We are just beginning to develop this page in March, 2008. We have some wonderful information based on the 50th anniversary booklet published in 1941, which we look forward to digitizing and publishing at this site.
The site is part of
barjwhit.com,
A Family History/ Genealogy Resource
Center. Learn more at
About Us.
Contact us
at this email address: barjwhit@cox.net
Established in 1891
The Schenectady Turnverein was established on February 15, 1891.
Otto Offenhaeuser, Sr. was the first president.
Read
about the early history at this link.
Gymnastics followed
On April 5th, 1891, the Turnverein joined the landwide American Gymnastic Union,
now known as the American Turners.
The first Turnfest in Schenectady of the Central New York Turn District took
place in September, 1892, in which the Verein took the first prize against the
Turnvereins of Troy and Amsterdam. Max Grimmer was the first physical
instructor. Jacob Goertz also acted as instructor for some time.
When the new Turne Halle was erected on Albany Street in 1904, the basement level was finished as a fully equipped gymnasium. Herman May was the first gym instructor there . His successors were Max Grimmer (who instructed earlier), Max Renner, J. Rittmeier. In 1919, Henry O. Wurth was hired and he served as the gym instructor for 42 years until his retirement in 1961.
Read more about the gymnastic classes at this link The Gym.
Please visit us from time to time to see the development of this site.