This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Turner Hall Has Had Varied Life
Armory
Mask Balls, Great Plays
Staged at Turner Opera House
The Turner
movement started in the United States in 1848 in Cincinnati. The first Turner
organization in Wisconsin was in Milwaukee in 1853, just seven years before
Watertown's was formed.
Watertown Daily Times, 06 26 1954 and 10 02 2000
If
Watertown's Turner Hall and its predecessor, the old Turner Opera House, could
speak they would relate a most interesting series of events which they housed,
from great plays to modern dances, conventions, union meetings, mask balls,
political rallies, wrestling matches and home shows. The Turner Hall has been a
virtual community center in Watertown.
1860
The
Turner movement was launched here in 1860 with the organization of a group for
the purpose of learning and teaching gymnastics, promoting physical improvement
and also to promote musical and theatrical performances and general cultivation
of the fine arts and sciences.
The
first meeting of the Watertown Gymnastic Association, the formal name of the
group, was held on Aug. 21, 1860. It was held at Charles Watson's saloon, which
was located near the present Plattdeutscher Hall.
The
purpose of the organization as set forth at the time it was started has been
carried on through the years. In addition to the members, many young people of
the city have attended classes. In the early days of the association many of
the young men of the community who later became leaders in business and the
city's community life were pupils in the "turning" classes which were
held in the gymnasium of the hall.
In
earlier days gymnastic exhibitions, theatrical performances, such as home
talent plays given by members, were in great vogue and were much enjoyed by the
many large audiences that gathered for each of the programs. Later traveling
troupes were booked, some of them playing a solid week locally with a change of
program nightly. In the days of the waltz and two-step public dances were given
as many as three and four times a week and the Turner hall served as the
community center of an earlier Watertown.
1904
Watertown Gazette, 07
22 1904
William
J. Bethke will hereafter be manager of Turner Opera House, which is to be
improved in several ways, among the improvements to be the enlargement of the
stage, which will allow any show on the road to be staged at this popular
theater. Mr. Bethke will book only
first-class attractions.
1905
12 15 1905
The
management of the Turner opera house was unfortunate in booking the musical
farce comedy - “Taming a Husband,” which appeared at that place Thursday
evening. It was certainly the worst kind of a farce from beginning to end, so
much so, that it was a comedy of idiocy. The aggregation could neither sing nor
act, and there was nothing in the plot and the small audience, which should
have been much smaller, soon tired of the farce, for it was such in fact. The
management was not to blame for it came highly recommended and was booked as a
first-class attraction and reliance was placed upon the representations made.
There is one thing in connection with the play that deserves condemnation and
that was the hissing indulged in by some in the audience. If they were
dissatisfied they should have retired and not have disturbed those who desired
to remain and suffer the agony of which they were the victims.
1908
05 07 Application for the transfer
of a liquor license rejected WL
11 13 Week day production booked
because many do not attend theatres on Sunday
WG
1909
04 02 Greatest aggregation of dramatic talent
ever put upon any stage in Watertown; "Union Depot for a Day" WG
06 11 Nortense Nielson Henry Ibsen’s “A Doll’s
House” WG
07 02 Watertown High School commencement
exercises held at hall WG
1910
The
old Turner Opera House, as the predecessor of the present hall was known, was
one of the busy places here and the Turners were an energetic and busy lot,
working toward clearing the debt on the building. This was finally accomplished with a mortgage
burning ceremony held in August of 1910.
Actors and Speakers
The
old opera house had housed many notable events and famous personages who came
here to appear before the public. Joseph Jefferson, the celebrated America actor,
appeared there, as did Charles Grapewin, who later be came an outstanding
motion picture actor. Col. Robert G, Ingersoll, the agnostic (some called him
atheist) lectured there, as did Col Henry Watterson, famous editor of the
Louisville Courier-Journal, and others. Many celebrated American politicians
and orators gave speeches there during campaigns. Carl, Schurz and Fighting Robert M.
LaFollette, Sr., spoke there several times.
Then
on March 9, 1928 fire destroyed the Turner Opera house and with it old records
and equipment.
1928, Fire
Special thanks to Leonard
Kottwitz for his help in providing much of the research for this article.
It was a sad day in Watertown, when, on
March 9, 1928, Turner Opera House caught fire and burned down. Not only did the
Turners lose their entire facility, but a performing
show lost $10,000 worth of equipment and the National
Guard, which was headquartered there, suffered another $10,000 loss of
weapons and a huge arsenal of ammunition. The wintry setting helped prevent the
fire from spreading off-site, but it did not minimize the spectacle of
Watertown's oldest building being ushered into history by a rising crescendo of
exploding-shells.
The
fire swept through the building just hours after the annual meeting of the
organization had concluded.
A
$19,000 insurance payment helped meet the cost of rebuilding. The cornerstone
for the new, and current Turner Hall was laid in October, 1928, with the grand
opening the following January. Amazingly, the entire structure cost only
$54,000 to build.
The Watertown Historical Society has a set of images of the 1928 fire.
Completion
of the building ushered in the era of basketball in the main hall, professional
wrestling matches on Friday evenings and Sunday night dances. As the years went
by the Turners found it more and more difficult to compete with other halls and
businesses that offered large group facilities. A primary reason was the lack
of a liquor license.
