History of the Akron Turner Club
The Akron Turner Club was founded in 1885 by a group of German citizens who met at the home of Mr. Louis Seybold, publisher of the "Akron Germania", on Grant Street to discuss the possibilities of organizing a "Turnverein". For several months meetings were held in the homes of various members, and halls were rented but were found to be unsuitable for gymnasium work. A committee was elected in 1887 to look for a suitable vacant lot to build a gymnasium. A lot was located on Grant Street and was purchased for $675.00. The building was dedicated on October 31, 1888. (see picture below) The Turnverein was the first German society to own its own building. Exhibitions of gymnastics were held throughout the years, instructors taught young boys and active members Father Jahn's system of making them physically fit and healthy. (Jahn started his gymnastics societies to strengthen young men in the event an army would be needed to help thwart Napoleon. Father Jahn invented most of the gymnastics apparatus in use today.) Hundreds to thousands of members attended competitions held annually, including a National Turnfest class at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. In 1900, improvements were made to the meeting hall and gymnasium, including wooden lockers, showers, sewer connections, gas lines and electric lights. In 1908 the Turnverein was ready to present its gymnasium classes to the public at large and held a demonstration of physical training, inviting members from the Cleveland Turners to participate. More than 2,000 people crowded the auditorium, including The Public School Authorities, Superindendent Dr. Hotchkiss, Board of Education and many public school teachers. (At that time, only Central High School had physical training, grade schools had no gymnasium buildings.) Demonstrations were held annually, resulting in great social and financial gains. The Turnervein became one of the leading organizations in the city. Plans were discussed to to add more building space. Physical education was added to the Public Schools curriculum and the Akron Turnverein can well lay claim that it was the sole agency to help accomplish this fact! The Ladies Auxillary was founded in 1904. A new gymnasium and club room were built on Cross St. and dedicated on May 29 and June 1st, 1913. During the World War (1917) most of the active members of the Turnverein were enlisted or drafted into various branches of the Army or Navy. The instructor at the time, Mr. Bachman, inaugurated military training and all able bodied members responded. Prohibition was in effect during the next few years and most social activities suffered. In order to overcome this obstacle, strict rules were made to permit only members to the club's entertainments. All debts on the new hall and property were wiped out in 1927 and a great celebration was planned. The mortgage note was burned and in 1928 the hall was remodeled. The stage was removed (in use since the Turnhalle was built) and a bar put in its place. Over the next years, the Akron Turnverein held gym classes, organized basketball, volleyball and fencing, continued with its core gymnastics and began serving daily lunches. During the Word War II years, club activites, like those throughout the nation, were severely curtailed. In 1945 a celebration was held to honor our Veterans. A motion was passed in 1950 to admit ladies to club membership. The Akron Turnverein became known as the Akron Turner Club consistent with an identity change at the national organization level. we officially moved into our "new" location in Springfield Township. May 20, 1979 ground was broken for the expansion of our existing clubhouse in order to provide space for a bar, several tables, restrooms and an office. The clubhouse expansion was completed and followed quickly by work on the construction of our gymnasium (all but $30,000 of the total $120,000 to complete both projects were borne by the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Government.)
