Schenectady Turners

Gymnastics Classes

 

Emblem of the American Turners 

In Schenectady, there was a huge emblem above the door as we went down stairs in the Turner Hall to the gym.  Under the emblem was this inscription:

Through these doors pass the soundest minds in the soundest bodies.

 

Henry Wurth--Gym Instructor from 1919--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.

In 1956,  Henry O. Wurth received The National Honor Key Award.   The American Turners highest 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.


 

 

 

Are you in this picture?

Picture of the gym classes, circa 1954   -------->

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For more pictures, link here to see Schenectady Turners  gymnasts  that date back to the 1930's.

Little Olympics at Turner Park

Every June, all of the students in the Turner gym classes competed in several events, always geared to the age level of the class.  Each student was awarded a ribbon indicating his place in the class.  Overall winners received trophies.

This was an all day family picnic event in a wonderful park in Alplaus where there was plenty of space, a creek, a swimming hole, and a hall.  A good time was had by all each year.

Here is Gary Cooper, proudly finishing his parallel bar routine in the 1959 Little Olympics..

Did you go to gym at the Turner Hall?

Many people who knew Mr. Wurth when they were young have fond memories of him today.
Some have already contacted us to inquire and share memories of him.

Walt remembers:

At the gym, Mr. Wurth used his cane to mark cadence.  He was very strict and ran a tight ship, and yet you would hardly notice because everything went so smoothly almost all the time.

Occasionally, the gym class did not use the gym because of some other event, so we went up a couple of very long flights to a dance hall.

If you have memories you would like to share, we invite you to sent them to us in an email.
If you want them added to this web page, let us know and we will be delighted to do that.

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 To see others who have won this American Turners award over the years, visit the link below:    Honor Key Award

Turner Seal and Emblem is registered in U.S. Patent Office #390643 and #393750  Use is restricted to bona fide Turner Societies authorized by The American Turners.  Seal and Emblem are used here with permission.          Link to  American Turners  Website.