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Henry Wurth arrived in the United States from Hemsbach, Germany in 1913.  He was 19 years old then.  He found work in New York City for a few years and became a member of one of the Turnvereins in the area. In 1918,  the Turnverein sent him to Indianapolis to study to be a physical instructor at the Indiana University Normal School for one year.

The American Turners Website tells the history of this Normal School.  It is interesting to see how Henry Wurth's history fits in with the Organization's history.  A link to the American Turners  site is provided above  for people who may want to pursue that level of detail. 

Because  the World War I was going on at that time, he was the only male student in class. When he completed his 
studies that year,  he was sent to Schenectady to become the instructor at the Turnverein there.

Schenectady Turners

Henry O. Wurth was the gym instructor at the Schenectady Turnverein  from 1919 until he retired in 1961.  Many children, teenagers, and adults passed through the doors of the gymnasium at the Turner Hall on Albany Street during the 42 years the Mr. Wurth as the gym teacher there. It was one of the best known programs in the city.

If someone in your family was one of those children, be sure to read more about the Turner Gym Classes and the Little Olympics and see vintage pictures from the 1930's--1950's at our site about the Schenectady Turnverein at the  link above.

Award

In 1956, Henry O. Wurth was given the National Honor Key Award by the American Turners.  This prestigious award is  bestowed upon a Turner who has unselfishly given many years of dedicated service to further the cause of Turnerism and the promotion of the American Turners.

State Colleges and Howe School

Because he had one year of college, he never qualified him to be hired to teach in the public school systems. However,  he became known to the New York State Education Department  because of his work at the Turnverein. The State hired him to teach teachers at summer school at Cortland State Teachers College and Cornell University every summer from 1920-1938.

For several years, Mr. Wurth was the gym teacher at Howe School, a private grade school in Schenectady. 

Boys Camp in the Adirondacks

Henry Wurth owned and operated Wurth's Camp for Boys in Schroon Lake, NY in the Adirondack Mts.
Many boys enjoyed spending the summer in this rustic, fun environment.

Many people who attended this camp found our website and shared their wonderful boyhood memories of summers at Wurth's Camp.  More about the camp can be found at the link above.

Marriage and Family

Henry Wurth married Rose Fekete.  See their wonderful wedding picture wedding picture.  They had three children.  In 1961, after he retired, he and Rose became "snow birds", spending winters in Florida and returning to Schenectady when the weather was better.

In 2005, Henry Wurth, Jr. took a trip to Europe.  Read about his family history and  his great travel experience.

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