one-story
building, 18 feet wide and 35 feet deep on the same site
and to rent it to the Turners for $25 per month. On this
date the new Turnhalle is dedicated. A new site is also
found for the gymnastics grounds, on the south side of L
Street between 7th and 8th streets.
September 30, 1857:
The upper story of "Dr. McDonald's building" is
rented as a Turner Hall.
January 19, 1859:
A committee is appointed to plan for the building of the
Sacramento Turners' own Turner Hall.
February 1859:
With 28 members present, $1,100 is collected for the building
of a new hall. A site is purchased on K Street between 9th
and 10th streets for $2,200. (Dues are raised from $1 to
$2 per month.)
June 5, 1859:
The cornerstone of the new Turner Hall on K Street is laid,
with great celebration. Participating are the Mason Club;
the Sutter Rifle, a military lodge and the Sacramento Union
Brass Band. Included in the cornerstone are items such as
American coins, Turn Verein statistics, the constitution
of the Sacramento Turn Verein and German and American newspapers.
Many Sacramentans attend the dedication ball, including
Turners from San Francisco, Stockton and Marysville. (With
the financial help of the members, citizens and a loan,
the new Turner Hall is built for $16,000.)
December 1861 - January
1862: Floods in Sacramento severely damage the Turner
Hall.
1869: The
decision is made to build a second story on the Turner Hall,
supported by a mortgage of $14,725. The advantages of such
an addition include a roomy dance hall on the second floor,
changing the former activity hall into a meeting hall, an
enlarged kitchen and pantry and the moving of the "ladies'
room" to the second floor.
May: Bids are turned in
for the enlargement of the hall. The new second floor is
to be used for balls and concerts and the floor footage
to be increased from 54 by 60 feet to 54 by 91feet, with
a ceiling height of 26 feet. It is to be completed with
a stage at one end and a 30 by 54 foot gallery at the other
end. On the first floor, the "Old" main hall is
to serve as the gymnasium and dining room on special occasions
while the old dining room is to be used for meetings.
October 7: An Inaugural Ball and dinner are held to dedicate
the newly remodeled Turner Hall
Turner Hall February 8th, 1874
July 1, 1874:
The Turners pay off $500 on the mortgage.
May 1875:
The May festival brings a profit of $454 and it is decided
to pay $500 on the mortgage.
August 27, 1880:
It decided to pay $350 for fresco paintings in the new hall.
Some of the members, preparing to become city policemen
get their training there.
March 16, 1883:
For $150, the Sacramento Turn Verein purchases a plot in
the Sacramento City Cemetery as a permanent resting place
for deceased Turners. Several individuals buried elsewhere
are moved here later, as they died before the plot was purchased.
The deed lists lots No. 1422-1437 and designates the location
as "within 20 feet of alley 193, bounded on the east
by Larkspur Alley, on the west by Buckeye Avenue, on the
north by Alley 192 and on the south by alley 194."
The Turn Verein Hall circa 1915
October 25, 1925:
The cornerstone of the new Turner Hall at 3349 J Street
is laid.
The cornerstone celebration at 3349
J Street October 25, 1925
May 1926:
The new Turner Hall is dedicated.
1928: Two
courts are added to the rear of the building following the
formation of the Handball-Paddleball Club.
1945: The
Turners pay off their mortgage by selling a real estate
holding, the Argus Hotel. The hall is then debt-free. To
make the hall self-supporting, two more meeting rooms are
added upstairs.
About 1985:
Air conditioning is added to the Turner Hall.
May 30, 1998:
Following three years of work remodeling the old library
room in Turner Hall, as well as the sorting of thousands
of letters, photos and other memorabilia, the grand opening
of the new Library is held, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony,
at which the German Consulate in San Francisco participated.
2001: Air
conditioning is installed in the Library and the "Tavern".
2003: Building
improvements made during the year include-
• An elevator, installed to run between the basement
and the second floor.
• A new roof.
• Dry-rot and stucco repair of the outside walls of
the handball court.
• Painting of the building, both interior and exterior.
• Building of a retaining wall.
May 11, 2004: A
marble mosaic medallion of the Sacramento Turn Verein's
official symbol is installed at the Turn Verein's
cemetery plot in the Sacramento City Cemetery. The
mosaic was made by Trustee Gert Grigoleit and his
wife Tammy. Bobby Madriago of the Turn Verein Soccer
Club constructed the concrete base.
2004: Additional
improvements made to the building and grounds include
-
• Resurfacing of the parking lot, as well
as the addition of trees and lighting.
• Refinishing the gym floor.
• New curtains for the Banquet Hall.
• New curtains for the gym hall.
• Remodeling of the "multi-purpose trophy
room" in the basement (the former club room).
|
A mosaic rendering of the STV
logo, set in a concrete base, is installed in front
of the Sacramento City Cemetery |
The
Turn Verein Movement, Beginning in Germany
It's
1854: German Immigrants Arrive in Sacramento
150
Years of the Sacramento turn Verein: 1854-Present
Turner Hall - Through 150 Years
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