Northwest Davenport Turner Society Hall

Northwest Davenport Turner Society Hall
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	1602 Washington St., Davenport, Iowa
Coordinates:	41°32′9″N 90°35′47″W / 41.53583°N 90.59639°W / 41.53583; -90.59639Coordinates: 41°32′9″N 90°35′47″W / 41.53583°N 90.59639°W / 41.53583; -90.59639
Built:	1882
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	79000941[1]
Added to NRHP:	July 10, 1979

The Northwest Davenport Turner Society Hall is a historic building located in the old northwest side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.^[1] It is located near the Northwest Davenport Savings Bank, which is also listed on the NRHP.

History

The original Northwest Turner building that was destroyed in a fire.

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778–1852) was a teacher in Berlin who started outdoor physical education classes in 1811.^[2] His twin goals were to promote physical fitness and German nationalism. Over the next three decades gymnastic societies known as Turnvereins opened in many German cities. Their members were known as “Turners”, the German word for gymnasts. The societies also served as gathering places for people who desired democratic reforms in the governments of the various German states. They supported the revolution that began in 1848 and when it failed they fled to the United States, and many came to Davenport.

The Northwest Davenport Turner's Society was established in 1871 and they built their clubhouse soon after.^[3] It was destroyed in a fire on July 4, 1882 and new building was constructed soon after. The Turner Hall served the physical and mental exercise of its members. Folk festivals were also held in an adjoining garden. The N.W. Davenport Turner Society continues to operate to this date, however, they are an organization without a hall. The Society sold their building on Washington St. in 1991 and the membership currently meets at a variety of local venues. They have active bowling and golf teams.

There were two other Turner Halls in Davenport.^[4] The Central Turner Hall was located near Washington Square on the west side of downtown and the building is no longer in existence. The East Turner Hall continues to stand in the Village of East Davenport and is in use as a theater.^[5]

See also

The following are clubhouses in Scott County, Iowa that are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Eldridge Turn-Halle
• Outing Club
• Wupperman Block/I.O.O.F. Hall
• Hibernia Hall

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-10-06. http://www.nps.gov/nr/. 
2. ^ "American Turners Local Societies, 1866-2006". Ruth Lilly Special Collections & Archives. http://www-lib.iupui.edu/special/collections/german-american/mss038. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
3. ^ Richter, August Paul. "Geschlichte der Stadt". Scott County Iowa USGenWeb Project. http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/chpt52.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
4. ^ Svendsen, Marls A., Bowers, Martha H (1982). Davenport where the Mississippi runs west: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture. Davenport, Iowa: City of Davenport. pp. 1–8. 
5. ^ Burke, David (March 19, 2010). "Village Theatre looking to refocus". Quad-City Times. http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_d5f87d3a-33d3-11df-9dd0-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 2010-11-10.