, 1873-01-17
TURNER HALL.
The New Building Inspected by.
Members Of the Press.
Description OF the Finest Turner Hall
in The Country.
The Concert Rooms, Gymnasium,
Club Roon,,, Etc, Etc.

Yesterday morning tho representatives Of the
press weEo invited to- inspect and 1oport upon
the progress Of the work in rebuilding Turner
Hall, on North Clark street.. The reporters wero
invited to lunch with tho Press Committee, and
wore entertained in 3, manner suitnhle to tile oc-
casion. In fact, the lunch served to them vas
on par with any similar entertainment eYer Of
fcred to the representatives Of the press by the
Germans IL this city, aud TINT is, perhaps, say
ing the very least that could bo said Of it. That
they stinted nothing in entertaining their guests
may be supposed BY every one familiar with tho
customs Of the hospitab1e gentlsmon to whom
was entrusted the care OF the reporters.
Af1er refresning themselves in most sump-
.1ous manner, the reporters visited and inapect-
ed the various details Of tho nov Turner Hall,
and the result of their observations il mos. fist
te1ing testimony in behalf Of the intelligence
and tirelesa zeal Of the Building Committee Of
the Chicago Turngemeinde.
It will be remembered that Turner Hall Was
burned to tho ground in the great fire, and the
majority OF the members of the Chicago Turn
gemeinde scattered to the four winds Of heaven,
This was q circumstance, however, which
secondary, the primary consideration
0SAAH hAC AI4144AEu1aIO lESNlIbC[luA
their building upon sca.e of magnifcance CON-
mcnsurato with the future OF the city. Stock
Was iBsued and purchased by some OF the most
distinguished and substantial citizens of Chi
cago, and plans were drawn for the erection,
contain all the various departments Of the
Turner Society, and few rooms which should
yield proper rental.
IN Tn1v tE tina tho IAN, r,,,;11 p
ing WAS laid, in the presence Of the architects,
Messrs. Bauer & Loebnitz, md large con
course Of citizens. THIS WAS tho first etep.
Since then the Building Committee havo pressed
forward the work, until to-day the building
is nearly completed, and the Society has q place
for its Sunday concerts as well as for the various
purposes for which the building is needed. :.
To describe the structure infinitely would be-
rather difficult task, inaamuch as tho plans
arc rather complicated. It conaists. actually, of
two distinct buildings, connected by means Of a
third, aud description is therefore work Of
moro than ordinary intricacy.
The main building fronts On Clark street, upon
tho old ste 1o116o feet, is four atorie and baao-
rnent in height, tho front of plain stone work.
manship. The rear building is Of brick 275x126
feet, and the third or intermediate section
of the building is '25x80 feet. The Iaat-named
section serves the purposes Of stairway and
ante-rooms, connecting the two main portions
Of the hall, and is well Lighted and finished.
To describe the building, as before stated, is
work Of great difficulty, but an idea of tho
arrangement may be gathered from the follow
ing:
Tho basement Of the building is divided into
three sections. The 1nost northerly contains q.
billiard hall, well lighted, lofty, and spacious,
The apartment adjoining is q beer hall, also
blessed with plenty Of light and air. The third
division ia divided up into various apartments.
doorway leads from this portion Of the building
into the rear, and opens upon the gymnasium,
Here arc fitted up tho various apparatus for tho
development OF the muscle OF; the rising genera.
ton. Parallel bars, 1ingp, horizontal bars, lad
derB poles, swinging poios, stationary ladders,
swinging ladders, horses, aud the other mechan-
lcal contriyances Of o frst-class gymnasium, are.
arranged. here with consumnata skill. Every
new method has been introduced into this gym
nasium, and if there is any one in tho country
superior to that in Turnor Hall; it must indeed
be magnificent affair. In details it is perfect.
The stitrupa, for instance, swing upon pulley,
aud can bo raised or lowered to Buit the stature
Of the athloto. The horizontal bars ere raised
and lowered BY new patent, and need not be-
arc firmly fixed in the iron beams
that span the gymnasium, and are as stoutly
arranged as tho pyramids. In fact, scarcely any
thing is wanting to make this the most perfect
gymnasium IN the country = ::
Making ones Way upstairs through the juno
tiou or middle section OF the building, one is
confronted by tho main entrance to the hall, d
rich and commodious staircase, under which are
two ticket-oflices. Here aro arranged various
rooms necessary to tho Society. Leading to the
gallery OF the gymnasium is modest doorway,
which is quite adequate for it's usea, Going up
stairs to the second floor, one is confronted
with two large doors, leading into tho concert
others, opening into tho ladies' dressing-room
On either side OF the stairway is q quite Of
rooms which the Society hare determined to
rent for club purposes, such rs singing societies.
iar wndow w. xhich a ebts np ~ he Whoie Of this
floor and ornaments the building. This window
fronts upon porch from which, in time Of
need, speeches, political and otherwise. are to
be delivered. On tho third tloor Of the main
building nre the rooms devoted to the Society
There arc tho library and reading- room, tho
card-room, and tho room devoted to tho ladies'
and gentlemen Of the Society, a sort Of general
parlor, for talking and flirting" US one Of the
tue wash-rooms closets, and similar apartments
for the use Of tho Society.
On tho fourth floor, from which beautiful
view Of the lake may bo obtained, arc the rooms
devoted to the uses Of tue va:ious Masonic So
cieties lodges, aud meeting rooms. They are
arranged similarly to those OF the Society, hav-
ing library room in common, fronting to the
east, we'll "a ladies' retiring rooms, fitted up
with all modern contsivauces for the happiness
and comfort Of tho sax.
Going down stairs, once more, and entering
by one OF the two doors mentioned above, We
find oneself in the concert hnu, a room which
has no parallel in tho city for the purposes for
Which it ia designed 1tB entire length is 126 feet,
Tho main Gcor is capable OF seating between |
two and three Thousand people, and the gallery !
J, ,000 at the lowest estimate. There aro thsec !
tiers Of seats in tho gallery on either side, and
eight tiers in the rear, 30 that between three
and four thousand parsons cau, on stretch, be !
accommodated in the concert ha1l. There arc
to be $50 lghta in this magnificent room, 200 |
from the central chandelier, which is Rlnilsr to
that in Aiken's Theatre, and $50 arranged
through the hall. Leading from the main hall |
are retiring-rooms for private parties, arrang- !
ed in the best possible style. There !
arc two doors leading from the |
auditorium to the stage for the bepnft Of the or
chestra, though these are not needed. door |
connects tho stage with the main entrance, for |
tue accommodation Of tho performers on the