Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-18
A CONVENTION OF TURNER'S.
Delegates From All Nebraska Societies Will
Meet In Omaha Next Saturday.
THE OBJECTS OF THE GATHERING.
Celebration OF the Birth in This City
of the First Society West
Of Chicago-The State
Bund.

The man who walks the streets Of Omaha
today and meets such staid citizens as Henry
Pundt, Fred Metz, Charles Beindorf, Judge
Beneke, Henry Erhing, Meyer Hellman,
Fred Metz, ST., julius Rudowsky, Henry
Lehman, Charles Karbach, Meyer Rapka,
Charles Bermester and a score OF Others
would hardly think that they ever partici-
pated in such boyish pastimes as putting the
shot, making the high and long jumps,
swinging on the bars and handling the clubs,
but they did, and they enjoyed these exer-
cises as much as do the young men of the
present day.
This all took place long time ago, when
Omaha was not as much Of a city as it is at
the present time.
AS early as 1868 the young Germans of the
city conceived the idea OF organizing Turn
vercin, and mt once prepared for the work.
The next spring the gentlemen above men
toned completed the organization and held
their meetings in hall in the old Caldwell
block, on Douglus street, between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth. The organization prospered
until it had nearly one hundred members.
The hall became too crowded, and in
a few weeks the lot on Tenth
stleet was bought for 81 200 and the German
fine building, one Of the best in the city at
that time, and the members felt very proud
of this property This was the first Turner
society west Of Chicago, and besides having
their friendly class contests for prizes, pleas
ant dancing parties were held in the build
ing, with an occasional Sunday night thea
ter.
Louis Anderson was elected the first
speaker Of the society, and for n year the
members were as happy as children of one
family, but IN 1867 there was an election of
officers. Anderson wanted TO be reelected,
but met with considerable opposition; so
much that he left the society and at once set
about to organize the Concorda Singing
society. All OF the young Germans were
very fond of music and went with him. This
cost the Turnverein great many members
in fact, so many that it was difficult to secure
n quorum. A meeting was held, and to
bridge over the difficulty resolution was
adopted by which seven members constituted
n quorum. The following Sunday Charles
Beindorf made an effort to gather in seven
members but as only six could be secured
the first Omaha Turnverein adjourned with
out date.
Prior to this and at the time OF building
the hall, the society incurred debt of 5000.
Stock to this amount, in shares of $40 each,
was issued TO the mem bers ana the money for
the same paid into the treasury but for some
reason never appeared to the cancellation of
the debt.
After tho society was abandoned John
Brandt managed to secure most of the stock
paying trilling sum for the same. This
action Disguised the members and they let
everything go by default The taxes on tho
property became delinquent and in 1870
Brandt took tax deed under which he holds
the lot at the present time.
Two years later the Turnverein was re-
vived, new blood was infused into the organ
Aation, and since then 1t has prospered :until
now IL has l25 active members and the valua-
BILE property on Harney street known as Ger
mania hall, with the following officers First
speaker OF the bezlrk Phil Andres; scribe,
Otto Kinder. turn warden. Henry Kumma-
row; treasurer, Fred Spethman trustees,
Louis Heimrod, sHenry Rholf and Charles
Harm aln~
To the Tunpund OF Nebraska belong the