The Turn Verein: Sacramento's 150-Year Link To German History
Like any thriving metropolitan city, Sacramento's landscape is seemingly changing daily. Reminders of yesteryear are dwindling at an all-too-rapid pace. But sidewalk stamps to the old faded painted signs on the sides of downtown buildings, anything that reveals a sense of the past deserves respect.
It's sad, for instance, when an ancient walnut tree is destroyed or when a long-standing business like Crown Cleaners in East Sacramento meets its demise and is leveled from existence.
Which is why when milestones come along, like the 150th anniversary of the Turn Verein a few years ago, they should be observed with perspective.
The grand old German-heritage organization dates to June 2, 1854. The turn verein movement was introduced into the United States in the late 1840s by practitioners of gymnastics and other physical training. The idea quickly spread from the East Coast to Texas, California and other states.
The American Turnerbund (gymnastic league), now called American Turners, was formed in 1850. It had strong political beliefs and also introduced physical training into American primary schools. In addition to touting gymnastics, the organization popularized nine-pin bowling.
In Sacramento, the Turn Verein (3349 J Street) integrated a singing group, the Turner Harmonie, among its 29 original members. The group also touted the benefits of fitness and organized many of the city's social functions. German heritage was important to promote, too, all within constraints of the organization's founding declaration:
"A Turn Verein is an organization with the aim to protect human rights, advance personal and religious liberty, educate youth, and to cultivate the mind in the light of freedom and progress."
The Sacramento Turn Verein endured many changes and eventually progressed to its current location, 3349 J Street, in 1925. The brick exterior and walk-up steps of the stoic old building lead into a freeze-framed interior of polished old wooden floors, rounded doorways and old light fixtures.
The organization's founding logo is still there, too. Embedded above the entrance, a male athletic figure made of clay and crouched like he's about the hurl a discus, is encircled by a blue border. The words "Sound Mind" and "Sound Body" flank each side of the figure and are reminiscent of an Olympic icon.
There was once a public pub in Sacramento's Turn Verein, but it's long gone, replaced by a yearly Oktoberfest. A German-heritage library is periodically open in the Turn Verein, and the place is still a popular locale for various meetings, yoga classes and graduations.
It's also a good place for passersby to stop and take a glimpse into Sacramento's past.
For more information on the availability of the Sacramento Turn Verein, contact the organization's hausmeister (caretaker). Telephone: (916) 442-7360.
Sacramento blogger James Raia is a freelance writer and publisher. Visit his web sites, ByJamesRaia.com, TheWeeklyDriver.com and GolfTribune.com.