Up to
that time, the Turners had a license to sell beer, but did not have a license
to sell hard liquor. It was a long and difficult fight but matters finally came
to a head in 1965 when the Turners announced the facility would be closed and
the building sold unless a liquor license was granted. The Watertown Common
Council relented and a liquor license was granted.
With that new beginning, the Turners
continued to enjoy tremendous success in fulfilling their historic purpose. In
the 138 years since their founding, the Turners' organization has been an
inseparable part of Watertown's progress and history. While it is easy to focus
on the beautiful landmark that has been the center of their activity, it is the
Turners themselves that have made the greatest mark for good in the community.
Perhaps the finest glimpse of the Turner
Society and their commitment to service and Christian charity was conveyed
through a prayer given at the 100th Anniversary Banquet in September 1960:
"O
Lord, we pray that Thou woulds't continue to make this Christian organization a
blessing to the community and to all men. Christian fellowship and wholesome
Christian recreation is also a blessing. Enable us as members of the Christian
organization to continue to live in love and in harmony one with another. Make
us all mindful of what love means in an organization. As we thank Thee this
evening for this Christian fellowship, yes, of some 100 years, we are made very
mindful of Thy love and what it means to an organization and to a world."
1929, Opening
The
corner stone of the present hall was laid on Oct. 14, 1928. Dedication
ceremonies of the present building were held with the opening of the hall on
Jan. 29, 1929.
Home
talent plays are still in vague, but radio shows and talkies have largely
replaced the old time stage plays and the waltz and two-step have given way to
modern forms of dancing.
The
present Turner members have worked hard and long toward the goal of clearing
the debt on the present building and wiping out the mortgage.
Movement
Found Momentum in Watertown
Mention
the name "Turner Hall" and the first thing that comes to mind may be
great fish fries, gymnastics, or the beautiful building that has hosted so many
community celebrations and private receptions over the years. But the
long and colorful history of the Watertown Gymnastic Association, more commonly
known as Watertown Turners, is far richer than the gourmet food they have
served for decades. In fact, it is inspiring.
The Turner movement began in Europe in
the early 1800's, an outgrowth of both lofty ideals as well as practical
innovation. It was the era of Napoleon and the empire that he was piecing
together encompassed most of western Europe, including the German
principalities. While historians have praised his military skills and
emphasized his many accomplishments, Napoleon governed as a typical military
dictator.
Napoleon oppressed freedom everywhere,
yet he was especially harsh in the conquered lands. Meetings for any political
purpose were banned but it was permitted to gather for athletic activity. So
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, the "father of gymnastics" and a fervent
German patriot, began organizing Turnverein (gymnastic clubs) all across
Prussia. Jahn believed that physical education was the key to national vitality
and equally important in strengthening individual and national character.
Members of the gymnastic clubs, which
always included large numbers of German youth, would gather after each workout
to discuss political goals and their dreams for freedom and justice. After
Napoleon was defeated in 1815, the powerful combination of gymnastics and
politics continued to influence the next generation of Germans. When the
Revolution of 1848 broke out, the prospect of achieving the freedom which had
been so commonly discussed at the Turnverein led mand "Turners" to
support the revolution.
When the revolution was suppressed,
those who had supported it were forced to flee and many emigrated to America.
Some of the political refugees settled in Wisconsin, and quickly formed
Turnverein. However, with freedom in their new land already a reality, Turner
Societies broadened their purpose to include the "cultivation and improvement of the faculties of the body and mind of its
members and the management of musical and theatrical entertainment for
amusement of the society and public as well."
Watertown Turners, originally named the
Independent Gymnastic Society of Watertown, was formed on Aug. 21, 1860. Early meetings were held in the old Cole building at the corner of South
Second and Main streets (at the location of the former Kline's Department
Store). Within a year, the Turners had put on their first theatrical
performance.
By 1869, the original Turner Hall was
constructed at a cost of $28,000. It was located at 301 S. Fourth St., the site
of the vacant circus grounds and the same location as the present Turner Hall.
On Dec. 11, 1869, the new three-story hall opened. An audience of 1,300 people
enjoyed a performance of Mozart's "The Magic Flute.”
Interestingly, there was a prejudice
against theaters in those days. So, to avoid needless criticism, the first
Turner Hall was called Turner Opera House. For the same reason, when the
Concordia Musical Society purchased the building which is now the Elk's Club, it
was called the Concordia Opera House. Whether the performance was a play,
musical, or concert, it apparently met with greater acceptability when viewed
in an opera house.
For 59 years, Turner Opera House was
the center of cultural events in the city. The Turners used the building to
fulfill their original purposes in the broadest sense - "entertainment for
amusement of the society and public." In addition to the theatrical use,
the building hosted dances, weddings, conventions, union meetings, political rallies,
wrestling matches, and of course, many gymnastic events.
1956 Officials
of the Watertown Gymnastic Association announced that they have decided to
withdraw their offer to the city regarding possible off-street parking lot
plans for the vacant property they own at Turner Hall. The Turners have
decided, it was said, not to cause any ill will among property owners and
residents in the vicinity and have therefore decided to drop the proposal which
they made to the City Council some weeks ago. 04 29
1956 Legal question with the pending transfer of tavern license. 03 25
1959
02 23 Cooking school among events at Turner
during ’59.
1984
01 06 Renovated Pub Room on second
floor WDT
Watertown Gymnastic Troup - Real Photo
Postcard, 1910's.
Cross
References:
No 1: 1907 masquerade ball
